They’re great for keeping the user’s interest as new content loads while maintaining a minimal impact on performance.

With that in mind, here are 10 examples of page transitions that can add a little something special to your next project:

Vue.js Variety

With the help of the Vue.js framework, the examples here sport a quick and slick set of transitions. There’s a nice mix here of basic transitions (fade, zoom) and a few that are a bit unique compared to what we normally see (flipX, flipY and slideUp).

See the Pen Vue2 page transitions with GSAP by Tim Rijkse

Old School Television

Intentional or not, this transition is reminiscent of an old CRT television being turned off. The colored background shrinks down to a single line, much like what my old TV did after a night of watching MTV (when they still played music, that is). Then, the transition finishes off by reversing the effect (as my TV did when I woke up the next morning).

See the Pen Page Transitions by Mergim Ujkani

Morphing SVG

A circular SVG is used in this transition to add a clock-like effect. The movement adds a cinematic quality that seems like a perfect fit for a multimedia site.

See the Pen Page Transition Loader by Arsen Zbidniakov

Speedy Transition with Preloader

If you’re going to use page transitions in multiple places throughout your site, then they’d better be quick. That’s what is so cool about this example. There’s a colorful animated preloader that quickly makes way for the content to reveal itself. It’s interesting to look at while not wasting precious time.

See the Pen Page Transition with Loader by John Heiner

Thumbnail to Full Page

This is quite a unique effect, as clicking a thumbnail image transitions to a modal using that very same image as a full-screen background. The effect is a combination of CSS transitions and Angular.js.

See the Pen Thumbnail to fullscreen page transition by Steve Gardner

Wipe it Clean

A good old wipe effect has been a staple of TV and film transitions for decades. Here, we see a variation of it activated with CSS and a tiny bit of jQuery.

See the Pen Page transition CSS3 by TOMAZKI

Cubic Bezier with GSAP

GSAP is a library that enables super-fast animations. This example utilizes it to create a “slide up” transition effect, along with some animated background fun.

See the Pen GSAP Cubic bezier page transition by Maciej Siwanowicz

Splish-Splash

With a cool “splash” effect, this responsive modal transition will certainly get a user’s attention. It’s quick, colorful, and fun. It’s built with Lottie, which brings After Effects transitions to the web.

See the Pen Responsive bodymovin modal / page transition by Jonas Sandstedt

There’s a Glitch

There’s something about the dystopian glitch effect that is just timeless. Countless sci-fi shows and movies wouldn’t be the same without it. This example from nclud shows how they built a page transition with all kinds of glitchy goodness.

See the Pen Canvas Glitch Intro by nclud team

3D Cubes

Imagine that each page on your site is a panel on a cube (or pentagon, or hexagon, etc.). Going to the next page is just flipping that shape around to show the correct panel. That’s kind of the point behind this rotating cube effect that utilizes jQuery and Velocity.js.

See the Pen 3D Cube Page Transition by Hubert Warzycha

Page transitions have come such a long way in recent years. They’ve gone from simple fades and color changes all the way to effects that wouldn’t look out of place in a movie.

The combination of CSS, along with the right JavaScript library, can produce compelling visuals. When used responsibly, transitions can a fun way to enhance UX.

More CSS Effects Snippets

The post 10 CSS & JavaScript Snippets for Page Transition Effects appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

Here are some free WordPress plugins you can use to add a variety of effects to your site:

Blocks Animation – CSS Animations for Gutenberg Blocks

If you’re looking for an easy way to draw attention to an element of your page, Blocks Animation is worth a look. It works natively with the Gutenberg block editor, allowing you to add animation to any block via a settings panel. Choose your desired animation style, delay, and speed.

Animator – Scroll Triggered Animations in WordPress

Scroll-triggered animations are very popular these days but can be tricky to set up. Animator provides a slick GUI that takes the pain out of the process. The plugin features a selection of ready-to-use animations, but you may also create your own. Pick an animation, set the scroll position, and you’re good to go.

Image Hover Effects Ultimate for WordPress

Image Hover Effects Ultimate includes several handy and compelling animations for your images. The image comparison effect, for example, allows visitors to compare “before” and “after” versions of an image. Also included are hover animations for buttons, flip boxes, captions, and more.

Greenshift – WordPress Animation & Page Builder Blocks

Greenshift is built with an eye toward performance. Rather than use large frameworks to power animation, elements are generated on-the-fly. The plugin also utilizes CSS3 and SVG, allowing for flexibility without hurting your site’s load time.

Animate It! WordPress Plugin

Adding CSS3 animations to your site is easy with Animate It!. The plugin combines the Animate.css and Animo.js libraries in one package containing over 50 animations. Animations can be applied on user events like scroll, hover and click.

Page Animations & Transitions WordPress Plugin

Page Animations and Transitions offer a selection of nine different “in” and “out” page transitions. You can also set duration times for transitions.

Easy Textillate WordPress Plugin

Add animations to any text on your site with Easy Textillate. The plugin includes the textillate.js, animate.css and lettering.js libraries to provide all sorts of excellent effects for your typography. Generate Shortcodes with the animation styles you want, place them into your content and watch them go!

Ultimate Hover Effects WordPress Plugin

Use Ultimate Hover Effects to add some life to your image captions. Select an image from the WordPress Media Library and set up the hover effects you want to use. Then it’s just a matter of embedding it into a post or page. A Shortcode generator is also included.

Page scroll to id WordPress Plugin

Page scroll to id adds smooth-scrolling effects to in-page navigation using CSS ID elements. You can set the scroll duration and easing – with over 30 easing types to choose from. Both vertical and horizontal scrolling is supported and offsets can be configured for individual links.

CSS3 Rotating Words WordPress Plugin

CSS3 Rotating Words is a handy plugin with a simple function: Rotating a word or words in a sentence using animation. For example, you might have a sentence where you want to change one word:

• WordPress is Fun
• WordPress is Awesome

Choose from five animation styles and also set the font color and size.

Make Your Site Special

The right mix of special effects can bring elements of both fun and utility to your WordPress website. Of course, it’s best to pick and choose carefully when deciding what to use.

A good rule of thumb is to always keep the best interests of users in mind. If a feature increases usability or makes your site more enjoyable to use, then it might be worth your while.

The post 10 Best Free Plugins for Adding Animation Effects to WordPress appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

For quite a while, the ability to add realistic light and shade to an illustration or animation seemed like the holy grail. The technology wasn’t always there. Thus, developers had to find workarounds to approximate the effect.

Thankfully, the power of CSS and various JavaScript libraries have ushered in a new age. It’s now possible to add lighting and shading effects that are nearly on par with what we see in video games.

Today, we’ll share some CSS and JavaScript code snippets that bring these effects to life. Enjoy!

Creativity Now✨

Text seems like a natural place to add lighting and shading. But this example takes it to a whole other level. The creative makeup of each letter and cursor-following animation makes this a true work of art. It’s akin to a 3D mobile hanging from your ceiling. Even better: click on the presentation to create an entirely new look.

See the Pen Creativity Now✨(click anywhere) by Anna the Scavenger

Photo Tear

Place your cursor on one of the upper corners of a photo, then click-and-drag downwards. You’ll notice the image ripping apart. By itself, that’s a pretty cool effect. But what really sells it is the shading as the perspective shifts. The entire process feels very much authentic.

See the Pen Photo Tear by Steve Gardner

Platonics

This 3D animation has a stunning liquid effect. A piece of metal twists and morphs its way into various objects. Realistic reflections make it all the more compelling to watch, thanks to WebGL.

See the Pen Platonics by Liam Egan

Beat Burger

Nothing like performing a huge drum solo in the spotlight. What? You’ve never been in a famous band? Maybe the next best thing is to play this virtual drumkit, made from a hamburger. You get the sounds, the spotlight and even the shadows. Just don’t get any grease on your new clothes.

See the Pen Beat Burger by Steve Gardner

Monochromatic Yoyo – Pure CSS

Here we have a slinky-like array of pure CSS squares. Their chain-reaction animation is further enhanced by the use of, you guessed it, lighting and shading. Gradients add the illusion of depth, while drop shadow moves along with each layer of the animation.

See the Pen Monochromatic Yoyo – Pure CSS by Josetxu

Art Gallery

This virtual art installation is certainly abstract. It features a colorful blob that morphs as your cursor moves across the screen. Rays of light add a touch of realism. However, click on the “Light OFF” button and the entire presentation transforms into a particle explosion.

See the Pen Art Gallery by isladjan

SVG lighting shader

With clever implementation, the flashlight effect can be simply amazing. Here it’s used to illuminate a rocky surface. Thanks to SVG, the image looks ultra-realistic. Both the light and perspective shift along with your cursor. It also has the benefit of being safer than walking around in the woods after dark.

See the Pen SVG lighting shader by Artem Lvov

Pacman Concept

This PAC-MAN inspired snippet brings the beloved video game into the 3D age. Ghosts travel through an illuminated cube, with sharp rays of light bursting through the maze. Once again, the cursor plays a role, as you can change the scene’s perspective by moving around.

See the Pen Pacman Concept by Ivan Juarez N.

Finishing Touches That Stand Out

It used to be that you needed high-end software to create convincing lighting and shading effects. But, thanks to the advancements in web technologies, similar enhancements can be achieved through code.

The ability to leverage hardware acceleration also plays a key role. Without the power of the graphics processing unit (GPU), these advanced scenes couldn’t run with such fluid motion.

Put together, the results can be stunning. And the examples above might only be scratching the surface of this potential.

The post 8 CSS & JavaScript Snippets for Lighting & Shading Effects appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

Animated logos, whether created using CSS & SVG, After Effects, or as an animated GIF, have the power to draw attention to your brand and make it highly memorable.

While not yet widely used, we’ve compiled a small collection of subtly animated logos that we hope will inspire you to create your own. By adding a touch of animation to your logo design, you can make it stand out and create a lasting impression on your audience.

So, if you’re looking to add some extra flair to your brand, consider experimenting with subtle animations in your logo design. With the right approach and execution, it can take your brand to a whole new level. Of course, we’ll start with the fantastic Fubiz logo first.

Fubiz Logo Animations

Designed by Mattrunks

Flight Animated Logo

Designed by DIA

Twitch Logo Animation

Designed by Matt Gravish

Rog.ie Logo Animation

Designed by Rogie King

Macaw Logo Build v2

Designed by Joe Ski

Echo Animated Logo

Designed by Trüf

Untime Blog Logo Animation

Designed by Tony Pinkevich

Calibre Club Logo Animation

Designed by Seth Eckert

University of the Arts Helsinki Logo

Designed by Bond

Momentum Dynamic Logo Design

Designed by Alex Tass

Yondr Studio Logo

Designed by Alex Tass

Shazam Logo Concept

Designed by Oleg Turbaba

Sweet Crude Logo Animated

Designed by Oleg Turbaba

Hay Market Animated Logo

Designed by Foreign Policy

The post 15 Examples of Subtly Animated Logos in Web Design for Inspiration appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

This collection aims to offer a comprehensive array of resources – a CSS animation toolbox for web designers. Whether new to CSS animations or looking to expand your skills, you’ll find valuable libraries, snippets, web-based tools, cheatsheets, and tutorials to help you create incredible animated web experiences.

You may also like these toolboxes: CSS Flexbox, SVG Workflow Tools, Styleguide Tools, or Tools for Formatting CSS.

CSS Animation Libraries

These CSS libraries will help save you time by providing a wide range of animation effects, from simple transitions to complex keyframe animations, suitable for enhancing user interfaces and improving user experience.

Copy & Paste CSS Animation Snippets

These are straightforward, ready-to-use animations. With a simple copy-and-paste action, you can quickly implement engaging animations into your sites.

Web-Based CSS Animation Tools

These tools will allow you to create custom animations through a graphical interface. You will be able to adjust parameters like duration, delay, and timing functions, and viewing the results in real time.

CSS Animated Loaders & Spinners

Focused on improving the user’s wait time, these libraries and web-based tools will allow you to create flawless loaders and spinners.

CSS Animation Cheatsheets

These cheatsheets provide quick references to CSS animation properties, keyframes, and syntax. They are invaluable resources for both beginners and experienced designers, offering shortcuts and tips for efficiently coding animations.

• CSS Animations & Effects Cheat Sheet
  A comprehensive guide that covers keyframes, transitions, and animation properties, making CSS animations easier to understand and use.
• The CSS Animations Cheatsheet by Kirupa
  A comprehensive guide that covers keyframes, transitions, and animation properties, making CSS animations easier to understand and use.

CSS Animation Tutorials

These tutorials offer step-by-step guidance on creating CSS animations, from basic to advanced techniques. They are great for learning and mastering the art of animation, helping you better understand animation principles and how to apply them to your web projects.

• Learn CSS Animations on web.dev
  A guide offering basics to advanced techniques in CSS animations, helping you create dynamic web experiences.
• Using CSS Animations on MDN
  Provides detailed instructions on implementing CSS animations, covering everything from keyframes to animation properties.
• Create Advanced Animations With CSS
  Explores complex CSS animation techniques for creating sophisticated visual effects on web pages.
• Interactive Guide to Transitions & Hover Animations
  Breaks down CSS transitions, showing how to use them for smooth, gradual changes in style.
• Interactive Guide to CSS Keyframe Animations with @keyframes
  Offers an in-depth look at CSS keyframe animations, teaching you how to craft detailed, timed animations.
• Getting Started with CSS Animations
  An introductory article for beginners on creating basic CSS animations, with practical examples.
• CSS Animation 101 Free eBook
  An open-source ebook that covers all aspects of CSS animations, from theory to practice, for web developers.
• Simple CSS Transition, Transform & Animation Tutorials
  Tutorials and examples to master CSS transitions, transforms, and animations.

The UX Benefits of Animation

By carefully planning and implementing CSS animations, you can significantly improve the UX of the websites you build, making them more functional and user-friendly.

CSS animations can offer several user experience benefits that can significantly enhance how users interact with your websites. Here are some key advantages:

• Improved Engagement: Animations can capture a user’s attention more effectively than static images or text, making websites more engaging and interactive.
• Visual Feedback: CSS animations provide immediate visual feedback to users’ actions, such as hovering over a button or loading content, which helps in creating a responsive and interactive environment.
• Guidance & Direction: Animations can guide users through a website’s flow, subtly directing their attention to important actions or content, improving navigation and usability.
• Enhanced Aesthetics: Well-designed animations add a layer of polish to a website, contributing to a positive first impression and overall aesthetic appeal.
• Reduced Perceived Loading Time: Animated loaders and progress indicators can make waiting times less noticeable, improving users’ perception of website speed and efficiency.
• Increased Conversion Rates: By drawing attention to call-to-action buttons and other conversion points, animations can effectively guide users towards taking desired actions, potentially increasing conversion rates.
• Emotional Connection: Thoughtful animations can be emotional, create a sense of delight, and foster a stronger connection between the user and the website.

The post CSS Animation Toolbox – Libraries, Tools, Snippets & Tutorials appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

Each tiny movement has an impact on their overall experience. Use these small moments to improve your user experience and ensure users follow through on further interaction as they begin navigating your website.

What Are Microinteractions?

These small interactions are aptly named microinteractions. They are the basic tasks users do when interacting with your site.

When designed well, a site offers a kind of positive feedback when users interface with it – users should feel like they are part of the transitions and movements of the site, but responses to these interactions must feel natural and intuitive as well.

These interactions allow users to accomplish a single task, like sync their devices to your website, interact with a feature on your page, control volume or brightness, upload a comment like a page, or turn a function on or off. The microinteraction is the acknowledgment that users have accomplished their task.

Examples of Microinteractions

A responsive interaction shows users their action worked or was accepted by the website, and most times, users don’t notice them. Your site’s response to a microinteraction should be a seamless aspect of the interface. Users might not realize it, but microinteractions can make or break UX.

Microinteractions aren’t only about a website’s design, however. They are part of any device with responsive design features. A few examples of microinteractions include a smartphone vibrating when set to silent or the sound that occurs when you “like” something on Facebook.

Such interactions can be Pavlovian – users feel like they are given a treat for their interaction. “Like” someone’s status, and there’s a click of accomplishment; switch the phone to vibrate, and it responds by telling you – in the quietest way possible – it’s done its job.

When creating microinteractions for a website, you want users to have this same positive experience. When you do, your users will automatically have a better experience without even knowing why.

Leverage Microinteractions for Better UX

Now that you understand the why, consider where your microinteractions can have the most impact. Here are nine microinteractions to enhance your user experience.

1. Adjusting Preferences

If your users have control over volume settings, brightness, or other preferences on your website, include a microinteraction. A small logo that animates or moves along with users while they adjust levels is an excellent way to interact with your users.

Image: Volume Control Micro Animation by Nick Buturishvili

2. Messages or Comments

An area for feedback or comments is itself a microinteraction. Your users should have an area where they have some access to you. If you don’t respond – or respond unkindly – this could backfire.

Consider the ticket sales company, TickPick. When it failed to include the Upper Peninsula on its map of Michigan, its residents were quick to let the company know.

TickPick’s social media response didn’t win them any points: “We got the important part of Michigan, isn’t that good enough?” Then, they not-apologized by saying, “We’re sure the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a lovely place to live, and I assure you we didn’t intentionally leave it off the map. But seriously, it’s just a bunch of forests.”

Though the owner did make amends with the community, it wasn’t cheap. He flew to the area and covered the tab for the locals at an upscale brew pub. It’s a lesson all businesses can learn from – train your social media response team and keep it positive.

3. Upload or Download Status Bar

No one wants to feel left out after they decide to upload or download something. Keep your users aware of what is going on when they are uploading or downloading, and they will likely stick with it. If they are unsure if they accomplished their task, they won’t feel good about the experience.

Image: Download Button Transition by Arto Baghdasaryan

4. Notifications

If your users are receiving any type of notification from your website, a microinteraction is involved. Developing animated notifications catches your user’s attention and shows there is something important they need to check out.

When your notifications are fun and engaging, users attach those feelings to your business.

Image: Notification Badges by Blaine Billingsley

5. Pull-Down Menus

When users are viewing your website on a mobile device, separate pages will need to be split up. Pull-down menus on your page allow users to quickly move back and forth between pages without losing their place. Without this simple response, users will likely get frustrated with navigation.

Image: Pull Down and Refresh by Odneoko

6. Loading Page

Your website may contain pages that take longer to load than others. A small interaction notifying users the page is still loading keeps them engaged and gives them an idea of when it will finish loading.

This works as a courtesy for your user and helps keep your bounce rate low. When consumers know a page is loading, they are less likely to ditch the page, assuming your site is simply unresponsive.

7. Visualize Input

Users who input data onto your website want to be able to view it. If they are filling out a contact page or inputting credit card information, the visualization shows they have entered the information correctly. This microinteraction is less about fun engagement and more about clarity and security.

Visual input builds trust with your users and creates a feeling that your site is credible.

Image: Login Animation by Cooper Maruyama

8. A Responsive Call-To-Action

Microinteractions are engaging to your users and can entice them to act on your call-to-action (CTA), which is a crucial reason for having a website.

Use visual cues or animations to draw users’ attention and encourage them to click. You don’t want this interaction to be intrusive or annoying because your users will be less inclined to respond.

Image: UI Buttons by Michał Wójtowicz

Effective Microinteractions

There are four key steps to include in your microinteractions that makes them effective:

• Trigger. This is the cue or visualization that prompts your users to continue forward.
• Rules. The parameters of the microinteraction shows users what the interaction will do.
• Feedback. When your users click on a microinteraction, they should receive a response.
• Loops and modes. Consider how often your microinteractions will be used and how to make them recognizable to new and old users. The loop is where your interaction becomes familiar. The mode is a different feedback response showing users the interaction was not the same as the first time.

When you leverage microinteractions for a better user experience, you’re creating positive associations with aspects of your web design that likely need to be there in some capacity, anyway. Consider these ideas when creating microinteractions for your site.

The post 8 Microinteractions to Help Improve User Experience appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

One area where hover effects can be especially powerful is when they’re applied to images. Whether it’s as part of a small card layout or a massive hero image, the right effect can make a huge impact.

Today, we’ll show you some creative ways that designers are integrating hover effects into images. They’ll demonstrate how we can spice up our own projects in a dramatic fashion.

Photo Effects on Hover

This clever use of CSS and JS duplicates the image and layers them on top of each other. From there, CSS filters are separately added to each image. This technique results in cinematic-quality effects that would be otherwise difficult to achieve.

See the Pen Photo effects on hover using JS and CSS3 by Alvaro Montoro

Fast and Powerful Image Effects

What’s great about this collection of hover effects is that they provide instant gratification. But that speed doesn’t take away their potency. Of particular note here are the CSS3 filter effects, as they bring sepia and grayscale images to full color upon hovering.

See the Pen Image Hover Effects by kw7oe

Image Hover with Slide Out Title

This combination of skewed caption containers, sharp typography, and quick animation is powerful. It’s also reminiscent of the opening credits to a TV show. Amazingly, the vast majority of the work is done by CSS alone.

See the Pen #1104 – Image hover with slide out title by LittleSnippets.net

Show Your Cards Image Effects

Here’s a snippet that brings to mind someone unfolding a hand of playing cards for all to see. But in this case, it seems like it would be a perfect hover effect to implement for photo galleries. It not only looks cool, but it also provides some context for users.

See the Pen Image Hover Effect – CSS3 by Bruno Rodrigues

Shifting Reality Image Hover Effects

Go ahead, play around with this example and see if you can keep your vision straight. As you hover over various parts of this building, blocks shift and scroll based on your cursor direction. It’s highly detailed, confusing, and mind-blowing all at once. Can we do it again?

See the Pen Image Hover Effect by Dimitra Vasilopoulou

Split Image Hover Effects

Want more mind-blowing fun? Here’s another example from Dimitra Vasilopoulou, who also created the reality-shifter above. Here, the photograph appears to be split up within a grid layout. Hovering quickly puts it all back together. While it’s not quite as psychedelic, it’s no less impressive.

See the Pen Split Image | Hover Effect by Dimitra Vasilopoulou

Pure Class Image Effect with Pure CSS

This collection of hover effects proves that you don’t need to be over-the-top to make a strong impression. There are various style options here, but each brings the reveal text content and filters upon hovering. And, not a single line of JavaScript was used.

See the Pen Awesome Image Hover in Pure CSS by MAHESH AMBURE

Key(frames) to the Wild

We’ve come to the intersection of drama and beauty with this incredible CSS “shutter” effect. Hovering over these sepia-toned animal illustrations creates an ultra-smooth transition to full-color. It was accomplished via CSS filters, keyframes, pseudo-elements, and opacity changes.

See the Pen Animation @keyframes in Image Hovers by Vail Joy

The Bigger Picture Image Hover Gallery

Photo galleries are so widespread, yet you don’t see many that are truly unique. Here is a stunning exception. Hover over a thumbnail image in the grid, and a full-sized version takes over the entire container. But that’s only half of the story. The real cool factor comes from the image “splitting” itself and being put back together as it loads in.

See the Pen Splitting:Image Hover Gallery by Shaw

Split Image Reveal Effect

Here we have a fun technique for revealing text behind an image. This snippet shows various ways to “split” an image into strips, thus clearing the way for a secret message. Since it’s a bit complicated, it may not be something you’d want to use repeatedly on a page. But, with the right implementation, you’ll add a creative flair to your project.

See the Pen Fancy Image Splitting (SplittingJS) by Mark Mead

We Have the Drama

Adding dramatic hover effects to your site is a great way to grab a user’s attention. What the examples above show is that we can achieve the desired results without going overboard. You don’t need something loud and obnoxious in the least. Rather, it’s all about smooth transitions and compelling special effects.

Let these examples inspire you. Then, experiment with ways to add some drama to your own images.

The post 10 CSS & JavaScript Snippets for Advanced Image Hover Effects appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

At the time, doing so was clunky. Today, many micro-interactions are the standard, but focusing on optimizing key engagements can significantly affect overall site engagement and conversion.

What Are Micro-Interactions?

We see micro-interactions every day. When you switch your iPhone off of silent mode, and it makes that little vibration, when you scroll down to reload a page, and the loading symbol appears at the top – even turning on a faucet using a sensor – all of these are micro-interactions.

While they may not seem highly visible or important, they are. They’re ingrained in our brains. They let us know that the action we just completed actually did something. Micro-interactions in web design done correctly can vastly improve the user experience.

The Four Pillars of Micro-Interaction Design

There are four main components to a micro-interaction: the trigger, the rules, feedback, and loops or modes. A micro-interaction that’s well-crafted will encompass all of these concepts:

• The trigger is what initiates the micro-interaction process. A trigger can be a manual action, like flipping a switch or clicking an icon. It can also be a trigger built into the system that will occur whenever an action is completed. For example, the sound you hear when you receive a text message is the result of a system trigger. When the trigger is switched, it engages the rules of the interaction. The rules are programmed into the micro-interaction itself and tell it what it can and can’t do. Since these rules aren’t made apparent to the user, we only understand them through feedback.
• Feedback is how we know the trigger engaged the rules and the micro-interaction is working. For example, the vibration your phone makes when you take it off silent. It lets you know you triggered the action and the rules were followed correctly. Without the feedback, you wouldn’t know what was happening. If you switch your phone to silent and it doesn’t vibrate, you know something might not be working correctly.
• Loops and modes are the final stage of the micro-interaction. Loops define how long a micro-interaction will continue, like the cycling of the loading icon. Modes define an uncommon action critical to continuing the process, like inputting geographical data to find local weather.

Image Source.

Tips for Designing Micro-Interactions

Micro-interactions are based on human-centered design. Feedback from the micro-interaction is meant to be intuitive and easy to understand. Users don’t need to think about the feedback because it naturally confirms the interaction has been initiated. That’s an important thing to remember when designing micro-interactions. Here are some general guidelines for designing micro-interactions:

• You should always have some idea about your end-user or the platform before you begin. This enables you to make the experience more familiar and more human.
• Make sure actions completed during the micro-interaction process don’t inadvertently break the interaction. Basically, you need to account for human error and attempt to prevent it.
• Avoid clutter. Use capabilities already available on the platform instead of adding new elements. For example, the cursor, a dial, a button, and a scroll bar can all be programmed to reflect micro-interaction feedback. This fits in with other web design best practices.
• Talk to users in their language. This again ties into the human element. If your micro-interaction triggers text, use language people can easily understand-unless, of course, the end-users understand technical jargon.
• Ensure micro-interactions can withstand the test of time. There’s nothing worse than a micro-interaction that grows more annoying each time you trigger it. Stay away from anything that feels too gimmicky or has over-the-top animations.
• Animation can make micro-interactions more fun when they’re used sparingly. The key is making sure the micro-interaction doesn’t overwhelm other actions – for example, when you want to delete an app on your iPhone and all the icons start to wiggle. It’s an adorable animation (almost like they’re shaking in fear of deletion), but it doesn’t impede functionality.
• Color theory is important in web design and micro-interaction design. While contrast can work to highlight a specific process or action, it can easily become distracting. Make sure the colors in your design mesh with those in the micro-interactions. Remember, the micro-interaction is just a small piece in the picture of design; everything should be cohesive.
• Lastly, identify if and how the interaction will evolve over the future of its use. Does it make sense for it to change over time or stay the same?

Micro-Interactions in Social Media and Apps

Micro-interactions are incredibly important to web and mobile design – especially with apps. They’re what makes or breaks the experience of using one particular app over another. Users will either love or hate an app based on how it functions, not solely on how it looks. When it comes to social media networks and apps, micro-interactions should be kept as simple and intuitive as possible.

Image Source: Favorite Animation By John Noussis..

This is because almost all users access these apps from a mobile device. The like button on Instagram is a perfect example; it’s instantly understandable, easy to find, and offers feedback without interrupting other functions. When you double-tap on the image, and the heart appears for a brief moment, you immediately understand what it means.

Using Micro-Interactions to Teach New Things

Micro-interactions aren’t only used to enhance a website’s functionality; they can teach users how to interact with a new concept. For example, when a photo gallery is in an uncommon layout, a micro-interaction can show users how to scroll through the images and navigate other aspects of the site.

A simple arrow could point out the direction to swipe, or an animation of the photos moving could provide an example of what the user is supposed to do. In this way, micro-interactions go beyond just confirming a user completed an action. They teach users how to interact with a website.

Image Source: Cut Copy Share Delete By Srikant Shetty.

Micro-Interactions in CTA Design

Another excellent way to use micro-interactions is in Call to Action (CTA) design. We all know CTAs are important to sealing the deal between businesses and their customers. Sadly, the majority of them these days look like one person designed them. While that can sometimes be a good thing (since everyone recognizes what they are), it gets old quickly.

Creative CTAs with unique and attractive micro-interactions can be used to encourage users to click, share, or like, making the process more like a game and less like a chore.

The Importance of Micro-Interactions

Micro-interactions are important to web and mobile app design because they close the gap between humans and machines. By humanizing computer tasks and making them act in ways people understand, you’re infusing the design with personality. What’s even better is that this personality can convey the image of the brand or business by making small changes to micro-interactions.

They can be fun, cartoony, streamlined, or professional, and when placed against the backdrop of the website, help strengthen the brand image and voice. Perhaps the most important aspect of micro-interactions is that they make user experiences more enjoyable overall. Whether they offer a little entertainment, teach us something new, or confirm we’ve done something correctly, micro-interactions improve the way we connect with the digital world.

You might also like to read about Interaction Design Mistakes That Drive Us Nuts.

The post Simple Methods for Using Micro-Interactions on Your Site appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

Content is a crucial part of this, as is responsive web design that reacts intuitively on various screens and devices. However, one technique with tremendous potential for driving engagement that often goes overlooked is micro-interactions.

Micro-interactions are the little animations or visual responses users see when they perform certain actions. An example would be the “Follow” icon filling in when you click it to follow a Twitter account, or the small, colorful flash that happens after you “Favorite” a Tweet.

They may seem frivolous at first, but micro-interactions make a significant psychological impact on users, and the reasons micro-interactions are meaningful are rooted in human psychology.

Micro-Interactions Play on Human Nature

Many of us perform countless micro-interactions every day without realizing it. Any time you engage in simple, quick actions with an interface (such as swiping your phone screen to ‘snooze’ your alarm in the morning), you are having a micro-interaction.

As with any interaction, there is an action and a reaction. A user performs an action, and the interface on which it was performed responds to let the user know they successfully performed the intended action.

Volume Control Micro Animation by Nick Buturishvili.

A micro-interaction conveys to the user an action has been performed. Once the action has been performed, the user receives an indication of some kind to let them know they succeeded in their intention.

Micro-interactions guide users to where they can manipulate or interact with elements of an interface. The four basic elements of a micro-interaction are:

• The Trigger: This is what initiates an action. On most interfaces, this includes clicking or touching specific elements of the interface.
• Rules for Responses: The micro-interaction bases the response on how the user interacted.
• Feedback: This is the response that lets the user know the action was performed successfully.
• Loops: The end of the cycle is whatever happens next. Clicking a “Share” button on a social media post results in a notification to the user that the post has been “Shared,” and the result is a new post on the user’s profile.

This may sound basic, but there is a psychological factor that explains why these micro-interactions are meaningful: people generally enjoy knowing they have performed an action correctly. A good micro-interaction accomplishes this quickly and efficiently.

Designing good micro-interactions requires understanding that these instances largely go unnoticed by the user, but that does not mean they are meaningless. These small indications tell the user they succeeded in a task – however small – and generally make life easier by limiting uncertainty<.

Micro-Interactions Make or Break Apps

Micro-interactions definitely have a place in webpages and desktop applications, but where they truly shine is in the realm of mobile apps. Touchscreens would be clumsy and awkward to navigate without micro-interactions, and poorly conceived micro-interactions are going to push users away.

There are countless apps in existence, and many mirror the capabilities or serve the same functions as others.

Notification Micro Animation by Gal Shir.

You more than likely have a favorite weather app, a preferred social media platform, or other apps on your smartphone that you choose based on personal preference. Take the time to analyze what you like about those apps and why you chose them over others. You’ll likely find it is due to various forms of micro-interactions.

You choose your favorite apps based on how you interact with them and how they respond to your inputs. Despite their simplicity, these are the little details that spark interest and keep users engaged.

When crafting micro-interactions for your site, it’s vital to consider several factors:

Repetition

Micro-interactions can’t be annoying. Some apps may have flashy or humorous micro-interactions meant to delight users, but more often than not they do quite the opposite. Novelties and quirky micro-interactions may be fun for a user for a few times, but after enough repetition they can become obnoxious and irritating, driving users away to an alternative.

Make sure your micro-interactions’ feedback is noticeable enough for users to process it, but not so overt as to become a frustrating distraction after repeated uses.

User Preferences

Allowing users a modicum of control over micro-interactions is a great way to ensure they last for the long haul. For example, many people like haptic feedback on their smartphones – the subtle, quick vibrations when you tap the letters on your touchscreen’s keyboard. They let the user know they successfully hit a letter.

However, some may grow weary of the vibrations and come to dislike them. Allowing users to toggle elements of a micro-interaction on and off is a great way to keep them engaged.

Simplicity

Micro-interactions are small, so overthinking or overcomplicating them is a death sentence. Users are going to quickly tire of overly complex or ornate feedback.

When crafting the text, colors, and other design elements of a micro-interaction, don’t make the design any more complex than the action, itself. You need to offer just enough feedback to be effective.

Action Icon Animations by Mamun Srizon.

Harmony

Make sure the parts of your interface that create micro-interactions are in sync with the other visual elements of the interface. You certainly want to draw attention to the areas of an interface a user can manipulate, but they don’t have to be especially bold or garish to let users know they can interact with them.

Details

Since your micro-interactions are so small, there’s no reason for them not to be perfect down to the minutest detail. Make sure every element of your micro-interactions work as intended and are visually striking before you launch.

You also need to consider how different users are going to perceive these micro-interactions: is every user going to have the same interaction?

Micro-Interactions Delight Users

The most successful micro-interactions are – counterintuitive though it may be – the ones that go unnoticed when they are used, but very noticeable when they are changed. A good micro-interaction can stand up to repetitive use and fits in the overall design of the interface.

Straightforward responses are generally well-received in many aspects of life and human interaction, and the same goes for micro-interactions on user interfaces. The simplest design will more than likely yield the best reception.

Mobile app design hinges on micro-interactions more than you may initially realize. When you take the time to assess your personal preferences and behaviors, it’s easier to recognize how you can improve your app’s micro-interactions for more meaningful and engaging user interactions. More people than ever not only prefer to use mobile devices – they depend on them throughout their daily activities.

Keep these pointers in mind as you consider new ways to engage and delight your app’s users. Creating valuable micro-interactions is a fantastic method of keeping users engaged with your apps, and they also convey reliability. Users download and use apps to serve a specific function. Micro-interactions are the details that guide them as they navigate and use apps and let them know they’re performing their intended actions correctly.

Though they may seem like small, frivolous details at first, the truth is quite the opposite. Micro-interactions are what keep your users engaged on the most basic levels.

The post Using Micro-Interactions to Drive User Engagement appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

While many web designers have likely dismissed incorporating animation out of hand due to cost constraints, placement issues, and website performance, it’s now more feasible and affordable to add animation to any type of website. Web professionals must understand the potential animation can have on a website and appreciate its value.

Playing on Human Biology and Nature

People are visually driven animals, and imagery is one of the best ways to forge bonds. Animation takes visual interest a step further and incorporates motion. Human eyes naturally hone in on movement, so visual animation will naturally attract more interest than static displays.

One of the most widely held tenets of modern design is minimalism, or creating visual interest with as few design elements as possible. Gaudy, overdone designs detract from the intended message. More often than not, they turn people off from the message entirely for being busy, confusing, or simply difficult to quickly assess the valuable bits of information.

While incorporating animation can boost engagement, it’s vital not to overdo it. As with most other aspects of modern design, less is more.

Micro-Interactions Reward the User

One of the best ways to add functional animation to your website is through micro-interactions. This is another concept rooted in human psychology: people like to know when they’ve successfully completed an action.

Twitter Fav by Twitter.

Consider Twitter: when you “Favorite” a Tweet, the little heart icon starts grey, and once you press it, it lights up red with a small, quick burst of color. This little animation is a fun and visually interesting way to let users know they’ve successfully “Favorited” a Tweet. It can also help them notice when they’ve accidentally tapped the “Favorite” button while scrolling.

How to Incorporate Animation into Your Website

There are countless ways to incorporate functional animation into micro-interactions. Look for the parts of your website where you want visitors to click, or the parts with the most valuable information. Every site is different, so it’s up to you to find ways to generate more visual interest on your beautifully designed website pages.

Look for areas where visitors can manipulate page content. If a section expands, think of ways to animate the process. If you want users to submit contact information, make sure a small animation is there to let them know they’ve sent their information correctly.

Portfolio Exploration by Adrián Somoza.

If you want to make functional animation a truly valuable aspect of your website, then you need to use animation as a way to convey feedback to visitors. Let them know what they’re doing, show them when they have completed an action correctly, or guide them along their journey with your brand using thoughtfully devised animation.

Designing for Mobile

If you haven’t already adopted a mobile-first approach to website design, you’re behind the curve. The volume of internet traffic on mobile devices is nothing short of staggering and growing every day.

More people than ever use the internet on smartphones and other mobile devices for everything from watching movies, paying bills, and making purchases, to exploring content from their favorite brands and media outlets. Modern companies need to design websites that respond well to mobile viewing.

Since people navigate mobile websites using their thumbs instead of a mouse, it’s important to keep thumb navigation in mind when planning animation. It’s not uncommon for people to mistakenly tap on links or submission forms when they meant to scroll, so make sure your mobile website is easy to navigate. Once you’re sure that visitors will have no trouble swiping and sliding through your mobile website, look for places to add functional animations.

Best Practices for Functional Animation

Small animations can make your site more usable for visitors. Even a small addition can turn a bland page into something far more interesting with some thoughtful planning. Some websites feature navigation buttons that change size or color when a user lets the mouse pointer hover over them. These simple animations are not only more visually interesting, but they also let the user know where they will go or what will happen if they click that spot.

Material Design Motion Guidelines by Google.

It’s also vital to ensure your animation doesn’t take too long to work. Remember, less is more. Quick, noticeable animations are going to be more interesting and more engaging than drawn-out, complicated animations. We need to contend with short attention spans, so don’t add animations that prolong completing actions. Visitors should see these animations as interesting, fun little indications of successfully completed actions.

Another reason to keep animations short and sweet is your page loading time. People don’t like to wait, and most modern consumers don’t have the patience to wait for slow-loading websites. If large, clunky animation files are bogging down your site load times, your site’s visitors are going to quickly lose interest and explore your competitors,’ rather than contend with your unstable and slow-loading pages.

Beware Some Common Animation Pitfalls

Aside from slowing down your site’s loading times and turning off visitors with short attention spans, too much animation is going to make your page look too decorated and intentionally flashy. The days of bold, flashing marquees and long-winded animations meant to wow potential customers are long gone.

Today, the goal of animation should be to enhance your website’s functionality and appeal. Don’t animate simply for decoration – make sure every animation you incorporate has a purpose and doesn’t detract from the page’s content.

It’s also vital to consider onboarding. If you launch a new website or develop a new mobile app, you’re going to need to show new users how to navigate them and get the most out of their time with them.

Dropbox/Guide by ueno.

Develop a tutorial process that shows users all of the features and controls for your app or new website, and consider animating each step as they go through the process. Not only is this going to be more visually interesting, but customers will also appreciate fun, engaging additions like these, and they’ll be far more likely to enjoy the time spent with your app.

Striking a Balance

Ultimately, successful incorporation of functional animation hinges on usability. If you’re considering whether or not to add an animation to any part of your site, think about whether or not adding animation is going to enhance the user’s experience.

If the answer isn’t a definite “yes,” then it probably isn’t worth making the change. Try to find a balance between creating more visual interest without seeming too busy or flashy.

Functional animation should delight your site’s visitors and make their experiences with your website and your content more memorable and engaging. By focusing on the basic tenets of minimalism and responsive design, you can create far more visually impactful websites that will keep visitors interested.

The post The Role Functional Animation Plays in Improving User Experience appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.