Finding design patterns

When I approach a design project—such as creating a dashboard—I’m ultimately looking for the problem that needs to be solved. But in the process of solving that problem I’m seeking out design patterns to get me to the solution.

Inspiration for this comes in many forms.

In the past it was through sites like Dribbble, downloading dozens of apps and exploring sites. Over the last three years I’ve turned to Mobbin (I’m not paid to say this!), where I’ll explore patterns to find ideas.

Recently I needed to create a tabbed interface. In my mind I knew what I needed; but vaguely. The idea wasn’t concrete. I’ve created tabs many times. But the design I laid out had four levels of hierarchy, and tabs conflicted with one of the levels.

So I sought out a tab design that would work.

Most didn’t, but I stumbled on a pattern I hadn’t considered—it’s one I’ve also designed, but not recently.

Instead of going with pattern A, I chosen pattern B. And it mostly worked—with some tweaking.

This way of thinking, of hunting and pecking for ideas, helps ensure that designs make use of existing patterns in ways that people will understand. Instead of reinventing a component to be unique, it’s better to pull ideas that already exist and make them fit.