Typography: Spacing
June 17, 2021 - Reading time: 6 minutes
Learn how to create and use vertical rhythm in UI design.
I'm starting a new series of designer tips to cover edge-cutting web design topics, such as typography, colors, layout, components, and design systems.
The first volume is fully dedicated to UI typography. Here you will find all the knowledge to create strong typography for your projects.
Designers use typography as a tool to deliver information pleasantly. Spacing, font size, width, color, and line heights work together to achieve a better user experience.
In this episode, we'll discuss Spacing. Spacing helps to establish a vertical rhythm and define the relationship in which your typography elements are present.
A good vertical rhythm is like a good song. It's made with thoughtful pauses and rhythm changes to create an interesting flow a user is happy to follow.
Tip 1—Use more space for larger titles
More space will help to create a better contrast between the headline and a tinted text. This results in better visual balance and readability of your main CTA's.
Tip 2—Use less space for smaller titles
Smaller headlines should be closer to the paragraph text. Using smaller spacing for small headlines helps highlight an important part of the text without breaking the reading flow.
Tip 3—Use more space above the titles
The extra space above the headline will create a pause to separate one piece of text from another. In addition, more space makes the transition from one topic to another more clear.
Tip 4—Define your line spacing
To make your text look consistent — set up a universal spacing you'll use as a default one.
The ideal line spacing for most fonts is 30% - 50% of its line-height. For example, if your text line-height is 24pt, the spacing between paragraphs should be 8, 10, or 12pt.
This method is proven good because:
- The spacing will always match your font choice.
- You can multiply this number and create a spacing system for every typography need.
Tip 5—Cut horizontal space for long titles
Our eyes are scanning the text in a Z-way pattern. That's why long headlines are so hard to follow until the last word. So don't make users spin their heads to read.
Use less horizontal space, and seek symmetry through logical line breaks to achieve eye-catching CTA’s.
Tip 6—Add more space between text and image
Images are visually heavier than the text. Adding extra space will help create a balance between vibrant imagery and the context, making it easier to read.
This will help the text not be obscured by visually heavy images or graphics.
Tip 7—Space inside the paragraph
Keep a consistent spacing inside your paragraph and between its elements. Use a universal spacing for all elements inside the paragraph, such as lists, quotes, tables, or any decorative elements.
Tip 8—Vertical rhythm vs. layout grid
When using a grid, it's easy to fall into a trap a solely rely on it to align your text. This will make your text uniformed but not visually appealing.
So f*ck the grid when it comes to typography — use vertical rhythm.
Instead, work with contrast and stay consistent with spacings to create a memorable rythm that will guide your reader.
Useful resources
- Inter - Bold typeface family.
- Modular Scale - Quickly scale the size of a selected font.
- Kern Type - A game where you Kern Type and get scored on your accuracy.
- Typography Handbook - A practical guide on best web typographic practices.
- Google Fonts - Google fonts.
UI Grid Best Practices
May 20, 2021 - Reading time: 6 minutes
Make better designs with layout grid tips & tricks.
Space and grid make the foundation of any design. Once mastered and used correctly, the grid helps you to create solid and visually appealing solutions for your designs.
Therefore, I would like to share my tips for mastering the grid in UI design. In this episode, we talk about layout grids. Let's start ✌️
What is a Grid?
The grid helps establish the foundation of any interface. You can think of it as a framework for your layout. The framework helps to organize your UI elements, guide the reader and identify individual parts of your design.
Terminology
The grid consists of grid units. The layout is placed upon the grid and has a certain amount of columns. Columns have margins on the left and right, as well as paddings between each column.
Tip 1—Choose numbers wisely
While the 12-column Bootstrap like-grid is the most popular choice, it's not mandatory. When choosing a grid, select the one with a number of columns your design truly needs, no less, no more.
Tip 2—Know your constraints
Always consider the screen you are designing for. Know how it is handled and operated by others. Use these limitations to your advantage and learn to design with them.
Most common screen resolutions (px)
- Desktop: 1440x1024
- Tablet: 768x1024
- Mobile: 320x640
Tip 3— Horizontal and vertical spacing
Consider both vertical and horizontal spacing to make your layout more appealing and consistent.
Tip 4—Shape vertical rhythm
Use the baseline grid to arrange the content and bring visual consistency to your text and layout elements.
Bonus tip—Adjust font line-height to match the baseline grid.
For example: If you choose 4px as a baseline/grid unit, to align text, you will need to set the line-height of the font to a multiple of the unit, which means the line height should be 4, 12, 32, 64, etc.
Tip 5—Use power of the frame & color
Use framing as a tool to focus your user's attention on a certain layout part. Add additional visual weight in the place where it is needed.
Tip 6—Step out of the grid
Put certain elements off the grid. Use this breakdown trick to add value and make certain parts of your design stand out.
Tip 7—Adapt your grid
Ensure your layout is adaptable to common screen sizes, breakpoints and provides a good mobile user experience. Make sure to always check your designs on different screens.
Tip 8—Learn to design without a grid
Designing without the grid is okay for a small project indeed, but for scaling projects, it's mandatory.
Learn to design with a grid and without actually bringing it to your canvas. Observe your layout without the "grid glasses" from time to time to find the most creative solutions for your tasks.
Useful resources
Resources
Plugins
- Layout grid vizualizer —Better layout visualization (Figma);
- Grid generator — Generate grids in seconds (Figma);
- Guides—Quickly generate guides for a selected element (Sketch);
- Copy/Paste—Copy-paste layout grids (Sketch).
How to Be a Better Designer
April 16, 2021 - Reading time: 8 minutes
Mindful tips for a creative job journey.
How to be a good designer? It's hard to say.
Probably one should be able to code, know Photoshop, be a good architect or manager + designer + unicorn, or smth. But this is not an article about that.
Here I collected tips/perks I discovered through my journey into calling myself a designer.
Consider these tips to represent summarized concepts rather than serious ass advice.
Have fun. Subscribe if you like the tips!
Tip 1 — Work a lot
Practice makes perfect, so learn to have fun in the process.
Instead of dreaming about the outcome, enjoy the small details of your daily routine and learn to be happy while you are in these waters.
Tip 2 — Take a break
Learn to distract yourself from cluttered thoughts and calm your mind. 💭
Instead of staring at the screen, relaxing and conducting inner research can bring the best ideas when stuck.
Consider trying meditation as one of the tools you apply to progress from time to time.
Tip 3—Master your tool
Any tool. Just focus on one at a time and achieve results with it.
Once you master one, you will be able to do crazy shit, even if it is photoshop or Excel. And the next tool will be much easier to get into.
With time you will notice that the learning process is — also an interface you can actually master.
Tip 4 — Steal like an artist
It’s hard to come up with original ideas at the start.
So no need to shame. Find someone else’s design you really like, and copy it while constantly making it better.
Think about this process being rethinking a problem solution rather than stealing the idea.
Tip 5 — Learn to listen
Use listening as a tool to establish trust with people you work with.
Use listening to learn others' viewpoints, collect valuable intel, and make your design bulletproof.
Tip 6 — Articulate your design
Know how to present your work and articulate your decisions.
Put ego far away when reviewing and getting feedback also.
Tip 7 — Learn to lose
Sometimes your design won't work, and it's okay.
Please do yourself a favor and don't focus on the loss, considering it as a defeat.
Use lose as a valuable experience to get ready for the next battle.
Tip 8 — Optimize your process
Plan your way smartly - use best practices and guides to shorten the distance.
Skip designing everything from scratch and pre-made assets to speed up the process.
Always strive to re-use and power up your toolkit.
Useful resources
References
Tools
Updates
FAQ