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- If you’re a UX designer looking for inspiration, advice, or interesting perspectives, check out these 15 stellar articles on interaction design.
We’ve hand-picked the articles based on recommendations from our own content team and UX team.
1. Why Hipster Attitudes Can Ruin Interaction Design (designmodo)
A smart, observant, and thought-provoking piece, this article by Nathan James Yates explains the actionable methods to increase empathy — the bread and butter of all UX design — through a perspective of avoiding the “hipster mentality,” essentially dismissing all viewpoints that aren’t one’s own.
2. The 5 Pillars of Interaction Design (TNW)
UXPin’s own Jerry Cao dissects the practice of interaction design, narrowing in on the five most crucial elements. Cao breaks down each of the 5 pillars even further, with expert techniques on how to make the most out of them.
3. Creating Perfect User Flows for Smooth UX (UXPin Blog)
Marek Bowers covers every corner of user flows: why they’re useful in UX design, how to tailor them to personas, the different types and their advantages, and even real examples. Bowers also dives into the details with how to consider user goals and entry points.
4. Efficiently Simplifying Navigation, Part 3: Interaction Design (Smashing Magazine)
Don’t let the “Part 3” fool you; this piece could just as well be called “Interaction Design for Navigation.” Anastasios Karafillis takes a masterful and somewhat fastidious look at applying IxD to navigation, with sections on symbols, target areas, interaction events, layouts & levels, and functional content.
5. 4 UX Habits for Improving Interaction Design (TNW)
Just as the title suggests, Jessica Lowry gives four broad, but never-the-less effective, tips on interaction design. She breaks down the application of each “habit” with practical and operative strategies, filling this article with far more than merely four pieces of advice.
6. Clever Wooden Watch Shows Some of the Best Interaction Design is Analog (Fast Co.)
This very short but no-less poignant piece by Meg Miller reminds digital designers that IxD is more than flashy technology. By explaining the IxD principles of a simple wooden watch, this piece shines some light on the heart of IxD and inspires a new perspective on our craft.
7. The Dribbblisation of Design (Intercom)
Paul Adams takes an introspective look at the field of UX design with a bleak but valid notion of how one of our favorite websites is ultimately working against us. The piece takes a philosophical view how “designing for designers” is derailing us from our ultimate goal of improving UX.
8. How Do You Design Interactions (Smashing Magazine)
Although Luca Leone’s article may sound like an overview piece for beginner’s it’s really a detailed look at writing conversations between the system and the user, the nucleus of IxD. Leone takes an almost scientific approach, with examples, flow charts, and intricate labels.
9. Why Micro-interactions Are the Secret to Great Design (TNW)
Carrie Cousins gives a thorough analysis of one of the most important tools in the interaction designer’s tool belt. Micro-interactions are the perfect solution to plugging up the holes in a spotty UX, smoothing out what would otherwise be a rough experience.
10. How to Use the Best UI Patterns (UXPin Blog)
Containing the theory, step-by-step usage guidelines, and links to free pattern libraries, Jerry Cao’s piece goes through everything you need to know about UI patterns, with advice even experts can learn from.
11. 5 Most Common Interaction Design Mistakes on the Web (designmodo)
Anna Lisnyk’s article reads like a how-not-to guide. These mistakes are so common, even amongst seasoned UX designers, it’s worth a quick scan just to make sure you’re not guilty of one or two. Lisnyk illustrates the hows and whys of these mistakes with screenshots from real sites.
12. Design, White Lies & Ethics (A List Apart)
Another piece on the philosophy of the craft, Dan Turner’s article on the position of honesty versus helping users solve their goals (not to mention fulfilling your business requirements) may not offer practical tactics, but it will make you think and leave a lasting impression on the way you design.
13. 5 Things Tinder Can Teach You About Mobile Experience (UX Magazine)
Almost from the start, Tinder has been a solid example of innovative and effective interactive design so effective its characteristic gesture has transcended into our everyday conversations. Himanshu Sareen covers five worthwhile lessons this IxD giant can teach us about mobile design.
14. How Video Games Improve Your Interaction Design (TNW)
Gamers like to read about video games in any capacity, especially if such an article can help them professionally. Zack Rutherford’s piece explains the IxD lessons we can draw from our favorite games, including habit loops, web gamification, and “player” competition.
Bonus Content
If you’d like more advice on interaction design, check out our free Practical Interaction Design E-book Bundle, an all-in-one download of our three most popular IxD guides (Interaction Design Best Practices Volumes I & Volume II, Consistency in UI Design) with over 250 pages and 60 real examples analyzed.
