Software should be beautiful

Design is everything.

It's the first thing we notice when we look at something, and it's the first thing that makes us feel a certain way. It's the first thing that makes us want to use something, and it's the first thing that makes us want to keep using it.

Beauty

When we think of beauty, we often picture visual aesthetics, paintings, sculptures, or stunning architecture. But software, in its essence, can be just as beautiful.

Good software isn't just about a sleek user interface! It's about the harmony between functionality, efficiency, and user experience.

Why does it matter?

Cognitive Load

Beautiful software reduces cognitive load and when code is well-organized and interfaces are intuitive, people spend less mental energy understanding and using the system.

Just like a well-designed building allows you to navigate it effortlessly, beautiful software allows users to interact with it seamlessly. A labyrinth of confusing menus and cluttered interfaces can lead to frustration and churn.

Trust and Credibility

Users inherently trust well-designed (and pretty!) software more. When you encounter a poorly designed application, don't you question its reliability? Beautiful software builds confidence and credibility.

So how do we make it pretty?

Clean Architecture

Beautiful software starts with clean architecture. Like a well-designed building, software needs strong foundations and logical organization. This means:

• Clear separation of concerns
• Modularity and reusability
• Consistent patterns and practices

This would include things like using design patterns, following SOLID/ACID/etc principles, and writing clean, readable code.

UX

The UI should feel natural and easy to use. It should guide users through their tasks without overwhelming them. This includes:

• Consistent visual language and layout: Users should feel like they are in the same environment across different parts of the software.
• Meaningful animations and transitions: Subtle animations can enhance the user experience by providing feedback and making interactions feel more responsive.
• Responsive and adaptive design: The software should work well on different devices and screen sizes, ensuring a seamless experience for all users.
• Accessibility for all users: Beautiful software should be inclusive and accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. This means following accessibility guidelines and ensuring that the software can be used by people with various needs.

It's important to also provide proper error messages and feedback to users.

A simple "Oops! An error occurred, please try again!" is not helpful. Instead, provide specific information about what went wrong and how users can resolve the issue before having to contact support.

My Approach

When designing software, I follow these principles. Keep in mind that these are just guidelines and not inherently super strict rules. Design is a creative process, and sometimes breaking the rules can lead to innovative solutions.

(But don't break them just for the sake of breaking them, there should be a good reason for it!) An example would be the Shop.

1. Start with Purpose

Before writing a single line of code, I ask myself: "What problem am I trying to solve? Who is my user? What do they need?"

That's why you should:

• Understand your users' needs
• Define clear objectives
• Plan before implementing (design first!)

Some form of whiteboarding or sketching is always a good idea. It's much easier to iterate than in code. Personally I usually use Figma for this.

2. Embrace Simplicity

Just like with art, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. When you can no longer remove anything from your design, you know you've reached perfection.

• Remove unnecessary complexity
• Focus on core functionality (feature bloat is the enemy of good software!)
• Make decisions obvious

You don't need to reinvent the wheel. Use established patterns and practices. Users should be able to use your software without reading a manual (unless your software isn't aerospace related or similar).

3. Details, Details, Details

The difference between good and great software often lies in the details. A well-placed comment, a thoughtful error message, or a subtle animation can elevate the user experience from good to exceptional.

• Consistent spacing and formatting
• Thoughtful color schemes and typography
• Meaningful icons and imagery
• Attention to micro-interactions

4. Test and Iterate

Design is an iterative process. You won't get it right on the first try, and that's okay. The key is to test, gather feedback, and continuously improve like with any other process.

My designs from a few years ago look very different from my designs today, and that's a good thing!

Make sure to:

• Gather user feedback
• Measure performance and usability
• Continuously improve
• Pivot or change direction when necessary

In the sidebar of this blog post, you can find a related post where I list resources that I personally use for design inspiration and learning.