Designpattern – helpful concept or simple habit?
We live with pattern every day. In fact, our brains are hardwired with pattern. Pattern recognition is a basic human information processing skill and an important process for perceiving our environment. Perception depends on knowledge and experience that people already have. The brain compares stimuli to previously stored information in long-term memory to categorize them. Without previously acquired experience, humans cannot recognize patterns. [1]
It is related to habit because habit is a routine of behavior that is repeated regularly and usually takes place automatically. It is related to habit because habit is a behavioral routine that is regularly repeated and usually automatic. We follow habits and patterns because they make things easier for us, but sometimes this behavior is even fatal, as common diseases of civilization prove. I was wondering if the same is true for UI/UX patterns.
In UI design, Usability is one of the most important factors to consider when designing a UI. And Usability is often critical for a good User Experience. To ensure good usability, designers need not only carefully consider their design but also use a common design pattern. Jenifer Tidwell, a renowned interface designer, is responsible for bringing pattern design into the world of UI design. She created many of the first patterns that are now used in modern web and app design. Since then, Designers have also built up design pattern libraries, which hold a solution for a variety of Interface Design Problems. [2] But does that mean if we follow design patterns and design principles the UI will always turn out good? Therefore, I want to explore what distinguishes good from bad UI design, and whether following design patterns is always a good idea, or whether constant repetition of past solutions tends to prevent innovative ideas.
Design Pattern – definition of term
A pattern is something that repeats itself and has a predictable outcome. Even though people’s experiences are tied to their past empirical experiences, the way the human brain and perception works makes behavior predictable. Design patterns are based on the fact that humans repeat behavior and act in a certain way. [3] Common patterns like login and registration processes, social logins, user on boarding, breadcrumbs, date pickers have become established in digital products nowadays. One rule of good interface design is to repeat what’s already in use. Indeed, using a tried and tested solution, does not even save time for developing concept and UI design but also promotes the users learnability curve. [4]
The Concept and term was first defined by the Austrian-born U.S. architect and architectural theorist Christopher Alexander [5] in early 1977, who created his own design patterns for architecture. [6] This approach was later used in software development where patterns became proven, tested methods for developing software faster. The use of pattern can save time in the development process and reduce the potential for unexpected issues. Also it makes code more understandable which is also true for general understanding and communication approaches in the field of UI/UX design.[7] With the close relationship between the two disciplines, the leap to UI design was not far.
Design Pattern – then, now, forever the same?
According to current knowledge about perception and human behavior, the use of design patterns is a good thing, as they help save time in development and improve UX. But is this really true, or are designers and developers simply addicted to a self-perpetuating habit, even though the solution may not be the best – just as some habits turn out not to be good. When we break free from constant repetition, do we gain a new perspective and find even better solutions to UI problems?
Another considerable aspect is the innate human drive to progress. When do we reach the point where we get tired and bored of repeating the same thing over and over again? There are already movements that intentionally break patterns, like Brutalism in web design. That might be an indicator that we need some change. Many new trends in disciplines like architecture, art, and fashion have been created in opposition to conformity. Brutalism in 2019 came up as a protest against the very shiny design of mainstream website design and fed the retro feeling at the time. It did not catch on, but is an interesting new approach to making web design less conformist and developing independent design styles. [8]
Designpattern – predict the future
Once a pattern is invented, is it valid forever or does it change over time and especially with technological change? In fact, design patterns naturally change over time, especially as technology advances. When the mobile phone came along, designers had to find new ways to design concepts and interfaces, they had to adapt to voice-controlled devices like Alexa, and they will continue to have to find new ways with new inventions in the future. Another interesting aspect of change in the future is the evolution of AI. If we consider all the rules and patterns that already exist, can AI be useful for UI/UX engineers?
I would also like to make a short digression on the question: If we follow the don´t-make-them-think paradigm, will users not think at all in the future? Will designers make us think and will they relieve our cognitive processes and allow us to engage in more relevant thoughts, or will they impair the human ability to think in complex ways?
- Youguo Pi, Wenzhi Liao, Mingyou Liu and Jianping Lu (2008). Theory of Cognitive Pattern Recognition, Pattern Recognition Techniques, Technology and Applications, Peng-Yeng Yin (Ed.) InTech, S.434-435
Available from: http://www.intechopen.com/books/pattern_recognition_techniques_technology_and_applications/theory_of_cognitive_pattern_recognition – - Using Design Patterns in User Interface Design, Chelsea Chase, 2012, S. 2
- Designing Interfaces, Jenifer Tidwell, 2005, S. 11
- Dialogprinzipien DIN EN ISO 9241-110
- https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Alexander
- Using Design Patterns in User Interface Design, Chelsea Chase, 2012, S. 3
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_design_pattern
- The rise of brutalism and antidesign, Ellen Brage, 2019, S. 2 (https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1304924/FULLTEXT01.pdf),
