Quite a lot has been said about user interface design and its importance to the successful launch of a product. A user-friendly design will yield proper dividends when the product launches and users actually find it easy to use. They become more familiar with the product itself, and your work is done.

There are many elements to proper user interface design, as we know. However, one of the most fundamental is consistency. While it might seem like a no-brainer, you’d be shocked at the number of designers who tend to gloss over it when they work.

What is Design Consistency?

Simply put, consistency occurs when all the elements of a user interface design behave the same way. Implementing consistency in your design is important in ensuring that your users can understand how the product works. It also encourages them more to use the product, bringing it another step closer to fulfilling its objective.

When a user first comes in contact with a product, they make assumptions immediately. Once they see your home page (or landing page, for an app), they start thinking about what to expect when they see other parts of the product.

With consistency, you ensure that the users’ assumptions about your product are correct. This gives a sense of control, encouraging the user to explore. Just like that, you have them hooked!

Why You Should Prioritize Design Consistency

Expert designers agree that design consistency is important. But why?

It cuts out confusion

Confusion is the enemy of any product. As a designer, the absolute worst thing that can happen to you is for your end-users to get confused when using your product. It’s the Achilles heel of any designer.

This is why consistency is key. As a designer, it’s easy to get lost in the magic of what you’re doing that you throw in different elements. But, you should always remember to keep all elements consistent with each other.

Users want to go into a product and find their way around easily, and consistency is what gets you there.

It encourages users to learn

When designing, you should note four different types of consistency — external, internal, functional, and visual.

When you achieve all these, you don’t just make the product usable; you make it learnable as well. Users know they’re in control of the product, and they’re encouraged to look around to see what else the product can do.

As a designer, your joy is to build something that people always want to use; not because they have to use it, but because they love using it. However, no matter how hard you try, the users won’t be able to do this if they’re not willing to learn how the product works.

With a consistent design, you can keep users on your product for as long as possible. They won’t get frustrated while using it, and they’ll be more interested in exploring every facet of the product.

Contributing to the product’s overall success

When coming up with innovative ideas, consistency helps you to advance the chances of success in your user interface design. By doing this, you’re guaranteeing that your process is done with the users’ expectations in mind.

Preventing issues like confusion and errors will keep your product ringing in your users’ minds. They won’t get tired of using what you’re building, and your stock will keep rising.