Checklists for UX/UI Designers: 7 Key Recommendations

Contents:

• Detecting and correcting typical design mistakes
• How to create an effective checklist for projects
• Top resources for design review

Detecting and Fixing Common Design Mistakes

Several years ago, I created my own interface evaluation checklist. Although sometimes I don't want to use it, it significantly saves time that could have been spent making changes and interacting with developers, business analysts, and managers. Having pre-prepared questions eliminates reliance on memory, making the process more efficient and structured. A checklist serves as a reliable tool for improving interface quality and streamlining workflows.

If you've been designing for a while, you're probably familiar with the common mistakes that can arise during the process. One such mistake is poorly defined end goals and inconsistencies in the user interface (UI). The main problem is that it's not always possible to correctly understand how the designed element will interact with the user and what goals it should achieve. This can lead to confusion and reduce the effectiveness of the interface. Therefore, it's important to focus on formulating tasks and creating a consistent and intuitive design that meets user expectations. Properly defining goals and maintaining consistency in the UI will help avoid common mistakes and improve the overall user experience.

Basic design requirements include several key aspects. First, it's important to consider usability and ease of navigation. The user interface should be intuitive so visitors can easily find the information they need. Secondly, it's worth paying attention to the color palette and font. They should be harmonious and consistent with the site's theme, creating a pleasing visual experience. It's also important to ensure the design is responsive so it displays correctly on various devices, including mobile phones and tablets. Equally important is adherence to accessibility guidelines, which will allow users with disabilities to comfortably interact with the resource. Finally, the design should be relevant and in line with modern trends, which will increase user confidence and improve the overall impression of the site.

• Have I clearly understood the user task this screen is intended to solve?
• Is this screen related to current scenarios and other screens?
• Are there any known technical limitations in terms of functionality or business goals? If not, can I anticipate them?

User interface consistency plays a key role in creating a convenient and intuitive experience for users. This means that design elements such as colors, fonts, and buttons should remain consistent throughout the entire app or website. A consistent interface helps users navigate faster and reduces the likelihood of errors.

It's important to consider that consistency in design not only improves user experience but also increases trust in the product. When users see familiar elements, they feel more comfortable and confident. Implementing standards and patterns in interface design allows developers and designers to work more efficiently, creating a productive work environment.

Furthermore, a consistent user interface helps improve SEO. Search engines prefer websites with clear navigation and a well-defined structure, which impacts rankings. Using the same styles and elements across different parts of a website can help create a logical and understandable architecture, which, in turn, positively impacts user experience and increases time spent on the site.

Thus, maintaining consistency in the user interface is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also an important aspect that affects the functionality and success of a web product.

• Are elements assembled on auto layouts with a multiple of 4 or 8 pixels, and are tokens and styles observed?
• Do auto layout settings match for similar containers?
• Are shadow and margin variables from a UI kit or library used, and not from drafts?
• Is typography applied correctly, taking into account technical styles and visual hierarchy?
• Are text fields taken into account for variable content length?
• Are all states of new components and screens displayed?
• Are new interface elements accessible?
• Is the necessary screen interlinking done?
• Are push notifications and dialog boxes, if provided, defined?

Handing over a project to a developer requires careful preparation. It is important to ensure that all necessary information and resources are collected and structured. Start by creating a detailed technical specification that describes all the functional requirements and features of the project. Make sure that graphic and text materials are organized in a format convenient for the developer. If the project uses third-party libraries or tools, provide links and documentation for them. It is also recommended to discuss deadlines and stages of work to avoid misunderstandings during the development process. Clear and transparent communication during the preparation stage will help ensure successful collaboration and a high-quality result.

• Are all layers named and grouped correctly?
• Have all unnecessary elements been removed from the screen?
• Has all UX text been checked for compliance with the editorial style and consistency with other screens?
• Are new components and corner cases described in sufficient detail so that the developer has no questions?

Before starting design, it is important to ask yourself two key questions. The remaining issues should be considered as the work progresses and before handing the project over to development. This will help ensure more efficient and focused design.

Work items require careful consideration, especially under stress and with many questions arising. In such situations, it is easier to go through the to-do list and mark all items as completed. Furthermore, the absence of questions from leads, managers, or developers regarding wireframes always evokes positive emotions. This indicates that the project is moving in the right direction and all team members are on the same page. Consistent understanding of wireframes promotes more efficient work and reduces stress within the team.

How to Create an Effective Project Checklist

Creating a checklist is a key element for increasing productivity and organizing the workflow. Unlike arbitrary notes, my checklist is a structured system of tasks that is constantly updated in accordance with current projects and development stages. This approach not only improves time management but also increases task efficiency, which is critical to the successful completion of any project.

When starting a new project, I regularly update my checklist, integrating new tasks and eliminating outdated ones. For large-scale tasks, I create separate notes with detailed checklists and links to previous projects. This approach helps me avoid missing important aspects, including working through element states and edge cases that are difficult to cover in a standard format. Using structured checklists increases work efficiency and facilitates the successful implementation of projects.

To optimize my workflow, I use tools such as Figma, which allow you to create checklists using various widgets and plugins. One of the most popular widgets from Kaspersky is ideal for project management, providing a convenient way to track progress at all stages of work. This makes Figma an indispensable tool for effective planning and task control, which is especially important in the context of modern project management requirements.

Using this checklist, I noted that many of the items coincide with my habits, and some actions are performed automatically. This increases my self-esteem and confirms the correctness of my approach. The checklist has become a useful tool for analyzing and improving my habits, which allows me to move more confidently towards my goals.

I discovered a useful English widget called Product Design Checklist. This tool includes key elements to consider when designing. Similar resources are available in the Communities section of the Figma platform, where designers share their work and experiences. Using such checklists can significantly improve the quality of your designs and streamline the project process.

Top resources for design checking

In modern design, it is important to track successful examples from the industry to find effective solutions to similar problems. The use of large design systems, such as Google's Material Design, significantly facilitates the development process. In this case, about 50% of the problems are already solved, and your task is simply to adapt existing principles and elements to your product. Using such systems not only speeds up the process but also improves the quality of interfaces, ensuring consistency and user experience.

If you don't have a full-fledged system, but only an incomplete UI kit or an outdated brand book, you'll need a checklist. It will help you take into account all the important details and not miss critical elements during design development. This approach will ensure the consistency and quality of your content, which will positively impact user perception of the brand.

I regularly use various industry resources to test my ideas and study the work of other designers. It's also important to search for tags, explore the Medium platform, and join Figma communities. These resources offer a wealth of useful information and inspiration directly in the interface, which helps improve design skills and stay on top of current trends.

This checklist is not just a Figma file, but a collection of key accessibility requirements based on WCAG 2.1 standards Level AA. In 2023, WCAG 2.2 was released, but the core accessibility principles remained the same. This document will help developers and designers ensure accessibility compliance by improving user interactions with web content.

Some of the recommendations in this document may seem general, but they are worth revisiting regularly. For example, it is useful to switch interfaces to black and white to check their clarity. It's also important to avoid using a font size smaller than 14 for key messages, as this can negatively impact information comprehension. This checklist contains many nuances that can be challenging for novice designers, so it's important to pay attention to every aspect to ensure high-quality design and a user-friendly experience. While this file doesn't directly reference the WCAG standard, studying this checklist will be useful for anyone developing web and mobile interfaces who are new to WCAG. This checklist will help you better understand the basic principles of accessibility and ensure that your interfaces meet the modern needs of users with disabilities. Familiarization with such material helps improve the quality of web products and their accessibility for a wide audience.

For an in-depth study of content accessibility, an extended checklist from the A11Y project, based on the international WCAG recommendations, is offered. When creating a website on the Tilda platform, special attention should be paid to proper content centering and clear naming of all elements. This will allow search engines to effectively index your site, improving its visibility and accessibility for users. Proper structure and clear element names not only facilitate better information comprehension but also increase the chances of high search rankings.

On this resource, you can easily study all WCAG points and quickly navigate to links for a deeper understanding of web content accessibility. It is important to note that these recommendations are not strict requirements, and some may not be mandatory. For example, removing horizontal scrolling is not always considered critical for accessibility.

Created by a team of designers specializing in large design systems, this resource offers valuable guidance on the visual design and functionality of various design elements and components. It presents basic requirements for elements such as accordions, alerts, and buttons, making it an essential tool for developers and designers seeking to create harmonious and effective interfaces.

Each section contains three references to modern principles developed by leading design systems such as Atlassian, Material, and Spectrum. These principles will help you create a more effective and visually appealing interface by following design best practices. Check out these resources to optimize your design approach and improve user experience.

The resource offers not only technical details, but also extensive documentation on layouts, design system support, and covers important aspects such as shadows and animation.

This resource has established itself as a classic in its field. While it doesn't go into great detail, it offers an excellent foundation for creating simple pages and websites. By studying this material, you can identify key aspects that may have been missed in your projects, helping to improve their quality and functionality. Based on the ideas presented, you will be able to optimize your web projects and increase their efficiency, which will make your content more attractive to users and search engines.

Each section of the site includes links to popular articles on current topics, which makes it easier to find information on creating components and user flows. This allows users to quickly find answers to their questions and gain the knowledge they need, improving their experience interacting with the resource.

You can mark completed parameters, but the overall interface does not display progress for each section.

This resource is designed for beginners in The site covers the field of interface design and helps provide a broad overview of the development process. It covers both interface and user experience, making it a valuable tool in the early stages of development, especially during moments of creative lull. The site presents key stages of product development, from competitor analysis to the use of images and micro-animations. The resource offers useful tips and recommendations that will help you improve your skills and speed up the process of creating interfaces.