What really makes design work
Weekly Design
#012: What really makes design work
Hey friends 👋
This is Balint from “The Psychology Behind Design” and Balint Studio.
Every Thursday, I share 3 quick product design tips for founders and designers.
3-2-1: Vamos!
1. The power of negative space
What you don't include is as important as what you do.
Benefits of strategic emptiness:
Reduced cognitive load
Improved focus on key elements
Enhanced perceived value
Your most powerful tool isn't what you add. It's what you remove.
2. Metrics that matter vs. vanity metrics
Not all numbers are created equal, look beyond surface-level data:
Active users > Total sign-ups
Feature adoption > Feature clicks
User retention > Initial conversion rates
Are we measuring what truly indicates product success?
3. Consistency builds trust
That's why predictable design is easier on the brain.
Apply consistency in:
UI elements across the product
Language and tone of voice
Interaction patterns
Every inconsistency is a micro-moment of confusion for your user.
My Favorite Things this Week
🎨 Design - One of the best things I’ve read in a while. I highly recommend reading the full article, it explains why taste is more important than ever and how it’s become the key factor that sets you apart from the competition. Give it a read here.
2. 🪚 Tool - I’ve recently connected with the team at Pathway. It’s a tool where you can set up different types of tests (like the 5-second test I mentioned earlier in my newsletter) and get valuable insights from real users in just a few hours. You can test everything from user flows, new features and more. Try it for free here.
That's all for now
Thanks for reading the newsletter.
I hope this helps you make better design decisions.
If you liked this, please reply. It helps me know you're reading.
Balint 🫶
P.S. Before you go, here are 3 ways we can connect.
1. Need a design partner? - At Balint Studio, we're designing complex things simple, whether it’s a web or mobile app, tailored for startups and software companies.
1. Check out my eBook - “The Psychology Behind Design” a simple guide that'll show you how design really works. It's packed with cool ideas that are easy to understand.
3. Show Off Your Work: Got something cool? It could be featured in this newsletter.