The Boring Details That Make an Interface Feel Good

Pick a type scale and stick to it

Almost every interface I audit uses too many font sizes. A simple scale, such as 12, 14, 16, 20, 28, and 40, gives you hierarchy without noise. Pair it with two weights and consistent line heights, and most screens look better immediately.

Spacing is a system

I use a base unit of four pixels and only multiply it: 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 48. When every gap comes from the same set, elements line up without effort and layouts feel calm even when they are dense.

Design every state

Every component needs more than its happy path. I check each one against this list:

• Default, hover, pressed, focused, and disabled.

• Empty, loading, error, and success.

• Long text, short text, and missing images.

The states nobody sketches are the ones users actually meet. Designing them early turns surprises into decisions.

Check contrast and touch targets

Aim for 4.5:1 contrast on body text and 44-point touch targets. It takes minutes to check and makes the product better for everyone, not only people who rely on accessibility features.