We asked industry experts to share one design element or pattern they believe is often overlooked in web UI design but can significantly improve user experience. Here are their suggestions and how you can incorporate them effectively in your own projects. Learn how small changes in your approach can lead to substantial improvements in user engagement and satisfaction.
- Leverage Whitespace for Clarity and Conversions
- Enhance Accessibility to Improve User Experience
- Implement Microinteractions for Powerful User Feedback
- Utilize Breadcrumb Navigation in Complex Websites
- Prioritize Accessible Navigation for Improved Engagement
- Design Effective Error and Empty States
- Create Custom Loading Animations to Engage Users
- Craft Thoughtful Microcopy as Design System Element
- Apply Progressive Disclosure to Simplify Complex Interfaces
9 Overlooked UI Design Elements That Can Improve UX
Leverage Whitespace for Clarity and Conversions
One design element often overlooked is the strategic use of whitespace. Whitespace isn’t just about aesthetics; it significantly improves user experience by providing clarity, focus, and breathing room. In one of my projects, I used whitespace to revamp an e-commerce site, spacing out product listings and customer testimonials. This simple change led to a 15% increase in time spent on product pages and a 10% boost in conversions.
Another powerful but underused feature is storytelling through design elements. For a Las Vegas hospitality startup, I integrated a narrative-driven design that included a chronological visual journey of user interaction. This dynamic storytelling approach resonated with users, leading to a 25% surge in bookings. The user journey felt more immersive, creating emotional engagement and brand loyalty.
Athena Kavis
Web Developer & Founder, Quix Sites
Enhance Accessibility to Improve User Experience
We feel accessibility is one web UI design element that is often overlooked, not just from a compliance perspective, but also from a user experience perspective. Good accessibility is absolutely beneficial for everyone, not just the users of assistive technologies. When we combine a visible text label with an icon button, it eliminates any guesswork.
Not every user will automatically know what an icon represents, especially if it’s stylized or used in an unusual context. The addition of an explicit label, such as “Download Report” or “Share via Email,” coupled with the icon, clarifies functionality, minimizes confusion, and improves interaction speed. It’s a minor adjustment, but one that can have a significant impact on cognitive load and bounce rates, particularly when it comes to mobile, where context gets stripped back further.
We’ve already seen great results from these workstreams. After working to implement more accurate labeling and keyboard navigation on one of our client dashboards, we observed a 22% increase in successful user task completion and a marked decrease in support tickets due to UI confusion. I can say that accessibility isn’t just a checkbox; it forces you to slow down and think intentionally about your web design.
Matt Bowman
Founder, Thrive Local
Implement Microinteractions for Powerful User Feedback
Microinteractions are generally some of the least-talked-about but truly powerful design elements in web UIs. These tiny animations and feedback loops, while seemingly trivial, hold much importance in affecting increased usage, reinforcing action, etc.
The right microinteraction communicates to the user what he or she is beginning to feel and intuit about the design—a button perhaps changing its states on hover, a subtler vibration on the mobile device confirming that an action is being undertaken, or a cute little loading animation indicating progress. It should be unmistakably clear to the user that his or her action was acknowledged, and that acknowledgment should be delivered via interaction.
Microinteractions could offer—for our projects—those opportunities to create some of those experiences. A good instance is the feedback animation we designed for an “Add to Cart” button: unlike a boring state change, it provides instant feedback. Upon being pressed, a small check mark of confirmation flashes up instantaneously before retreating back into the button state. This simple experience ensures the user is assured that the action registered but not to the detriment of the flow of transaction, retaining fluidity in its movement.
Microinteractions are sometimes a boon for usability in design. When done well, these interactions alleviate friction and enhance the human experience in the digital realm. These are the small features that separate good design from great design.
Tom Jauncey
Head Nerd, Nautilus Marketing
Utilize Breadcrumb Navigation in Complex Websites
One often overlooked design element in web UI that can significantly improve user experience is breadcrumb navigation. Implementing this simple, yet powerful tool aids users in understanding their location within the website, allowing for easier backtracking and exploring related categories. This structure is especially effective in complex B2B sites where visitors need to sift through detailed product specifications and industry resources. By utilizing breadcrumb navigation, we’ve witnessed improved user engagement metrics and a reduction in bounce rates.
In one project, a client’s B2B platform saw a 30% increase in session durations after deploying structured breadcrumb trails. It empowered users to navigate with confidence, shortening the path to conversion by swiftly directing them to service pages and critical content. This approach aligns with user-centered design principles, ensuring that visitors can intuitively find information without frustration or unnecessary clicks.
Another pattern I’ve had success with is strategically highlighting value propositions across key site areas. We place compelling data and customer testimonials prominently on service pages and within headers. This not only solidifies trust but actively guides B2B buyers through their journey by showcasing what sets a brand apart from the competition. By clearly communicating benefits, we’ve helped clients see conversion growth of up to 20%, demonstrating the power of well-placed, persuasive content.
Kiel Tredrea
President & CMO, RED27Creative
Prioritize Accessible Navigation for Improved Engagement
One design element that is often overlooked in web UI is the importance of accessible navigation. Navigation is crucial for a smooth user experience, yet it frequently doesn’t get the detailed attention it deserves. Whether it’s a sticky menu or an intuitive sidebar, ensuring users can easily find information is key. For instance, when working on a large e-commerce site, I revamped the navigation to be more user-centered, with a mega menu that grouped related products and information logically. This change led to a 25% reduction in bounce rates and improved overall site engagement.
Another example is incorporating breadcrumb trails in complex sites. Breadcrumbs significantly improve user experience by letting users see their path and easily backtrack if needed. I added this feature to a client’s educational blog with a wide range of categories, greatly improving user satisfaction and page views. It’s small changes like these, guided by data from user interactions, that can make a big difference in ensuring websites are not only functional but also user-friendly.
Kevin Gallagher
Owner, wpONcall
Design Effective Error and Empty States
Product teams often emphasize the “happy path”—the series of actions taken when everything goes well and users know what to do. However, the true quality of a web experience is tested when issues arise or users face something unfamiliar. Often neglected are error states and empty states, which are either completely forgotten about or superficially designed. While basic error messages might be adequate for simple cases like login pages, more complex workflows require careful consideration of empty and error states so that users are helped to understand the situation and resume their tasks effectively.
How can product teams ensure they dedicate enough time to error and empty states? It starts during the planning and wireframing stages. When creating a new user flow, think about potential problems at each step and determine how users can navigate those challenges—whether that’s learning to use a new feature or grasping what went wrong in the event of an error and how to fix it. By examining the experience from multiple perspectives and ensuring it remains smooth even when things go off course, teams can greatly enhance user experience.
Calin Balea
Founder, Contrast
Create Custom Loading Animations to Engage Users
Loading animations are an underrated UX tool in web UI design. Spinners and bars have become commonplace, and more and more users expect instant interactions. When they don’t get them, frustration kicks in fast. But a well-crafted, brand-specific loading animation can turn dead time into an engaging moment.
For a health and beauty client, we faced a 3-second API delay after form submissions. It felt like an eternity. Users complained about the wait. Since we couldn’t speed up the third-party API, I created a custom Rive animation showcasing their product lines with fun, eye-catching transitions. Believe it or not, the complaints disappeared. Custom loading animations provide something entertaining instead of dead time waiting.
James Taylor
Founder & CEO, Meticular
Craft Thoughtful Microcopy as Design System Element
Thoughtful microcopy is one of the most overlooked elements in web UI design. Clear, conversational text in buttons, tooltips, and empty states can help not just flatten any learning curves but also create opportunities for incorporating brand voice into the actual UI (e.g., friendliness, surprising humor, etc.).
We treat microcopy as part of the design system, not an afterthought. In a recent project with an analytics-heavy dashboard page, we leveraged tooltips as a chance to educate less data-savvy teams with bite-sized definitions. Users get a mini-education as they explore the platform, and they’re more likely to stick around as their confidence grows.
Caitie Sfingi
Co-Founder, Merakite
Apply Progressive Disclosure to Simplify Complex Interfaces
One impactful but often overlooked design element in web UI is progressive disclosure—the practice of revealing information or options only when they become relevant. It keeps interfaces clean and focused, reducing cognitive load and guiding users step by step without overwhelming them.
We used this pattern effectively in a commercial insurance quoting tool where users had to input complex business information. Rather than showing a long, intimidating form, we broke it into manageable steps and revealed additional questions only based on previous inputs—like showing workers’ comp questions only if employees were listed. This approach significantly improved completion rates and made the experience feel faster and more intuitive, especially for users unfamiliar with insurance terminology. By respecting the user’s attention and pacing, progressive disclosure led to higher engagement and fewer drop-offs.
Ari Lew
CEO, Asymm
