Animation is an essential element of UI Designing. It enables users to quickly understand the functions of UI elements and their direction of movement. For example, an animated card expanding from the bottom to the top indicates that the user can pull down the card to close it. In contrast, an animated card expanding to the right indicates that the user can swipe to the right to close it.
The use of animation can also serve as a means to highlight a user’s path. For example, the eCommerce checkout flow may have a progress bar that animates as the user progresses toward the completion of the process.
A common mistake in UI Designing is the addition of unnecessary animation. An animation that looks good may not serve a function. Instead, focusing on providing functional and delightful animations that value users are essential. A poorly designed animation can make a user uncomfortable and slow the process. In addition, an animation that aligns with a user’s goals will help them better understand the interface.