8 Common Design Dilemmas

Designers frequently face tough choices when crafting user experiences. Have you ever wondered whether to use text versus icon navigation? A progress bar or a spinner? A stepper or a slider? In this article, we’ll tackle common design dilemmas and help you make more informed decisions. Let’s dive in!

Two boxing gloves, one red and one blue, clashing with design elements such as "Radio button," "Checkbox," "Single-page form," "Multi-page form," "Modal," and "New screen" in the background.

Stepper vs. Slider

The first on our list of common design dilemmas is when to use a stepper versus a slider.

Stepper: Best for when users need to navigate through predefined values
Slider: Best for selecting the value within a specified range and when customization is more important

A comparison between two interfaces—on the left, a user interface for selecting flights with a numeric stepper and on the right, a music app showing a custom volume slider.

Progress Bar vs. Spinner

Another frequent dilemma is choosing between a progress bar and a spinner.

Progress bar: Use to indicate the completion percentage for tasks with known durations
Spinner: Use when the duration of a task is uncertain

A side-by-side comparison showing a delivery tracking app on the left with a clear progress indicator and on the right, a screen with a loading spinner saying "Checking image quality."

Autoplay vs. User-Initiated Play

The next common design dilemma is when to use autoplay versus user-initiated play.

Autoplay: For products specifically used for viewing video content or for rare storytelling occasions
User-Initiated Play: Use when there might be concerns regarding unwanted noise, accessibility, or data consumption

Radio Button vs. Checkbox

Radio buttons and checkboxes are another common design dilemma designers encounter.

Radio button: Use if the user can select only one option
Checkbox: Use if the user can select multiple options

On the left, a subscription page for Walmart displaying yearly and monthly plan options; on the right, a settings page with push notification toggles.

Single-page Form vs. Multi-page Form

This is another frequent dilemma for designers.

Single-page form: Use if you have a concise set of fields that don’t overwhelm your users
Multi-page form: If you want to break down complex information into manageable sections and maintain user engagement

Modal vs. New Page or Screen

Deciding between a modal and a new page is another common design dilemma.

Modal: Use for focused interactions that don’t require users to leave their current context
New page or screen: Use for more extensive interactions or content where the context shift is appropriate

Text Navigation vs. Icon Navigation

Another dilemma is choosing between text and icon navigation.

Text navigation: Use descriptive text labels for clarity in content-rich digital products
Icon navigation: Use recognizable icons in products that have common navigation sections

On the left, an e-commerce interface for jackets with sorting and filter options; on the right, a Twitter feed layout showcasing a design agency's tweet.

Breadcrumbs vs. Tabs

The final common design dilemma is choosing between breadcrumbs and tabs.

Breadcrumbs: Use for complex hierarchical structures in which users need to know their exact location
Tabs: Use for organizing content into distinct sections or views

A comparison showing a dense Booking.com page with a complex structure on the left and a simple Bitcoin transaction summary interface on the right.

Understanding common design dilemmas is essential for creating intuitive, user-friendly experiences. By applying these best practices, designers can make more informed choices, leading to better usability and engagement. Next time you face a design dilemma, you’ll know exactly which approach to take!

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Happy designing! 🤗