Graphics DesignGraphics Design · Lesson 09

UI & Digital Product Design

Applying graphic design to interfaces: systems, states and spacing.

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UI design is graphic design with behaviour. Every element has states, every value must scale, and consistency is enforced through tokens rather than taste.

  • Spacing scale: 4 / 8 / 12 / 16 / 24 / 32 / 48 / 64 — never arbitrary pixel values.
  • Design tokens: colour, radius, shadow and spacing as named variables.
  • Component states: default, hover, focus, active, disabled, loading, error, empty.
  • Touch targets: minimum 44x44 px.
  • Mobile first: design the 390px width before the 1440px one.
  • Accessibility: visible focus rings, 4.5:1 text contrast, semantic structure.
Tokens over magic numberscss
:root {
  --space-1: 4px;  --space-2: 8px;  --space-3: 12px;
  --space-4: 16px; --space-6: 24px; --space-8: 32px;
  --radius: 12px;
  --shadow-1: 0 1px 2px rgb(0 0 0 / .3);
  --shadow-2: 0 10px 30px -10px rgb(0 0 0 / .5);
}
.card { padding: var(--space-6); border-radius: var(--radius); box-shadow: var(--shadow-2); }

If a designer and a developer disagree about a value, the token is missing. Name it and the argument disappears.

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Minimum recommended touch target size?

Design tokens exist to...