Rethinking UI Design: Screens/Pages as the Building Blocks
Tags: design, ux, discuss, devjournal
Published: 2023-03-01 16:43:29

## Introduction

User Interface (UI) design is crucial for any digital product, website, or application. The way a user interacts with your product is directly influenced by the UI. Designers must understand the building blocks of UI and how they relate to one another to create a cohesive, user-friendly experience.

## Atomic Design vs Screen/Page Design

There are two main approaches to designing a UI: Atomic Design and Screen/Page Design. Atomic Design suggests that a UI is made up of small components that can be reused and combined to create larger components. In contrast, Screen/Page Design proposes that a Screen/Page is actually the smallest component of the UI, rendering Atomic Design unnecessary.

## The Benefits of Designing Screens/Pages as a Complete Experience

A UI is the collection of screens or pages that make up a digital product. Each screen/page contains all the necessary information and elements for a particular interaction or task. Rather than designing individual components, designers create screens/pages that represent a complete experience. This approach allows for more flexibility and adaptability when designing for multiple platforms and devices. Some of the benefits of designing screens/pages as a complete experience are:

- More efficient design and development

- More creativity and innovation

- Better collaboration between design and development teams

- A more coherent and intuitive user experience

## Atomic Design: Balancing Reusability and User Experience

One of the main criticisms of Atomic Design is that it can lead to a disjointed experience for the user. Because the UI is made up of disparate parts, designers must constantly ensure that the components work well together and are consistent across the product.

## Think Big with Screen/Page-Based Design

Screens/pages, on the other hand, provide a more holistic approach to UI design. Each screen/page represents a complete experience, from the layout to the interactions to the content. Designers can focus on creating a seamless experience within each screen/page, without having to worry about how each component will interact with others.

Of course, there are some situations where Atomic Design may be more appropriate. For example, if you are designing a UI that will be used across multiple platforms and devices, Atomic Design can provide a consistent experience for the user. However, in most cases, designing with screens/pages in mind provides a better overall user experience.

it is important to keep in mind that the Screen/Page-first approach does not necessarily mean completely abandoning the principles of Atomic Design. Rather, it is about prioritizing the creation of cohesive, complete experiences while still using Atomic Design principles to ensure consistency and reusability where appropriate.

## Conclusion

In conclusion, while Atomic Design has its benefits, there is a growing argument that designing with screens/pages as the building blocks of UI provides a more holistic and efficient approach to design. By focusing on creating complete experiences rather than individual components, designers can produce more intuitive and engaging products while also saving time and resources. Of course, this does not mean that Atomic Design should be completely abandoned, but rather that it should be used in conjunction with a Screen/Page-first approach to create the best possible user experience.