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With over eight years in the design industry, I’ve worked on digital products used by thousands, collaborated with cross-functional teams, led panel discussions, and shared my knowledge with designers at various levels. I’ve also had the opportunity to mentor professionals who now work for well-known companies. These experiences helped me sharpen my approach to design, not just visually, but in how I think, plan, and make decisions.

Over the years, I’ve learned that following best practices is not enough. What matters more is understanding why those practices exist. Why do we align elements a certain way? Why do some layouts feel “clean” while others look messy? This article breaks down a few basic design habits — the ones we often follow without thinking — and explains the reasoning behind them. Whether you’re just starting or already working in design, thinking this way will help you improve the quality of your work and communicate design decisions more clearly.

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Why Padding Should Be Consistent

Consistent padding in both x and y directions keeps layouts visually balanced and easy to scan. It also helps maintain a clean structure across different screen sizes. This approach is based on basic psychology — our brains like order. However, in some cases, designers intentionally break this rule (for example, to achieve optical balance or create focus). The key is knowing when it’s necessary and when it’s not.

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The 8pt Rule and Why It Works

Using spacing in multiples of 8 or 4 makes interfaces easier to scale and more predictable. Most modern design systems are based on this structure, including Material Design and Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines. This approach helps developers during handoff, and it keeps the visual structure clean. But again, it’s not a strict rule. Personal or experimental projects sometimes skip it for more creative layouts.

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Avoid Using Decimals in Design

Using decimals in spacing might not seem like a big issue, but it can cause blurry visuals or unexpected results on lower-resolution screens. Especially when exporting assets or building for the web, using whole numbers keeps your design sharp and consistent.

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Should You Always Set Line Height to Auto?

Keeping the line height on auto helps maintain consistency across platforms. It also makes it easier for developers to work with your design. But in certain cases — like with unusual fonts or accessibility needs — it’s fine to set a fixed value. Just make sure the text stays readable and doesn’t break your layout.

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Icon Sizing: Why 24px Is Standard

Most icon sets use a 24px frame by default, especially in mobile design. This size works well with tap areas and stays clear on most screens. While smaller icons (like 16px) can be used in tight layouts, starting with 24px helps maintain visual consistency across your product.

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What Ghost Buttons Are For

Ghost buttons are secondary call-to-action buttons. They’re simple and minimal — usually outlined and transparent — and help create a visual hierarchy. These are useful when you want to offer an option without pulling attention away from the main action.

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Final Thoughts

In my leadership roles, I’ve always tried to help teams think clearly about every design choice — not just what looks good, but what works best. These small rules and habits may seem basic, but they’re the building blocks of strong UI design. Understanding their purpose gives you more control and confidence in your work and makes collaboration smoother across teams.

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Aram Andreasyan
Industry Leader, Design Expert

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