11 Proven Ways to Create Engaging Web Application UI Designs

Utilize context-aware navigation

First up in our list of web app design ideas are context-aware navigation menus. This is a unique type of web app navigation that takes into account user data to provide a personalized navigational experience for each user. This could be as simple as basing the navigation on the user’s current location within the web app or as complex as considering the user’s full web app activity, personal interests, and preferences.

For example, if the user is looking for information about a product, the navigation menu could display links to product pages, product reviews, and FAQs about the product.

Another example of this type of navigation in action can be seen in Clickup’s interface. The app’s homescreen adapts based on what’s most important for the user to see at any given time. It also provides plenty of navigational jumping off points to help the user dive deeper into areas such as the calendar, inbox, and notifications.

This kind of adaptive and personalized user interface design element can help take what would normally be an overwhelming web application and turn it into something that’s very usable and engaging.

Stick to a familiar layout

Jackob’s Law tells us that users spend a majority of their time on sites other than yours. Because of this, users expect your site to function similarly to other sites. Users simply prefer familiarity. To ensure your web app is intuitive to use and keeps users engaged, you should mirror common models that users are familiar with. Doing so will allow users to focus on using the web application rather than learning how to use it.

The less mental energy users spend on learning an interface, the more they can dedicate towards achieving their objective. While designing a user interface, you should follow the common design patterns and conventions in strategic areas such as page structure, workflows, navigation, and placement of expected elements such as search.

In the example below you’ll see that elements are placed where used expect: the shopping cart is in the top right, the logo is in the top left, and the search bar is in the center of the screen.

Don’t just focus on one device

It’s no longer acceptable to have a web app that just works on desktops. Users demand web app designs that provide a seamless experience on mobile devices and tablets as well. To keep engagement high and avoid customers abandoning your web app, it should be accessible on all devices.

This type of accessibility across devices is known as responsive web app design. Responsive web app design requires all design elements to adapt to the size and capability of each device, allowing users to have a tailored experience.

You can see that Shopify’s site adapts to provide a responsive experience on all devices. Users are still able to see the headline and call to action, but on the smaller screens the images are removed.

Prioritize compelling content

Design and content go hand in hand. You can have a great web application design but without relevant, compelling content, your design will fall flat. Content within the web app should be tailored to the target audience, as well as organized and presented in an intuitive way.

This can be achieved through careful design decisions, such as making sure buttons, text, and images are easy to find and clearly labeled. Additionally, conversational interfaces can help guide users through the app, making the experience more interactive and engaging.

Aim for visual consistency

As the user interacts with your web app for the first time, they quickly understand the visual approach of the UI/UX. The user then uses this knowledge to interact with every screen, intuitively understanding the web app’s information hierarchy, organization, and functionality.

The more visually consistent your web app is across pages and across devices, the easier it will be for users to use and engage with your app. It’s all about leaning into the natural ability of the human brain to recognize and recall patterns.

There are many examples of web apps that have strong visual consistency, but one great example is Google. Google uses different layouts for the desktop and mobile versions of the app, but they use the same components and color combinations to keep the visual style consistent. This makes it really easy to move between the desktop and mobile versions of their app.

Choose the right color scheme

Choosing the right color palette for your web app UI can be an important part of creating an engaging experience for your users. Colors can evoke feelings and can be used to influence how your users perceive your web app designs (and the company itself).

For instance, Zendesk’s color palette consists mostly of gray, white and blue, with small pops of orange, which on this screen have been used to highlight the new ticket. The cool colors create a sense of calmness and professionalism, while also helping the vibrant splash of orange stand out and draw attention to key areas and content.

The number of colors you utilize in your web app design can also have an impact on how it is perceived. A clean interface with only one or two colors will feel quite different than a UI full of a rainbow of colors.

Make use of high contrast

Using high contrast in web applications makes it easier for users to distinguish between different elements on the page, and creates a more visually appealing design overall.

It also makes it easier for users to find the most important elements on a page, and helps to draw attention to specific elements- or features, making them more likely to be noticed. High contrast can also be used to create visual hierarchy, making the most important elements of the design stand out from the rest and making it easier for users to find what they are looking for.

Slack uses blue as a contrast color in two areas on the screen below: on the left panel to show which channel the user is viewing and on the pop-up in the center to show which option the user is hovering over. In both cases, the contrasting color helps to make the app more usable and intuitive for the user.

Remember that less is more

When designing web app UIs, it is important to remember the concept of “less is more.” This means that the fewer fonts and colors used in a design, the better. Too many fonts and colors can overwhelm the user and make it difficult to focus on the content.

Instead, it is best to limit the number of fonts you use to one or two and to use variations of that font where needed. Additionally, be mindful of the colors you use and try to limit them to a few shades. This will help give the design a more unified and aesthetically pleasing look.

Google Search Console leans into the classic Google minimalism to provide a very easy-to-use interface. They stick to a single font and rely on text sizing and background colors to help the user know what’s most important. They also make use of simple icons to make the interface more intuitive without adding any design clutter.

Use negative space strategically

Negative space can help create an engaging experience by providing structure, visual balance and emphasis on important elements within web apps and native mobile apps. By strategically using the space between and around elements, UI designers can create an efficient layout that can become more intuitive.

Additionally, negative space can help create contrast between elements and create visual hierarchy, enabling users to quickly scan the page and identify the most important elements.

In the screen below you can see that the embeded form (powered by Typeform) leans heavily into the use of negative space to keep the user focused on one thing: the email input box. The negative space that surrounds the input as well as the generally muted interface shows the user clearly what they need to do to proceed to the next step.

Have a clear call to action

A clear call to action (CTA) is an essential element of effective user interface design. It helps to create an engaging experience for users by providing them with a clear indication of what to do and how to do it. By making sure the CTA is clearly visible and that its purpose is clear and concise, users are more likely to take the desired action.

For example, a CTA button should be placed in a prominent location where users can easily spot and click it. The text on the button should succinctly explain the action that will be taken if clicked, and the button itself should stand out against the background.

Try using subtle animations

Microinteractions are an important part of UI design and help to create engaging, intuitive user experiences. They typically involve a single action, such as pressing a button or hovering over an element, that triggers a small animation or change in the interface.

These small changes can provide useful feedback to users, such as confirming an action, or helping to guide them through a process. Done well, microinteractions can make a huge difference to the overall user experience, with subtle yet powerful effects.