Design is more than making things look good. For frontend developers, understanding design principles can mean the difference between something that works — and something users enjoy using.
If you're a developer trying to improve your UI skills (especially coming from tools like Figma), here are the most important things I’ve learned — including what overwhelmed me in the beginning and how I overcame it.
1. Start with Visual Hierarchy
Not everything is equally important. Use size, color, and spacing to make key elements stand out.
- Use larger font sizes for headings (
2rem,1.5rem, etc.) - Create a visual "flow" from top to bottom
- Group related elements visually — don’t leave them floating
2. Grids and Spacing Are Non-Negotiable
Before colors or animations — layout matters.
- Stick to an 8px spacing scale (8, 16, 24, 32...)
- Use Figma’s auto-layout or CSS Flex/Grid to align consistently
- Use white space generously — clutter is a design killer
3. Color: Keep It Simple
Color overwhelmed me when I started. Too many options, too many rules. Here’s what helped:
- Stick to 1 primary color and 1–2 neutrals
- Use tools like Coolors to build matching palettes
- Maintain contrast — especially for accessibility
Tip: Start with grayscale in Figma before adding color.
4. Typography Is 90% of UI
Most of a UI is text.
- Use only 1 or 2 fonts (Inter, Roboto, Poppins, etc.)
- Define a clear type scale (
32pxforh1,16pxfor body, etc.) - Use generous
line-height(1.5is a good default)
5. Consistency > Creativity
Creativity is cool — but consistency is what makes designs usable.
- Use the same spacing and padding across elements
- Stick to your defined color palette
- Reuse components (buttons, inputs, etc.)
6. Don’t Design Everything From Scratch
Use UI kits, design systems, and inspiration. You’re not “cheating” — you’re learning.
- Explore Mobbin, UI Coach, and Figma Community
- Reverse-engineer good designs to learn spacing, layout, and scale
- Use component libraries or Tailwind UI for inspiration
7. Figma First, Then Code
Designing in Figma before writing code helps you:
- Visualize layout early
- Catch inconsistencies
- Reuse spacing + text styles
Your Figma file becomes a blueprint — coding becomes faster and more accurate.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be a full-time designer to build beautiful interfaces. Master spacing, hierarchy, and typography — and let the rest evolve with practice.
Design simple. Keep it clean. Ship confidently.
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