Dim the lights, rest your eyes, and reduce your device’s power consumption. As a new and attractive trend in the field of website design and application design, the dark mode has attracted the attention of many programmers and leading companies in the field of technology such as Telegram, Facebook, Google, Apple, etc., so In early 2020, Facebook announced in a statement that it will add the dark mode feature to the WhatsApp application (as the most popular messaging application).
Now let’s examine together what the technology giants have implemented to design the dark mode user interface. Of course, before that, you should have enough information about the advantages and disadvantages of dark mode design and know what exactly your target community expects from you.
Table of Contents
What is the dark mode?
The dark mode is a dim user interface that uses dark colors (usually black) or shades of gray as the main background color. This change of context from a white to a black user interface that UI designers have been leaning towards for several years is an answer to reduce energy consumption, reduce eye fatigue, prevent headaches, and in short improve the user experience!
Of course, we should not forget that dark mode is not a new design, because if you remember or have seen it in old pictures, in the 90s, computers had a black background and green text and codes, and dark mode is a continuation of the school. Old and monochromatic first-generation computers.
The first dark mode of the new generation!
After about three decades of replacing light mode with classic dark mode, it was Microsoft who added the dark user interface to Windows features in 2010 by presenting Windows 7, and a few years later Google confirmed that this feature significantly plays a role in reducing energy consumption, that’s why Google and Apple upgraded this classic user interface in 2018 and implemented it in their operating systems.
Advantages of using Dark mode
Prevent computer vision syndrome!
If the dark mode is implemented as a standard, it will significantly save the energy consumption of your device, and apart from that, it will also prevent your eyes from getting tired (especially in dimly lit environments).
According to studies, the dark mode can prevent computer vision syndrome, or CVS, which includes eye pain, blurred vision, double vision, headaches, neck pain, and even back pain, allowing you to spend more time working. Dedicate work and use of your digital device.
Improved visibility in low light
It has probably happened to all of us that we are sleeping and someone turns on the light in the room (intentionally!). What happened to us after that? We got a headache!
This is exactly the case for people who stare at their computer screen or mobile phone late at night or early in the morning. Dark mode brings you to see images and read content without a headache by reducing the light.
Extends your battery life
Some digital devices that use OLED displays can turn off black pixels when not in use. Dark mode generally uses more black pixels and thus forces the device to consume less power.
It increases your concentration while working
In general, white light and bright colors will reduce your attention, and this issue will be annoying for you in the long run (for example, when you want to work with your laptop for several hours). Dark mode UI improves your productivity and focus by removing the background and drawing your attention to the main content.
Negative points in using Dark mode
Like everything we encounter in life, the dark mode also has interesting and useful advantages and disadvantages that we will discuss further.
Decreased emotional connection with the user
It cannot be hidden that bright colors can create bright feelings in the user. But why should this be a big negative advantage?
This topic has a lot to do with your target audience and your type of business. What does it mean?
Assuming that your brand and business have a motivational, inspirational, successful, etc. nature, it means that you need to establish an emotional relationship with the user to penetrate and increase the impact of your content, and the dark mode can significantly affect you. Avoid this communication.
It shrinks the space
Another disadvantage of the dark space is creating a claustrophobic feeling in the user. If you need to create space in your application or site, dark mode is not recommended as a fixed element.
Texts with contrast are a bit hard to read
If you don’t pay attention to this issue when designing your website or application and don’t display your content to the user with the right color contrast, your user will be in trouble (especially in long-term use). So be sure to consider this issue in your design.
How to use dark mode in website and application design?
The dark mode design can be used anywhere you can think of. From mobile phone programs and applications to the website and user interface of TV and smartwatches!
The design of dark mode, apart from the side discussions, shows your importance to the user and will distinguish your brand from others.
The dark mode is a very sharp knife, so if you can’t implement it properly, you will hurt your user. Therefore, in the following, I will discuss the points that you should pay attention to when designing a dark user interface on your website or application.
Keep your brand color in mind
If your brand’s logo has a dark spectrum, you are in a strange situation with dark mode. So, before doing anything, adapt your brand logo to the dark and light space and then proceed to this user interface design.
User, user, user!
If your business and target community don’t want this user interface change, don’t plan for dark mode at all. This will not only cost you a lot, but it will also alienate your audience.
Know your business!
As mentioned, if your business needs energy and creates a high emotional connection with the user, and your content is better transmitted in this way, draw a red line around the design of the dark user interface!
Luxury and beauty
A dark mode is an excellent tool for inducing the senses of wealth and luxury, so if you want to have a luxurious structure, don’t underestimate dark UI.
3 points that you should pay attention to in the design of dark mode + (a few additional points!)
You should pay attention to these 3 points when using this user interface. If you don’t want to overturn your business strategy with this change, continue with this article:
1) Do not be too dark
If you have noticed, even book publishers do not use black ink when using a white page. for what reason
Because this high contrast will cause pressure on the eyes, fatigue and ultimately reduce the concentration of the reader. This also applies to digital devices, so try not to make your theme completely black, but keep its unique darkness.
Tip 1: According to google material design, using the text to background contrast level of 1:15:8 is the most ideal color contrast that you can use in your projects.
Tip 2: Avoid dark colors on a dark background and try to use paints with gray and white shades added to them if necessary.
Tip 3: Do not forget the color of your brand and be sure to think of a complementary color for your logo design on a dark background before any change.
Tip 4: Do not use pure white (#FFFFFF) at all. (Due to very high contrast)
2) Do not reverse the colors
Creating a dark theme does not mean that you reverse the color of all your elements in the light state to achieve a dark state. You must consider the psychology of colors to create any theme according to your audience, activity, and brand Make your default theme design dark mode.
3) Freedom; The best feeling you can give to the user
If you can add dark mode in addition to providing your default theme so that the user can decide which mode to use. By doing this, you will create a wonderful user experience for the user.