Creating Intuitive User Experiences: Practical UX Rules for Non-Designers

Whether you’re a developer who built your own app, a graphic designer transitioning to digital, or someone working on side projects, creating intuitive user experiences is crucial for the success of your product. This article shares practical UX guidelines that don’t require extensive user research or specialized training to implement. Let’s explore four key rules that will help you speak the language of interfaces and create designs that users can naturally understand and navigate.

Rule 1: Obey the Law of Locality

Put interface elements where they affect change. The Law of Locality is a fundamental principle that’s often overlooked: interface elements should be positioned near where their actions will take effect. This is important because users instinctively look at the area that will change when they want to make an adjustment.

Example: Adding Items to a List

When designing an interface with a list of items (like playlists, tasks, or contacts), where should you place the “Add” button?

❌ Common mistakes:

✅ Better approach:

Why It Works

The Law of Locality creates interfaces that match users’ mental models. When users want to add something to a list, they naturally look at the list itself—not at the menu bar or a random corner of the screen. Major applications like Spotify implement this principle effectively. Take note of how they position their “Create Playlist” button at a logical position within the playlist section.

Rule 2: ABD - Anything But Dropdowns

Before using a dropdown, consider if one of these 12 alternative controls would work better. Dropdowns are one of the most overused and problematic UI controls. They have several significant drawbacks:

Better Alternatives for Different Scenarios

For 2 Options:

For 2-5 Options:

For Many Options:

For Dates:

For Numbers:

When Dropdowns Are Acceptable

Dropdowns aren’t always bad. They can work well when: For more examples of dropdown alternatives, check out Nielsen Norman Group’s article on form design.

Rule 3: Pass the Squint Test

When you squint at your interface, the most important elements should still stand out. The Squint Test is a quick way to evaluate visual hierarchy. Blur your vision (or literally squint) while looking at your interface. The most important elements should still catch your attention first, and the least important elements should be the last things you notice.

How to Apply the Squint Test

Common Violations

Many interfaces fail the Squint Test by:

How to Fix Squint Test Failures

Prioritizing by Usage Frequency

One way to determine importance is to analyze how frequently different actions are performed. Actions that users take most often should generally be the most prominent. For example, on a flashcard app, if users view the answer 95 times for every 2 times they navigate back to the deck list, the “Show Answer” button should be much more prominent than navigation controls. For more on visual hierarchy, see Interaction Design Foundation’s guide to visual hierarchy.

Rule 4: Teach by Example

Show users how your interface works through examples rather than lengthy explanations. The best interfaces require minimal explanation because they teach users how to use them through clear examples and intuitive design patterns.

Implementation Strategies:

1. Use descriptive placeholders: Instead of “Enter text here,” use “Search for a city (e.g., New York, Tokyo)”
2. Show sample data: When a user first encounters a new feature, populate it with realistic sample content they can learn from
3. Progressive disclosure: Reveal advanced features gradually as users master the basics
4. Inline hints: Provide brief, contextual guidance exactly where users need it
5. Empty states that educate: When a list or dashboard is empty, use that space to show how it will look when populated

Real-World Examples:

This approach reduces the learning curve by leveraging users’ ability to learn through observation and imitation rather than reading documentation.

Putting It All Together

These four rules can dramatically improve the usability of your interfaces without requiring extensive UX expertise:

1. Law of Locality: Place controls where their effects will be visible
2. Anything But Dropdowns: Choose more appropriate controls when possible
3. Squint Test: Make important elements visually prominent
4. Teach by Example: Show users how things work rather than telling them

What makes these principles powerful is that they address the most common UX problems found in real-world applications. They focus on matching the interface to users’ mental models—how people naturally think about and approach tasks.

Why These Rules Matter

Good UX isn’t just about aesthetics—it directly impacts your product’s success:

Tools to Help You Apply These Rules

Conclusion

Creating intuitive user experiences doesn’t have to involve complex methodologies or extensive user research sessions. By applying these four practical rules consistently, you can dramatically improve your interface’s usability. Remember, the goal isn’t to create the most beautiful or feature-rich interface—it’s to create one that feels natural and obvious to your users. When users can accomplish their goals without thinking about the interface itself, you’ve succeeded. The next time you’re designing a screen or evaluating an existing interface, run through these rules as a checklist: This simple evaluation can help you catch and fix the most common UX problems before your users encounter them.  

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For more on creating intuitive user experiences, check out resources like Steve Krug’s “Don’t Make Me Think” and Nielsen Norman Group’s UX training resources.