The 60–30–10 Rule in UI/UX Design: Achieving Visual Harmony with Proportional Color Schemes
Creating visually appealing and harmonious UI/UX designs is a crucial aspect of engaging users. The 60–30–10 rule is a popular guideline that helps designers establish a balanced color scheme within their designs. In this article, we will explore the significance of the 60–30–10 rule in UI/UX design and provide examples to illustrate its application.
Understanding the 60–30–10 Rule:
The 60–30–10 rule offers designers a proportional approach to selecting colors for their designs. It suggests allocating 60% of the color scheme to a dominant hue, 30% to a secondary hue, and 10% to an accent hue. By following this rule, designers can create a visually pleasing and well-balanced color palette.
Application of the 60–30–10 Rule:
Let’s dive into how the 60–30–10 rule can be effectively applied in UI/UX design with practical examples:
Example 1: E-commerce Website:
Consider an e-commerce website focused on selling fashion products. Applying the 60–30–10 rule to its color scheme would involve:
1. Dominant Hue (60%):
Choose a dominant hue that aligns with the brand and primary focus of the website. For a fashion platform, a soothing shade of blue might be selected to convey trust and reliability. This dominant hue can be used for the website’s background, headers, and other larger design elements.
2. Secondary Hue (30%):
Select a secondary hue that complements the dominant color and adds visual interest. To highlight secondary elements such as buttons, call-to-action sections, and category headings, a contrasting warm orange could be employed in our example.
3. Accent Hue (10%):
Incorporate an accent hue that adds vibrancy and draws attention to specific elements. For instance, using a pop of bright red sparingly for sale tags, notifications, or icons can effectively catch users’ attention.
By adhering to the 60–30–10 rule, the color scheme of the e-commerce website achieves a visually balanced and harmonious composition. The dominant hue provides a cohesive foundation, the secondary hue adds variation and depth, while the accent hue acts as a focal point, guiding users to important elements.
Example 2: Social Media Mobile App
Let’s explore how the 60–30–10 rule can be applied to the color scheme of a social media mobile app:
1. Dominant Hue (60%):
Choose a dominant hue that aligns with the brand identity and the overall mood of the app. For a social media app that aims to create a friendly and approachable atmosphere, a cheerful shade of yellow could be selected as the dominant hue. This color can be applied to the background, headers, and primary sections of the app.
2. Secondary Hue (30%):
Select a secondary hue that complements the dominant color and adds depth to the overall design. To create contrast and visual interest, a cool shade of blue can be used as the secondary hue. This color can be applied to buttons, icons, and secondary elements within the app.
3. Accent Hue (10%):
Incorporate an accent hue to bring attention to specific elements and create focal points. In this case, a vibrant shade of red can be used as the accent color. It can be applied sparingly to notifications, important call-to-action buttons, or to highlight user-generated content.
By adhering to the 60–30–10 rule, the social media app’s color scheme achieves a visually balanced and engaging design. The dominant yellow hue creates a welcoming atmosphere, while the secondary blue hue adds depth and contrast. The accent red hue draws attention to key elements, enhancing user interaction and engagement.
Remember, the 60–30–10 rule is a starting point, and you can customize the color proportions based on the specific needs and branding of your design project. Experiment with different color combinations and seek user feedback to ensure your color scheme aligns with the app’s purpose and user preferences.
Benefits of the 60–30–10 Rule:
Implementing the 60–30–10 rule in UI/UX design offers several benefits:
1. Visual Cohesion: By establishing a proportional color scheme, the rule ensures a harmonious and visually pleasing design that feels balanced and consistent.
2. Focus on Key Elements: The accent hue allows designers to highlight important elements, directing users’ attention and enhancing usability.
3. Streamlined Decision-making: Following the rule provides a clear framework for selecting colors, making the design process more efficient and eliminating color-related decision paralysis.
Conclusion:
The 60–30–10 rule is a valuable guideline for achieving visual harmony in UI/UX design. By allocating colors proportionally, designers can create aesthetically pleasing interfaces that engage users and convey a sense of balance. Remember, while the rule serves as a helpful starting point, it’s important to adapt it to the specific needs and context of each design project. Through experimentation, user feedback, and iterative design processes, designers can refine their color schemes to create the most effective and delightful user experiences.
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