Make Your Designs Stand Out with Contrast

How to effectively utilize contrasting colors, fonts, sizes, and more to create eye-catching website and app interfaces

Using contrast is one of the most powerful yet underutilized techniques for making website and mobile app designs grab attention and stand out.

This article explains what contrast means in design, why it's important, and actionable tips to intentionally leverage contrasts of colors, fonts, sizes, layouts, imagery, and negative space.

Follow these principles and you'll have website and app elements of web design that delight rather than bore users.

What is Contrast in Design?

Contrast refers to bold differences between visual elements - often things you intentionally juxtapose to create excitement, highlight importance, and guide the viewer's eye. For example, contrast is at play when you combine:

●      A large heading with small body text

●      A brightly-colored call-to-action button that pops against a muted background

●      Professional serif typography alongside fun handwritten scripts

Without contrasts, designs become homogeneous and fail to direct attention. Thoughtfully balancing contrasts creates visual hierarchy - enabling key messages to stand out clearly.

Why is Contrast Important in Interfaces?

Contrast gives interfaces meaning through comparisons. Our eyes notice differences. Leveraging contrasts:

●      Directs focus towards key elements like calls-to-action

●      Clarifies relationships between content types (like headers and body text)

●      Improves scalability by allowing important items to stand out

●      Adds needed excitement to sterile layouts

●      Guides users through intended paths in the interface

Overall, skillful contrast creates designs that feel bold, lively, and considered - not bland or confusing.

Tips for Using Contrast Effectively

Here are 8 techniques for thoughtfully harnessing contrast to make your designs pop:

1. Contrast Typeface Styles

●      Combine serif and sans-serif body copy for visual interest

●      Use display fonts like scripts or handwritten styles to contrast paragraph text

●      Introduce monospace fonts to differentiate code snippets or data

2. Contrast Typography Sizes

●      Leverage scale and weight to establish hierarchy

○      Large/bold for headings

○      Smaller/lighter for body text

●      Use sizes intentionally, not just defaults

3. Contrast Colors

●      Combine a vibrant color with neutrals for liveliness

●      Use a bold accent shade with sufficient contrast against background

●      Add color strategically to guides users’ attention

4. Contrast Graphic Styles

●      Mix photography with illustrations

●      Combine detailed images with minimalist icons

●      Introduce hand-drawn elements to contrast sleek graphics

5. Contrast Layout Densities

●      Alternate packed and spacious sections

●      Use ‘breathing room’ to highlight focused content

6. Contrast Line Weights

●      Vary strokes on icons, borders, dividers

●      Thicker lines are bolder and attract more attention

7. Leverage Negative Space

●      Intentional empty areas guide flow

●      Surround key content with plenty of padding

8. Contrast Imagery Content

●      Combine photos conveying very different feelings or activities

●      Mix abstract shapes with representational figures

Type of Contrast	Best Practices
Typography	Multiple fonts, weights, styles, sizes
Color	Vibrant accents, bold combinations
Graphics	Detailed photos + minimalist icons
Layouts	Dense and spacious sections
Line Weights	Thin and thick strokes
Negative Space	Empty padding around focused content
Imagery	Abstract figures + photos

Conclusion

Skillful use of contrast creates designs that grab attention, guide users, communicate hierarchy, and look considered and exciting.

Use the principles in this article to make informed decisions about combining and balancing contrasting elements for interfaces with delightful and functional visuals.

Through bold typography, thoughtful colors, strategic graphics, and other contrasts, you can craft designs that resonate rather than blend into the background. So challenge defaults and homogeneity - and watch your interfaces pop!