Interaction Design

Designing States

What are states?

— Designing States

What is a State?

A condition of an interface element.

Reality

Interfaces are never static.

Example

A button changes over time.

Why States Matter

Users Need Context

Questions

  • Is this clickable?
  • Did it work?
  • Is something wrong?
  • Is it loading?

States answer questions.

Types are states?

— Designing States

Button States

Typical States

Default

Hover

Active

Disabled

Loading

Goal

Communicate possibilities.

Form States

Examples

Empty

Focused

Completed

Validation

Purpose

Guide input.

Success States

Communicate completion.

Examples

  • Success message
  • Checkmark
  • Celebration animation

Why?

  • Completion
  • Confidence
  • Reward

Error States

Communicate problems.

Good Error States

  • Clear
  • Specific
  • Helpful

Avoid

  • Blame
  • Confusion
  • Unclear messaging

States in Figma?

— Designing States

States and Motion

Motion Communicates Change

Default

Hover

Click

Loading

Success

Motion Principle

Continuity

Designing State Flows

Think Beyond Screens

User

Interaction

State Change

Feedback

Next Action

Exercise

Create

  • Button States
  • Form States
  • Success States
  • Error States

Tool

  • Paper
  • Figma

Focus Question

What happens after interaction?

Recap

— Designing States

Most Important Question

Not:

"What does it look like?"

But:

"What happens when the user clicks?"

Recap?

Interaction Design

  • Goals
  • Actions
  • Responses
  • Feedback

Design Patterns

  • Mental Models
  • Familiarity
  • Consistency

Wireframing

  • Behaviour First

States

  • Hover
  • Loading
  • Success
  • Error

Core Principle

Design behaviour before visuals.

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Session recap infographic]

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Interaction Design - States

By Lecturer GDM

Interaction Design - States

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