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Dark Mode Design: Best Practices and Benefits

diksha
June 14, 2024
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Dark mode design has become the latest trend in the market in the last few years. It makes your product look classy, bold, and attractive. Many brands have used dark mode design for their websites. You might as well try this trend but before trying this mode you need to know the benefits of dark mode, does it benefit your product or service? Also, it is important to know the best practices of dark mode design so that you can achieve the best results.

The success of dark mode design depends on the nature of your product, service, and target audience. Only if these factors are aligned, dark mode design will get you good results. If not then dark mode design might not work for you. So it is important to know what dark mode design is, its benefits, best practices, and much more.

What is Dark mode design?

Dark mode, or lights-out mode, is a user interface with a different or dark color scheme. It has dark background colors with light text and elements of the website such as images, graphs, etc. These lights, text, and images on a dark background gather more attention and look attractive.

If you have used a product image in your dark mode website then customers can pay attention even to the minute details of your product. Also, it makes it look more professional and attractive. Did you know dark theme design is not a new concept? It is the dark mode from which websites actually started. Actually, the monitors in the early 80s were of green-on-black type, later on, color monitors were introduced in the market. However dark mode design is still dominant in web design.

In fact, not only websites but many mobile devices, smart TVs, and social media platforms provide you with a dark mode option. Big brands like Google and Apple have incorporated this in their interface. Similarly, X, Instagram, and YouTube also provide you with such an option.

Benefits of Dark mode design

Here are some of the benefits of dark mode design

Less eye strain: In the dark mode design your eyes feel less strain especially when using your mobile phone at night. Imagine if you have turned on your smartphone in the middle of the night, the brightness of the screen can cause discomfort to your eyes as it’s unexpected. It will take some time for the eyes to adjust to that. This sensitivity to light is one of the reasons why brands prefer dark mode design.
More focus and attention: Your products get more highlighted against a dark background and draw more attention. Users pay attention even to the minute detailing of your product and it makes it look even more attractive.
Improve text readability: White or light-colored text on a dark background provides a better contrast that improves the text readability. It will benefit those who have more textual content like articles, blogs, etc.
Better contrast: A dark background enhances the contrast and elevation. It also enhances the depth as compared to a lighter background.
Reduced blue light: A dark mode background reduces the blue light exposure. These blue lights cause eye strain. Thus reducing these blue lights can reduce eye strain. It also helps in falling asleep faster. People use this mode due to its health benefits.
Saves battery life: A dark user interface saves your battery life. It also extends the battery life of your device.
Helps in building new brand identity: If you want to reinvent or reintroduce your brand then try dark mode design. It can help you in giving a new brand identity in the market.

Best Practices for Dark Mode Design

Here are a few of the best practices for dark mode design that can help your brand grow

Negative space: Dark mode websites can easily seem more heavy and complex so it is advised to use negative space in your design. It creates a balance in your website. It helps in defining a pattern and hierarchy.
Visual content: Dark mode is amazing for visual content as it is more attractive and attention-grabbing. But make sure the colors of your visual content are in contrast with the dark background. The lighter visual content will grab your attention on a darker background making you pay more attention even to the minute details. It can be used effectively to create a contrast. It works effectively for product images.
Usability: It helps in creating user-friendly apps. This is useful as people can use these apps and websites smoothly during nighttime as well. It reduces the discomfort caused to the eye. Popular streaming brands such as Netflix and Prime Video use dark mode. Google Maps automatically darkens at night.
Establish Brand: As these websites use a negative space in their design, it creates a strong emotion in the users. Each color leaves a psychological impact on its users evoking different emotions, reactions, etc. Black color is officiated with elegance, authority, and strength. Similarly, it evokes such emotional connection from customers as well.
Font: Avoid using pure white fonts. We should avoid using it as we perceive color contrast differently and pure white fonts can be difficult to read on a dark black background. Use a dim white color font against a dark black or dark gray background.
Brand color: Use brand color wisely. While using a dark mode background make sure you use your brand colors carefully and in contrast. Doing so can draw special attention from the users to your content.
Avoid shadow: Avoid shadow in dark mode design. For creating a shadow you need an object and light source from a specific direction. In the light mode design, the shadow is automatically adjusted however the dark mode doesn’t do that.
Use light: Removing shadows works in dark design mode and at the same time using light to create elevation and visual hierarchy is good for every interface. Lighter layers will make it look more elevated.
Color scheme: Consider the saturation level of your colors on a dark background. If your brand color includes vivid hues try to tone it down by adding white or dark gray. This will prevent eye strain.
Give users preference: Adding dark mode websites means adding an alternative to the user. Ideally, you must give the user the power to decide or a choice to choose between the two modes. Thus providing them the enabling power to choose between the two modes.
Contrast ratio: Adding a contrast between your object and text is good as it becomes accessible for all making it more attractive.
Text opacity: Assign a different opacity level to text elements with most opaque text being the most important. At the same time, less opaque text should have contrast against the dark background so that it is readable. Google recommends using 87% 67% and 38% opacity of white for high emphasis, medium emphasis, and low emphasis respectively.
Test: Test your design with your users. Ask for their preferences and make necessary changes. Make sure your website is accessible for all even people with visual impairments. Test your website for better results and incorporate the recommendations.
Day/Night transition: Add subtle transition effects when users switch between the two modes of day and night. It makes the experience smooth and seamless.
Avoid pure black: Pure colors are those that have no gray in their mix. If you put pure black color with pure white text then it can cause eye strain and headache. So ideally you should use Dark gray instead of pure black for the background and light gray instead of pure white for the text. If you want to use your brand’s color you can make the gray close to your brand colors.

Example

Netflix– Netflix uses a dark mode background to better highlight its content so that users’ attention is grabbed more quickly. They notice the recommendations more precisely.

Google Map– Google Map automatically switches to dark mode whenever it is dark outside as it prevents eye strain. Apple– Apple also enables its users to switch between the two modes. However, products indeed look more appealing and attractive on a dark background.

Conclusion

Several brands other than the ones mentioned above provide the two modes to their users. Users like it when brands consider their needs and make it their priority. It gives them a much smoother and convenient experience. In today’s time, we should be open to the latest trends and explore them. If you’re not a web designer and are still confused about how to design a website in dark mode then we at Lumia 360 are there to help you! We have years of experience in creating responsive and engaging websites with different styles and web designs. Our six-step web designing strategy can make you rank higher and attract more potential audiences. To know more email us at info@lumia360.com or call us at 514-668-5599.