Designs By Dietrich

Design is ever-evolving.

And there’s no one that understands this better than our co-founder and head of design Joe Dietrich.

Dive Into the Third Dimension

Much like trends in the fashion industry, UX styles often lose their attraction over time and then regain popularity as we rediscover their worth.

One example that Joe frequently mentions is design’s depth. Our screens are 2-dimensional spaces, but that doesn’t mean we can’t turn them into 3-dimensional playgrounds to pull the viewer in and hold their interest. Think realistic experiences. By creating a more lifelike design, you’ll have a better chance of offering the viewer an experience that they’re likely to remember. Two of his favorite methods to bring designs to life are overlapping elements and shadows.

When an object covers another, it’s clear that one must be closer and the other must be further away. The suggested space between objects adds depth to the image and changes our overall perception.

Adding shadows is also a simple but effective way to change one’s perception of depth. A shorter, thinner shadow suggests that an object is close to the surface, while a taller, wider shadow suggests that an object is further away from the surface.

There are a variety of ways to provide users with a more realistic experience, but making an image pop off the page is a design favorite.

Making Waves with Microcopy

Good designers understand the importance of the marriage between design and copy. The length, placement, and order of copy in a space is equally as important as the words themselves. Just as an image or illustration sends an unspoken message with its design alone. Knowing what copy and design to use at a given point in time allows you to craft a seamless and powerful message.

“The best design is less formulaic and more thoughtful.” - Joe Dietrich

One of Joe’s main focuses when designing is making sure that the copy offers a solution to a specific problem.

Microcopy is a tiny addition that can make a huge impact. It’s basically the verbiage that gets users where they want to be. Buttons, error messages, reminders — it’s all microcopy, and it has a huge impact on conversion rates — especially when its placement is on point. By taking users’ problems into consideration, instead of attempting to sell them something, and providing them with a quick, reachable solution, you’ll be able to form a longer-lasting and more genuine connection.  

But don’t mistake microcopy’s brevity for its ease of implementation. Fewer words allows for a smaller margin for error. Put yourself in the shoes of the user, and ask yourself if you would click the button yourself or if the instruction provided has a clear call to action.

If you add a sense of reality to your design, consider the hesitation points, and take a conversational tone — you’ll be seeing higher conversion rates in no time (and make Joe happy).