11 Best Practices of Dark Mode UI Design[2022 Edition]

Dark UI (User interface) themes are most stylish and elegant to look at. These are specially designed elements that offer several benefits and can have a set of advantages and disadvantages while using them. UI designers have to face challenges while selecting the best dark UI themes. The UI designs are available in a variety. The black modes are highly popular and can offer a long-lasting impact.

Web designers have to choose the appropriate ones that can suit the products. Most of the color schemes are based on background selection which can act as a canvas and the rest of the designs are placed on the background.

Why the hype for dark mode?

Most people are used to reading black texts from a white background and it has become a part of the habit. But scientifically it is found that the black color suits eyes with less irritation. Further, it states that the dark mode can offer a better feel and less strain on the eyes. The white texts on dark can be a contrast mode which remains harder on the eyes. The use of a light-on-dark theme provides light-colored text on the dark surface which is strenuous.

But the dark mode has started getting noticed due to the elegance, power, and mysterious feelings that it associates with and becomes the center of attraction. The black color brought revolution. It has become a part of discussions, and forums and can be a preference of product interfaces that look elegant in dark modes.

When to opt for a Dark Mode UI Design in apps/websites?

The dark background is preferred for home theatres, smart TVs, movie apps and gaming consoles, and many more. The dark-themed UIs can stand dramatically and match the environment, activity, and content along with the devices used.

• To opt for the dark background in the app or on the website
• To display a dynamic strong look with powerful images
• To show a feel of style and elegance along with majestic looks
• To create a sense of mystery and intrigues effect
• To get users’ attention without any distractions
• To display perfect visual changes and to focus on architecture

11 Dark Mode UI Design Best Practices to Follow

To use the black modes effectively, you have to accept useful best practices. Each of these practices will help you to make use of dark colors in the most attractive way.

1. Avoid contrast:

Remember while using a dark color never made use of pure black (#000000) along with pure white color (#FFFFFF). But it creates high contrast and that makes the eyes get tired.

The best combination to be used to have a perfect effect is dark grey along with light grey. The grey color is the most appropriate and can be available in variations of shades. To create a friend identity, one should choose grey as a primary color.

2. Never use white fonts

The text written in the dark UI always spoils the theme that you have used. You have to make use of opacity while displaying text in different fonts. Displaying the text in white letters on the black canvas makes the text look blurring. The latest look is distorted due to the effect of optic illusion. Instead of using white fonts make use of light gray colored fonts which will have an ideal effect. The dim-colored fonts will have a medium or high emphasis on the texts.

3. Saturated colors on a dark theme should be used carefully.

To display icons, buttons, and texts on the websites and to make them easily accessible, it should be displayed in light mode. Never make use of bright colors similar to neon on dark backgrounds. In the dark mode, the color remains vibrant when used along with saturated colors.

4. Limited usage of bran colors:

The brand identity can be preserved using dark mode. The colors used can be different in different color modes such as dark mode and light mode. The color schemes can be adopted according to the dark mode UI design but they cannot be considered a color inversion. The saturated primary colors should be preferred. It can be used on either a logo or a menu bar. The de-saturated primary color also is used in the rest of the design.

5. Express band personality with a dark theme

The light UI themes express the brand design completely differently and are eye-catching. The dark UI themes can also be used in expressing a different kind of effect. The dark mode UI design can be the most suitable for the brand. It is required to keep a balance between the various color combinations that express the emotions perfectly well. The sentimental approach using two different color combinations can represent a similar mood but in a different look and design.

6. Avoid the use of shadows

The white themes are the most common and display smooth action between the dark background and light content. But when the dark theme is used when the black background with black shadow doesn’t make use of contrast and the design doesn’t show any movement. The background shot remains less intense than the shadow.

7. Needs better understanding:

The dark design should be used but not on a flat layout. Understand the visual hierarchy of the interface. Avoid using shadows for the dark theme but make use of negative space wisely. The use of dark tones is easier to look at the displayed white object. It can be called a visual resting spot.

You have to make use of lighting with the help of contrast. Make use of the landscape for displaying light or dark shades. The use of contrast between the objects allows for transmitting the visual depth with no shadows.

8. Accessing standards of color contrast:

The usefulness of design should have a higher priority than aesthetics. Accessibility allows for increasing the usefulness of the product. Also, it provides color values that help in deciding optimal contrast. There are accessibility guidance tools available in terms of accessible colors.

9. Keeping a track of the imagery database:

When deciding the dark theme designs, allowing images to be used should have a finer effect. The images should be adjusted while using dark mode. The images can be noticeable with the help of contrast and brightness displayed while displaying it.

10. Bringing a change as required

Most of the websites and apps make use of dark modes and allow the switch to change during specific hours of the day, or on certain dates. It allows the users to have control over the switch and can change the mode as required. It allows the customers to have control over the product along with freedom and safety. The user control switch makes the user feel that the product designed is under their control and it works according to their preferences.

11. Keep testing the solution and get feedback from users:

The dark mode offers a variety of light conditions depending on the capability of every user. It makes it difficult to understand how the users appreciate the dark theme while using them on a regular basis.

To test the product based on aesthetics and usability also. You can test the dark mode of the product with the following options:

• It supports and justified the design decision.
• To check if the product is as per the user expectations
• IT companies’ real-world usage with business decisions.
• It helps to overcome defects in the product.
• It gets useful feedback and comments from the users.
• It helps in understanding user behavior clearly.

These are the set of tips used for operating dark mode UI design. Every tip is useful and can help in understanding the usefulness of black theme or black mode designs. These tips are useful for those users, who want to achieve their goals and targets while working in various work areas.

Final Verdict About Dark Mode UI Design

The discussion about the dark mode or dark mode UI design is to understand the necessity of product design. It has clearly shown that for some products aesthetics is important and for some other products, the usefulness of the product is highly significant.

It is always aimed at higher usability and accessibility of the products than the look and design of the product. The dark shades display the designs in an eye-catching and mind-blowing way that creates a magical effect all around.