An Intro to Gestures for  UI Design

An Intro to Gestures for  UI Design

By Scarlett Payne  |  March 29, 2021

DESIGN

Gestures Dominate

Gestures Dominate

Tapping, swiping, dragging – these are a few of the gestures that dominate our digital experiences. Gestures affect how we interact with phones, computers, car screens and even bathroom sinks.

Natural User Interfaces (NUIs)   

NUIs are so natural to users that the interface feels, and sometimes is, invisible. Some even use gesture control, enabling users to interact without direct contact.

What Makes a  Good Gesture

Gestures play a role in communicating with interfaces. Good gestures provide efficient communication that aligns with how we think. For example, a swipe mimics wiping something away.

Being Fun Isn’t Enough

Good gestures make applications easier to use. Well-designed gestures have a shorter learning curve because they feel natural and are easy to pick up on. 

Top 3 Benefits  of Gesture Technology

1. Cleaner Interfaces 2. Ease of Use 3. Better Task Completion

Cleaner Interfaces

Humans consume more content than ever before. Gestures help reduce the number of visual elements that take up space, making displays less cluttered.

Ease of Use

Interactions become more natural with a gesture-based interface. The ease of simple hand gestures allows us to use technology with minimal effort at maximum speed. 

Better Task Completion

Task completion and conversion rates increase when a user has less to do to complete a task.  Gesture interfaces capitalize on this by reducing steps and making tasks simple and quick.

Types of Gestures  in UI Design

There are three categories  of gesture: 1. Navigational gestures     (to navigate) 2. Action gestures     (to take action) 3. Transform gestures      (to manipulate content)

The Most  Common Gestures

• Tap • Double-Tap • Swipe • Multiple-Finger Swipe • Drag • Fling • Long Press • Pinch • Pinch-Open or Spread • Rotation