How do you create engaging UX design? The kind that makes users feel welcome and comfortable with your product?
Micro-interactions might be the solution. Micro-interactions are intended to create those little dopamine hits that keep the user engaged and coming back for more. They work because they appeal to the user’s need for acknowledgment.
If done well, the user shouldn’t even be aware that micro-interactions are there. They should be engaging, but not overdone.
Here are seven examples of how micro-interactions can be used, according to an article in UX Collective.
- Swipe: Fun and addictive, the swipe helps users move quickly between tabs or pages to acquire more information.
- Data Input: These are interactive interactions that are helpful when data is being processed while the user waits. For example, while users are typing in a password, an interaction shows the strength of the password.
- Animations: Makes the simplest of processes interesting and addictive.
- Current System Status: Lets the users know the status of a process, often times letting them know when the process will be complete. This keeps them from getting annoyed.
- Make Tutorials Interesting: Micro-interactions can guide users through tutorials, highlighting important information to help the users know what to do next.
- Call to Action: Micro-interactions nudge the user to interact with the product.
- Animated Buttons: These help users navigate through the site easily.
Watch this video for a quick overview of micro-interactions and how they work.