6 Common UI Design Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Getting the UI right is the key to users’ hearts. It’s no exaggeration to say that when the UI is to the user’s liking, you have a user for life; count on it. The UI and UX combination inevitably ensures that a product or service is easy to use, enabling users to achieve their personal or business goals (whatever they may be) with utmost ease.

Again, the combination nurtures brands and prompts users to advocate a product or service. It also helps build trust, boost engagement, and control user frustration. Moreover, it creates a smooth flow that keeps users coming back.

The bottom line is that avoiding common UI design mistakes is essential to keep your business running, as it enhances both functionality and accessibility. So, if you had gone wrong with these aspects, you better get it right.

In this article from a design journal, we will discuss 6 common mistakes in UI design and ways to fix them.

Mistake 1: Low contrast design making the page dull and indescribable

Contrast is central to visual composition. And it’s not just the contrast in color but the contrast in fonts, patterns, and even textures that helps the user identify elements on the page.

So, it’s a bad idea if you, as a web designer, think that low contrast between the elements will work.

On the contrary, it will make the UI design look dull and indistinct, as all the elements on the page will look alike—resulting in significantly less interaction with the app or web app.

This is one of the bad UI design examples you should always try to avoid.

Tips to fix contrast issues

1. Use high-contrast colors for calls to action.
2. Use contrasting background colors for the header, content, and footer.
3. Avoid overlaying text on photos; keep them separate to ensure better contrast.
4. Use bold or larger fonts to improve readability.
5. Add subtle shadows or outlines to text that help it stand out.
6. Add textures or patterns to differentiate sections.
7. More spacing between elements to avoid visual clutter and improve readability.

Follow the above tips to ensure clarity and accessibility in your UI design.

Mistake 2: Ignoring mobile responsiveness, which could cost customers

As of 2025, there will be nearly 7.49 billion mobile users globally. So, there’s no escaping the fact that your UI design should be mobile responsive.

A lack of mobile responsiveness is one of the most common mistakes in UI, especially in today’s multi-device world.

Tips to fix mobile responsiveness issues

1. Design for mobiles first, then scale up.
2. Ensure compatibility across devices and screen sizes.
3. Focus on touch interactions and gestures.
4. Use fluid grids and flexible images.
5. Use readable font sizes and appropriate spacing.
6. Use thumb-friendly layouts like hamburger menus or bottom nav bars.
7. Make elements dynamically resize, avoiding fixed widths.
8. Use scalable vector graphics and WebP image formats.
9. Minimize pop-ups and intrusive elements.
10. Prioritize speed and performance for mobile experiences.

Mistake 3: Slow loading resulting in lower user engagement

Your site may boast the most beautiful design, but it is of no use if your website is slow. Slow-loading websites frustrate users and negatively impact SEO, as 80% of online users who experience slow websites never return to the website again.   

According to Google, 53% of mobile users will not wait for a website to load if it takes more than 3 seconds, reducing online traffic. 

Reduced online traffic means lower user engagement, fewer sales, and negligible return on online ad spend displayed on-site. 

This is one of those bad UI design examples where even great visual design fails due to performance issues.

Tips to fix slow loading issues

1. Compress images.
2. Reduce the number of HTTP requests.
3. Use lazy loading techniques.
4. Remove unnecessary scripts and plugins.
5. Use lighter themes.
6. Upgrade to better hosting (e.g., VPS or managed hosting)
7. Store backups on an independent server.
8. Use malware detection tools.
9. Use Google PageSpeed Insights for performance monitoring.

Mistake 4: Confusing navigation that frustrates users and drives them away

A good website design should be intuitive and support seamless navigation. It should help users understand how things work. Simply put, users should instinctively know what each button does, whether it’s clickable or how hovering works. 

When it comes to navigation, web designers should remember that usability is prized over creativity and the three-click rule, which suggests that users should be able to reach any page within three clicks. 

A confusing layout is one of the common mistakes in UI and can lead users to abandon your site out of frustration.

Tips to fix navigation issues

1. Use clear, user-friendly labels.
2. Group related items together logically.
3. Keep consistent look, feel, and navigation across pages.
4. Design for seamless navigation on all devices.
5. Use size, color, and spacing to highlight key elements.
6. Use familiar vocabulary, not generic labels.
7. Include a “You are Here” indicator.
8. Continuously test navigation with real users.
9. Add a visible search bar.
10. Keep main menu options visible, especially on long pages.

Mistake 5: Turning a blind eye to accessibility resulting in user and legal issues

An accessible website welcomes all people, regardless of their disabilities. If your UI design fails to address accessibility, you risk alienating a portion of your audience. 

Moreover, a non-accessible website invites legal troubles, as accessibility in design is mandated by laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). 

So, no matter what, accessibility should be high on your agenda. Besides legal compliance, if you look at the broader picture, an accessible website has several pluses. 

For example, it enhances overall user experience, resulting in better traffic and SEO rankings, builds brand reputation, and, more than anything else, is considered an ethically responsible behavior on the business end. 

Lack of accessibility is another bad UI design example that affects brand trust and user reach. So, better fix accessibility issues in your UI design if you haven’t thought of it yet. 

Tips to fix accessibility issues

1. Add alternative text for all images.
2. Ensure all interactive elements work via keyboard.
3. Use readable, legible fonts.
4. Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background.
5. Provide captions for videos and transcripts for audio.
6. Test usability with people with disabilities.

Mistake 6: Badly designed CTAs that go unnoticed, affecting conversions

A website or application exists to drive conversion, and it’s the CTAs that help achieve that. This means businesses should never go wrong with their design strategy. 

These CTAs buttons are used for various reasons. When clicked, they help visitors make purchases and download newsletters, among many other things. 

So, imagine a situation if these buttons are poorly designed, so much so that the writing on them is not clear enough for the user to take action. It would hurt conversions, right?  

For instance, a CTA that reads “Take Action” could mean ‘buying a product’ or downloading a newsletter. The unclear CTA leaves the user in two minds, which could result in abandoning the intended action altogether.  

Another mistake while designing CTAs is that they don’t look different to make users aware of their existence. Simply put, they blend with the overall design. 

So, Poorly designed CTAs that blend in or lack clarity are classic UI problems and solutions territory, resulting in low conversions that affect the overall success of your website/app.  

Tips to fix CTA design

1. Write clear, action-oriented CTA text. Example- Rather than saying “Take Action,” it could use phrases like “Buy Now” or “Download.”
2. Use contrasting colors to make CTAs stand out from the background.
3. Position CTAs in visible, prominent places
4. Ensure CTAs are easily tappable on mobile

Final thoughts

If you are not mindful of user needs, your UI can go wrong in several ways. The above 6 common UI design mistakes can significantly impact your interface—whether it’s neglecting mobile responsiveness, accessibility, slow loading, low contrast, bad CTAs, or confusing navigation.

These are some of the common mistakes in UI that hurt engagement and conversions. The good news? Each issue has practical fixes. 

Avoid bad UI design examples and instead focus on improving UI problems and solutions. Do that, and you’ll soon reap rich rewards in the form of better user experience, higher engagement, and stronger conversions.

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Frequently asked questions

What are some signs of common UI design mistakes in a live product?

Some clear signs of common UI design mistakes in a live product include high bounce rates, low conversion rates, users abandoning forms or checkouts, frequent customer support queries related to navigation, and low engagement with key elements like buttons or links. 

These issues suggest that the interface may not be intuitive, visually clear, or responsive to user expectations, leading to frustration and poor user experience.

How can I identify bad UI design examples during a UX audit?

Identifying bad UI design examples during a UX audit involves evaluating the interface against usability principles and user behavior data. 

Look for inconsistencies in button placements, lack of visual hierarchy, unreadable text, poor accessibility, and non-responsive designs. 

Bad UI often shows up through user session recordings, feedback forms, and heatmaps—revealing areas where users get stuck, confused, or drop off.

What tools can help detect common mistakes in UI design?

Several tools are available to help detect common mistakes in UI design. For visual issues, tools like Figma and Adobe XD help simulate user interactions and highlight inconsistencies. 

Analytics tools like Hotjar and FullStory can show you where users struggle or drop off. Google Lighthouse and PageSpeed Insights help detect performance-related issues, while accessibility tools like WAVE and Axe DevTools spot compliance gaps that affect usability for all users.

How do UI problems and solutions impact overall brand perception?

UI problems and solutions can significantly shape how users perceive your brand. A cluttered or confusing UI signals poor quality or lack of attention to user needs, while a clean, intuitive design shows professionalism and user-first thinking. 

When you solve UI issues—like improving navigation, speeding up load times, or making CTAs clearer—you not only enhance usability but also build trust, credibility, and long-term loyalty.