Selecting and Applying Web UI Patterns Once you’ve determined the overall visual hierarchy of the website, you still need to determine the fine details of your web interface such as how users can input data, how the site provides feedback, and many other functional and aesthetic factors. The best ways to consistently address these needs are UI patterns. You’ll rarely be able to create an interface just by stitching different patterns together, but they are a great foundation for customization. In Web UI Design Patterns 2014, we explained the proper application of web UI patterns by looking at 63 examples from sites like Facebook or Pinterest. A UI design pattern is a reusable solution to a commonly occurring problem — not just a feature that can be plugged into your design or a finished design ready to be coded. It’s best to think of them as best practices for core site functions such as: • Getting Input — How will users provide you data, and how will the site give them feedback? • Navigation — What menus and tabs will guide the user along? • Content Structuring — How is your content presented and accessed? • Social Sharing — How can your site encourage more social sharing and interaction?
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