Microinteractions
March 23, 2018
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One of the ways we make our website functionality so seamless is via microinteractions. Whether it’s design or transitions, the devil is in the detail.
Microinteractions are subtle, almost invisible experiences that make browsing more enjoyable, understandable or more effective. From the little things like scroll bars, loading wheels and animated buttons to the more obvious like hover effects, microinteractions exist to make users’ lives easier, giving them the best possible experience with a website.
Why do microinteractions matter?
They help users interact with a site. For the not so tech-savvy, they provide a cue, e.g. clicking the volume button to enable sound, but even for the accustomed, they provide familiarity, like the hyperlink that highlights or changes colour when you hover, the user knows what to do with it.
They help in navigation. Often when you use a new app, you’ll see arrows or mini-tutorials to help you find your way around the first time, but you’re not likely to see it again after that.
They give users feedback immediately. You can see the result of your action straightaway. If you’re unlocking your phone, clicking ‘like’, or adding something to your cart, you can see that your interaction has ‘completed’ when you get to the new screen, see the thumbs up popup or visually see your cart being updated with new products.
Microinteractions in action
Check out some examples of how we’ve used microinteractions on our sites:
Like what you see?
If you think your website has the potential to enhance user experience, talk to the web team at ninetyblack.
