For product designers, their focus is on form factors such as the size of and space involved with the product. As digital designers, our focus is less on form factors but more on what is on the screen. This is a shortsighted mindset because it is important to think outside of the screen and consider our users’ environment as well, especially as users view websites not only on desktops but also—increasingly—on mobile devices as well.
- Provide a clear line of sight to important elements for any seated or standing user.
- Make reach to all components comfortable for any seated or standing user.
- Accommodate variations in hand and grip size.
- Provide adequate space for the use of assistive devices or personal assistance.
For digital designs, this can relate to visual ease, layouts with structured grids that use Gestalt’s principles and typography that’s legible and readable.
On a desktop, a user interacts with a website via a small pointer on the screen. On a mobile device, a user interacts with a website using his or her index finger or thumb. A small target area can be a problem on mobile devices because it is more difficult to select with precision. According to an MIT Touch Lab study in 2003, the average size of a human adult index finger is 1.6 to 2 cm. Converting that, we have approximately 60–76 pixels on a digital screen. So, the next time you design for mobile, make sure your touch target areas take the human physical factors into consideration.
Content taken from CB, who is part of the STEAM Team Starship Nebula