Today, we are used to browsing websites with light backgrounds because it has been the standard for many years.
However, early computer interfaces had black screens with simple text, similar to dark mode. Since the 1970s, companies like Xerox and later Apple advanced graphical interfaces, making white backgrounds the standard in UI/UX design and the norm in user interface design. However, with the increasing focus on eye strain reduction and battery efficiency, dark mode UX design best practices are now a key consideration in modern design.
What is dark mode?
Dark mode UI design is a feature that changes the interface of an application or device from a light background to a darker one. This dark mode UX design principle aims to reduce eye strain, especially in low-light settings, help save battery life on devices with OLED screens, and offer a more comfortable and visually appealing experience for users.
Dark mode also makes interfaces easier for more people to use. Dark mode is a popular design choice because it provides a stylish, attractive, and easy-to-use alternative to the usual light theme. Using a dark background with light text helps reduce eye problems, provides comfort, makes reading easier in low-light settings, and improves the dark mode user experience. Let us look at how it enhances dark mode UX (user experience) and how to use it effectively.
What are the Benefits of Dark Mode in UX Design
Dark mode UX design has many benefits for user experience (UX) and accessibility. It makes interfaces easier to use and improves overall design. Here are some key benefits of dark mode:
1. Enhanced Visual Comfort in Dark Mode UX design:
According to Data Report 2024, the average person can spend about 6 hours and 35 minutes on the screen per day, and this number is growing every year. This raises the effect on eye health, as experts recommend limiting the use of blue light and giving your eyes regular breaks.
Too much screen time, especially in low-light conditions, can cause eye problems like strain, headaches, and trouble sleeping. Dark mode helps to reduce these problems by lowering blue light emissions, making screens easier on the eyes. This is especially useful for people who work on their devices continuously or for long hours at night.
2. Enhanced Aesthetics in Dark Mode UX design:
Dark mode gives websites and apps a modern look, making them more visually appealing. The dark background with contrasting elements creates a stylish and experienced feel, especially for every design.
When using dark mode, it’s important to maintain good contrast and readability, ensure accessibility, and keep design elements consistent. Testing dark mode on different devices and browsers is also essential for smooth performance.
By balancing these factors, designers and developers can enhance the dark mode UX design (user experience), cater to different preferences, and create an attractive online presence.
3. Prioritizing Accessibility for Visually Impaired Users:
Dark mode UX design can help people with visual impairments like cataracts or age-related macular degeneration. The strong contrast between text and background can make reading easier and improve clarity. However, it’s important to follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure that accessibility in dark mode UX design is truly accessible for all users.
4. Increased Battery Life of Devices:
Devices with OLED or AMOLED screens can save energy with dark mode since darker pixels use less power than brighter pixels. This helps extend the battery life of mobile or other devices. However, this benefit is mainly for mobile devices and has little impact on devices with LCD screens.
5. Improved Readability:
Dark mode can greatly improve readability, especially in low-light settings. Light themes with dark text on a bright background can be harsh on the eyes, while dark mode UX design for mobile provides better contrast and is often easier to read.
6. Providing Comfort for Light-Sensitive Users:
People with light sensitivity may feel discomfort when looking at bright screens. Dark mode UX design helps by reducing glare and providing a more comfortable viewing experience for them.
Dark mode provides a more comfortable and eye-friendly user experience for those who are sensitive to bright screens and have weak eyesight.
Best Practices for Dark mode UX Design(User Experience):
Now that we’ve explored the benefits, let’s look at some best practices for implementing dark mode effectively:
1. Have a Clear UX Design Process
The UX design process for dark mode starts with understanding the user journey through thorough research, both quantitative and qualitative. Designers use this research to create and optimize websites or apps for a smooth, easy-to-navigate experience. Since dark mode UX design trends are always evolving, the process is iterative, and improvements are made continually. Learn more about the five phases of the UX design process.
2. The Homepage Sets the Tone
It needs to help users quickly understand how to navigate through categories, use search features, or explore new arrivals. At the same time, it should stand out, build trust, and establish credibility. Check out common homepage mistakes and how to fix them based on our 2020 benchmark study of 60 e-commerce websites.
3. Keep It Simple and Consistent
Simplicity and consistency help users quickly find what they’re looking for and achieve their goals. The design, copy, and actions should be as simple as possible to guide users smoothly. A clear, organized structure and a well-functioning search bar are essential. If your search feature doesn’t meet user expectations, users will likely go to a competitor.
Baymard’s UX study revealed that 61% of e-commerce websites had search functions that didn’t match what users were looking for. Improving this search experience can boost success rates significantly.
4. Plan Forms Carefully
Forms are essential in dark mode UI for e-commerce websites and should be optimized for clarity and readability. Long forms with too many fields can hurt your conversion rate. Simplify forms by asking only for the essential information to improve the user experience and increase conversions.
5. Do Feature Testing on Various Devices and Users:
Testing your dark mode implementation is crucial to providing a smooth and consistent user experience. Make sure to test it across various devices, operating systems, screen sizes, and resolutions to catch any visual inconsistencies. Since users have different preferences and devices—some may use small screens, others larger ones, or different operating systems—it’s important to check how dark mode functions on multiple models. Regular testing across diverse devices and user scenarios ensures the best possible implementation.
6. Accessibility:
Dark mode implementation must follow accessibility guidelines. This includes ensuring there is sufficient color contrast, creating alternative text descriptions for images, and making sure UI elements are usable by individuals. Tools like WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) can help to follow accessibility of best practices and create a more inclusive or impactful experience for all users.
7. Ideate and Refine:
Constantly test and refine your dark mode design to enhance the user experience. Collect user feedback and make improvements based on their needs and preferences. This ongoing process will help improve the overall dark mode accessibility in the UX design of your digital product in the long run.
8. Avoid Using Pure Black and White:
You’re right—black doesn’t necessarily mean dark mode UX best practice. While designing dark mode, it’s crucial to focus on contrast, as the sharp contrast between pure black and white can be harsh on the eyes, especially when reading. Instead of using pure black, it’s recommended to use a warmer tone for the background to make it more comfortable.
For example, Material Design suggests using #121212 for the surface color of the dark theme, which is softer on the eyes. Similarly, for text color, rather than using pure white, it’s better to use an alpha value (such as 87% for primary content) to reduce the stark contrast and dark mode typography to enhance user experience and improve readability.
Future of Dark Mode in UX Design (User Experience)
Dark mode is expected to become a crucial element in UX/UI design trends as more people start using it. Designers and developers will need to make switching to dark mode a standard feature, as many users want it. Research and development in dark mode for UX will likely lead to new design ideas and an improvement of dark mode user experience. As technology advances, the dark mode might become more flexible, allowing users to adjust how dark the screen is based on the time of day or lighting around them. Users could also have the option to set automatic switching, giving them the freedom to personalize their experience based on their needs and preferences.
As technology advances in UX design, dark mode will evolve, making personalized dark mode UX a standard in modern interface design.
