Consistency in design - part 1

Have you noticed how some apps just feel right? That’s the power of consistency! t’s all about consistency! Whether it’s the way buttons look or how actions work across an app, consistency is what makes the experience seamless and intuitive.

In this article, I dive into the 4 types of consistency every designer should know:

• Visual consistency 🎨

• Functional consistency 🖱️

• Internal consistency 🔄 

• External consistency 🌍

Types of consistency

Visual Consistency

Definition: Visual consistency involves using the same design elements — such as fonts, colors, icons, and button styles — across all pages and screens of a product.

Example: A product like Instagram maintains strong visual consistency by using the same shades of blue, white, and black across its app. Buttons, icons, and navigation elements remain the same no matter where you are in the app, providing a familiar experience every time.

Functional Consistency

Definition: Functional consistency ensures that similar actions produce similar results across the product. This means that the way users interact with elements, such as buttons, forms, or navigation bars, behaves the same in different contexts.

Example: In Google’s suite of apps (like Gmail, Docs, and Drive), the same action (e.g., tapping on the “Send” or “Save” button) produces consistent outcomes, regardless of which app you are using.

Internal Consistency

Definition: Internal consistency refers to maintaining the same design patterns and behaviors across different sections within a single product.

Example: In apps like Slack, internal consistency is maintained. For example, when you swipe left in the conversation view or in individual message threads, it opens the sidebar menu every time.

External Consistency

Definition: External consistency involves aligning your design with widely accepted patterns and standards across other apps and platforms.

Example: Apps like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Airbnb all use the hamburger menu for the same function — opening a side navigation panel. This external consistency means that when users open a new app, they immediately know what to expect.

That’s it!

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. I hope you found these insights helpful and informative. Feel free to reach out to me at my mail. I’d be happy to connect!