5 Tips to Improve Your Bubble.io App’s UX & UI

Hey,

Hope your week’s off to a great start! Today, I want to dive into a topic that’s often overlooked in no-code development but is absolutely essential if you want your app to feel professional—user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design.

Building an app with great functionality is important, but a clean, intuitive interface is what truly makes users stick around. So let’s look at some practical tips for polishing your app’s UX/UI in Bubble.io and creating a better experience for your users. Let’s get into it! 🚀

1. Consistency is Key 🔑

Consistency in design makes your app feel cohesive and easier to navigate. It might sound simple, but keeping things consistent is one of the easiest ways to make your app look polished and professional.

How To Do It:

• Use the same colours, fonts, and button styles throughout your app. Bubble.io’s Styles tab lets you set global styles for text, buttons, and other elements, so you don’t have to manually adjust them each time.

• Maintain consistent spacing between elements. This includes padding, margins, and line spacing. It makes the layout feel balanced and clean.

Pro Tip: Choose 1-2 primary colours and 1 accent colour, and stick to those. This keeps the app looking cohesive and prevents visual overload.

2. Add Visual Hierarchy to Guide Users 👀

Visual hierarchy is all about guiding users’ attention to the most important parts of your app. By making certain elements stand out, you can subtly direct the user’s actions.

How To Do It:

• Use font sizes and weights to indicate importance. For example, use larger, bolder text for headings and smaller text for secondary information.

• Use colour contrast to highlight primary buttons (e.g., “Submit” or “Continue”) and keep secondary actions (like “Cancel” or “Back”) more subtle.

• Arrange content in a way that follows natural reading patterns, usually top to bottom and left to right.

Pro Tip: Use whitespace strategically around key elements to draw attention to them. Don’t be afraid of “empty” space—less clutter actually makes your app feel more focused.

3. Keep Forms Simple and User-Friendly 📝

Forms are a critical part of most apps, but they can be a major pain point if not designed well. Here’s how to make them easy and enjoyable to use.

How To Do It:

• Break down complex forms into multiple steps if necessary. A long form can feel overwhelming, so it’s better to use a multi-step format.

• Use inline validations so users get immediate feedback if they make a mistake, like entering an invalid email. This reduces frustration and improves the form-filling experience.

• Keep placeholder text clear and specific, so users know exactly what to enter. For example, “Enter your email” is better than just “Email.”

Pro Tip: Minimise the number of required fields. Only ask for information that’s absolutely necessary at that stage. The shorter the form, the higher the chances users will complete it.

4. Add Micro-Interactions for a Polished Feel ✨

Micro-interactions are small animations or responses that happen when a user interacts with your app, like a button changing colour when clicked. They might seem minor, but they add a level of polish that makes the app feel more engaging.

How To Do It:

• Use hover effects on buttons and links. This can be as simple as a colour change or slight enlargement to indicate that the element is clickable.

• Add loading indicators for actions that take more than a second or two. A simple spinning icon or progress bar reassures users that the app is working and keeps them engaged.

Pro Tip: Keep micro-interactions subtle and purposeful. Avoid excessive animations, as they can slow down the app and feel distracting.

5. Test on Different Devices for a Responsive Experience 📱💻

With Bubble.io, it’s easy to build a desktop-first app, but users might access it on various devices, so responsiveness is crucial.

How To Do It:

• Use the Responsive tab in Bubble to adjust how elements behave on different screen sizes. Make sure elements don’t overlap or get cut off on smaller screens.

• Set constraints and use hidden elements for mobile if necessary. For example, a complex sidebar might not be ideal for mobile, so replace it with a simple dropdown menu.

Pro Tip: Regularly test your app on different devices—phones, tablets, and desktops. What looks great on a large screen might not translate well to mobile, so keep adjusting until you achieve a clean, user-friendly experience across the board.

That’s a Wrap!

Great UX/UI design in Bubble.io doesn’t require a degree in graphic design or web development—it just takes a few thoughtful touches to make your app feel polished and professional. Try incorporating these tips in your current project and see the difference they make!

Got any questions or want to see more on UI/UX? Hit reply—I’m always here to help!

Until next week, Stackless