In today's competitive digital landscape, creating an intuitive and engaging user experience is more crucial than ever. However, even experienced designers can fall into common pitfalls that damage usability and overall satisfaction. Drawing on expert advice, we've compiled a list of 6 common UI/UX design mistakes and, more importantly, what not to do.
1. Skip the in-depth user search
Thinking you understand your users without conducting in-depth research can lead to inappropriate design decisions.
What not to do:
- Don't rely on assumptions: Avoid basing your design decisions solely on intuition or personal experience.
- Neglecting user interviews and surveys: Omitting search can lead to the introduction of features that don't resonate with your audience.
The right approach:
Carry out detailed interviews, surveys and usability tests. Develop personas that reflect the needs of your target audience, enabling data-driven design choices that really improve the user experience.
The user search must incorporate both methods qualitative (such as interviews, user tests and observations) to obtain in-depth information on user behaviour, and methods quantitative (such as surveys and data analysis) to measure user interactions on a large scale. For more details on how to conduct effective user research, even on a limited budget, consult the CareerFoundry's guide to the importance of user research.
2. Ignore mobile-first and responsive design
With the increasing use of mobiles, designing exclusively for desktops is a critical mistake.
What not to do:
- Don't neglect mobile users: Ignoring mobile-first design can alienate a large part of your audience.
- Avoid fixed layouts: Rigid, unresponsive designs lead to poor experiences on small screens.
The right approach:
Adopt a mobile-first approach. Use flexible grids and responsive elements to ensure your design works perfectly on smartphones, tablets and desktops. For an in-depth look at best practice in mobile UI/UX design, check out the UXCam's ultimate guide to Mobile UX.
3. Confusing interface
An interface overloaded with unnecessary elements or visual extravagance can overwhelm users and hide essential information.
What not to do:
- Overloading the interface : Add too many features or visual elements.
- Insist on superfluous decorations: Excessive embellishment can be detrimental to clear navigation.
The right approach:
- Go for minimalism: Make sure that each element has a clear function.
- Balanced design : Incorporate innovative trends (such as those discussed in our article on UI/UX trends in 2025) while preserving the fundamental principles of usability.
- Clarity rather than overload: Simplify the user journey to focus on the essentials.
The right approach:
Go for minimalism and clarity. Each element should have a precise function. What's more, if you find that your design is becoming too cluttered, explore the concrete strategies suggested in Denovers' guide to correcting bad designs, which offers real-life examples and advice on how to turn a bad user experience into user-friendly solutions.
4. Weak call to action (CTA)
A CTA that gets lost in the shuffle can cost you valuable engagement. Whether it's dull wording, poor placement or a lack of interactive cues, a weak CTA doesn't drive action.
What not to do:
- Use generic phrases : Terms such as «Submit» or «Find out more» without context.
- Hiding CTAs in too much content: Make CTAs hard to spot.
- Ignore interactive cues: Omit hover effects or micro-animations that indicate clickability.
The right approach:
- Write a catchy text: Use action-oriented language that focuses on user benefits.
- Strategic investment : Position your CTAs where users naturally look.
- Interactive design : Use subtle animations or colour changes to attract attention.
- Test and iterate : Carry out A/B tests to determine the most effective design and placement.
Write eye-catching text using action-oriented language that highlights the benefits for the user. Position your CTAs where users naturally look and interact, taking care to place them strategically. Make sure your design is interactive by incorporating subtle animations or colour changes to attract attention. Carry out A/B tests on different CTA designs and placements to determine what really resonates with your audience.
5. Not keeping up with emerging trends
Designs that rely on outdated patterns or ignore emerging trends risk looking obsolete. In 2025, users will expect modern touches, such as personalised micro-interactions or dark mode, but only when they improve ease of use.
What not to do:
Stick to what you know, even when new user-friendly trends appear.
Blindly integrating trends without checking whether they meet a real need.
The right approach :
Stay informed by regularly researching the competition and analysing industry trends. This also means selectively adopting new features, such as voice interfaces or AI-driven personalisation, but only if they really improve the user journey. What's more, emerging trends should always be validated with real users before being fully integrated into your design.
Our article on UI/UX trends in 2025 explores how emerging trends can be balanced with the fundamental principles of usability, ensuring that innovative aesthetics enhance functionality rather than compromise it. This reference illustrates the importance of integrating forward-thinking design trends with proven usability techniques.
6. Prioritising aesthetics over functionality
A visually impressive interface cannot compensate for a design that confuses or frustrates users. When aesthetics take precedence over functionality, the experience becomes more about spectacle than substance.
What not to do:
- Focusing solely on visual embellishments to the detriment of clarity and ease of use.
- Assume that a modern look automatically translates into improved usability.
User-centred design ensures that every element of your interface performs a clear and defined function, eliminating unnecessary clutter and improving overall efficiency. By focusing on simplicity, you create experiences that feel natural and effortless, reducing cognitive load and making interactions more intuitive. What's more, an empathy-led approach means basing your design decisions on in-depth insights gained from user interviews and testing, allowing you to truly understand their needs and pain points. This ensures that every visual choice supports the user journey rather than complicating it. In short, combining user-centred design with simplicity and empathy turns an ordinary interface into a powerful tool for fostering engagement and satisfaction.
Conclusion
Avoiding these common UI/UX design mistakes is essential to creating digital experiences that are both engaging and functional. By basing your decisions on solid user research, prioritising mobile-first design, keeping interfaces clean and intentional, ensuring accessibility for all and engaging in continuous testing and iteration, you can design products that truly resonate with your audience.
