UI Design

6 Mistakes to Avoid in Dark UI Design

Dark UI design is visually striking and popular, but getting it right requires avoiding common pitfalls. In this article, we’ll walk you through six mistakes to avoid when designing dark interfaces and how to ensure your designs are user-friendly and effective.

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Don’t Use Pure Black with Pure White

Using pure black (#000000) and pure white (#FFFFFF) creates too strong a contrast, which can strain the eyes. It’s better to reduce the contrast to reduce the eye strain.

This adjustment creates a more comfortable viewing experience for users.

Comparison of two dark UI designs showing improper and proper contrast levels for readability, with one side marked incorrect and the other correct.

Example showing the difference when not using pure black with pure white

Avoid Using Large Bright Surfaces

Bright surfaces can overpower the rest of the design, making the interface feel inconsistent. Users are not used to bright surfaces when using a dark Ul since big, bright surfaces glow too brightly compared to the rest of the Ul.

A side-by-side comparison of a dark UI design demonstrating improper and proper color usage for legibility, with one side marked incorrect and the other correct.

Bright surfaces overpower the rest of thee design

Don’t Rely on Shadows

Leave shadows for the light mode! To show depth and elevation in dark mode, use overlapping of elements, different color contrasts, and opacities.

This technique ensures clarity and hierarchy within your dark UI design.

A dark UI interface showcasing a "find friends" feature with a visual breakdown of depth layers, illustrating the concept of closest and furthest elements using a stack of color-coded layers.

Example of not relying on shadows

Don’t Use Overly Saturated Colors

Highly saturated colors can cause visual vibration and reduce legibility in dark UI design. By lowering saturation, you will reduce the contrast and prevent visual vibration.

Comparison of two dark-themed analytics dashboards highlighting better contrast and readability improvements on the right, with clearer text and graph elements.

Overly saturated colors cause vital vibration

Don’t Assume Everyone Prefers Dark Mode

Not all users prefer dark mode, especially in bright environments where it can be harder to read. Instead, provide users with a choice between light mode, dark mode. Auto mode is a good option when you want the best of both worlds.

This flexibility enhances user experience by catering to individual preferences.

Visual showcasing the "Auto" appearance setting option for switching between light and dark modes based on time or user preference, emphasizing its flexibility.

Example of auto mode as a good option

Don’t Abuse Accent Colors

Apply color accents only to interactive and important elements. The majority of the surfaces should be dark. This ensures your dark UI design remains clean and intuitive.

Comparison of a dark UI design showcasing a poorly contrasted layout (left) and an optimized version with improved contrast and visual hierarchy (right) for better readability and user experience.

Example showing the difference when not abusing accent colors

Dark UI design can elevate your product’s aesthetic and user experience when done correctly. Avoiding these six mistakes ensures your design is not only visually stunning but also functional and user-friendly. Start refining your dark UI designs today by applying these principles.

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Happy designing! 🤗