UI Design

Dark UI Design – A Guide

Dark mode designs can transform a user interface, making it look powerful, sophisticated, and elegant. But these designs fall short of expectations when implemented poorly. This guide will help you master the art of dark UI design and create interfaces that are visually striking and user-friendly.

Moon and clouds illustration representing night mode alongside a light and dark UI screen comparison showcasing a "My Home" app interface.

Colors

In dark UI design, balancing saturation is critical.

  • Low saturation can make colors look washed out
  • High saturation causes eye strain
Various alert styles with different saturation levels for error and success states, highlighting eye strain and readability differences.

Neutrals

Crisp white and pure black are harsh on the eyes and can cause strain. Use off-whites and dark grays instead. It’s the key to a more comfortable viewing experience.

Text field examples with varying contrast levels and emphasis, demonstrating the effects of stark black and white combinations on user readability.

Typography

In dark UI design, typography is crucial. Light text on dark backgrounds can appear bolder and even glow, which may reduce readability.

  • Use lighter font weights to balance the bold appearance
  • Avoid overly bright text to prevent a glowing effect
A comparison of text appearance in dark UI interfaces, emphasizing how bright text can glow on dark backgrounds and solutions for better readability.

Depth

On light backgrounds, you can add depth by using shadows. For dark backgrounds, create the illusion of closeness by highlighting or illuminating elements. Another tip we have for you is to replace shadows with borders and use different shades of dark gray.

Analytics dashboard UI with annotations showing the benefits of using borders and varying shades of grey instead of shadows for dark theme clarity.

Bonus Tips

Simplicity is key in dark UI design.

  • Keep the color scheme simple since dark UIs work best with limited color options
  • Adjust the colors used on light UI to fit the context of dark UI
  • Keep in mind that slightly different shades look the same in different contexts
Light and dark mode UI comparison for a "My Home" app, illustrating how similar shades of color can look identical across different themes.

Ready to Deepen Your Skills?

Are you ready to take your designs from average to exceptional? Then the Ultimate UI Colors Masterclass is just what you need.

Enroll in this engaging, practical, and all-inclusive video course and start designing dark UI with confidence and ease. Let the Ultimate UI Colors Masterclass exceed your expectations of online design education.

Mastering dark UI design means balancing aesthetics with functionality. By optimizing colors, neutrals, typography, and depth, you can create visually striking interfaces that are as usable as they are elegant. Stick to simplicity, test your designs, and transform your dark UI projects into experiences that users will love.

For other valuable educational resources, explore our Learn section. Here, we offer heaps of courses, workbooks, and other resources that will help you improve your skills in UX/UI.
Happy designing! 🤗

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