DreamHost Design Handbook

Design Principles

  • Your browser / OS / device / resolution are not the only ones
  • Not all mobile devices have mobile resolutions
  • Write copy the way a user would explain it themselves
  • Users should know when something is happening, and when it will be done
  • Advanced users deserve shortcuts
  • Users want to know when they reach the end. “Ok, now what?” is the enemy of good design.
  • Users shouldn’t need to remember.
  • Consistency (look, feel, tone, usability, design patterns) is 🔑 for users to feel confident. It directly reflects the quality of our service.
  • Being descriptive does not require being verbose
  • Intuitiveness > Simplicity
  • Think about the edge cases. These are people too. Don’t neglect them.
  • Figure out how the system works. Help design the system if possible. A polished UI tacked on to a system that doesn’t support it is bad design.
  • Affordances are important. Make elements look clickable that are clickable, and don’t let elements look clickable that aren’t.
  • Design is inclusive, not exclusive. Bring people in. Lead the team to design solutions.