Microinteractions: how the tiniest design details can enhance the user experience
Posted on 27th September 2024
Microinteractions are one of the most impactful aspects of web design, helping to guide website visitors and adding a touch of delight to what could otherwise be boring interactions. In this article, we explain what microinteractions are and give real-life examples of them in action. Chances are, you’ll already be benefiting from microinteractions yourself every day!
What are microinteractions in web design?
Microinteractions are brief visual or auditory events that occur within digital products. They are the little nudges that guide users as they interact with different elements of your website. A call-to-action button that changes colour when clicked, a pop-up message that appears when a form is submitted, or an animation playing when a task is completed—these are all micro-level interactions that help provide a smooth and engaging user experience (UX).
Microinteractions make mundane actions feel more enjoyable. For instance, downloading a large file from your site doesn’t have to be a lifeless experience—a progress indicator that shows the download’s status can make all the difference in alleviating any frustration the user might be experiencing by waiting. Users often remember and appreciate tiny interactions like this, so they can help build positive feelings about your site.
Microinteractions in action
Let’s look at a few examples of well-known online applications that use microinteractions to great effect:
Mailchimp’s celebratory GIFs
If you’ve ever sent an email campaign via Mailchimp, you’ll know that once you hit ‘send’, you’re rewarded with a funky GIF of a high-fiving monkey. It’s a small detail, but it evokes a feeling of achievement and joy, helping turn what could be a stressful task (sending an important email to thousands of recipients) into a positive experience. This microinteraction helps Mailchimp build an emotional connection with its users and provides instant feedback to users in a fun, memorable way.
Facebook’s tap-and-hold reactions
When you tap and hold the Facebook ‘like’ button, a range of reaction emojis—like laughing or sad faces or love hearts—pop up, allowing you to choose the perfect emotional response. This nifty feature lets users engage with content in a flexible and personalised way, enhancing their overall experience and making responding to a post feel more expressive.
Todoist’s task completion sound
Todoist, a popular task management tool, plays a subtle yet satisfying “swooshing” noise when a task is marked complete. The sound provides immediate positive feedback and gives users a sense of accomplishment, helping them feel motivated and engaged.
How do microinteractions work?
Microinteractions are made up of four essential parts:
Trigger: the action that initiates the microinteraction, for example, clicking a button or hovering over a URL.
Rule: the rule determines what happens when the trigger is activated. So, if a user hovers over a product image, the rule might be to show a popup box with pricing details.
Feedback: the response the user receives after the action, whether it’s a visual change, sound, or animation. The response keeps the user informed and reassures them that their action was successful.
Loops and modes: loops control the duration of the microinteraction or its repetition, while modes refer to different versions of the interaction depending on the user’s situation.
Elevate your website with it'seeze's design expertise
Incorporating microinteractions into your website is one of the best ways to create a seamless, enjoyable user experience. These small design elements can turn mundane tasks into delightful moments, leaving a lasting impression on your site visitors.
At it’seeze, our experienced web designers know how to plan, design, and implement microinteractions that perfectly complement your business and website goals. So, if you want to ramp up your online presence and make every user interaction count, we can help! Talk to us today.
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