In contrast to the gradually fading popularity, people's understanding of wearable devices is gradually maturing. At present, the types of wearable devices we can see are mainly smartwatches and bracelets, supplemented by devices such as smart glasses, headphones, and even finger rings. Perhaps more new wearable devices will continue to increase, but from developers to users, the expectations for wearable devices are relatively clear.

As designers and developers, wearable devices have high demands for their creators. Wearable devices have their unique limitations, such as smaller screens, low information density, and limited battery life, making it necessary for designers to dance with shackles. The use cases of wearable devices are mostly highly scenario oriented, which means that there are differences in design methods between them and other digital products.

Today's article summarizes 11 key techniques for designing wearable devices.

1. Clear visibility design at a glance

Wearable devices are different from our commonly used phones and computers. Their compact screens and diverse usage scenarios require their UI interface to enable users to accurately and quickly access information at a glance. So, being clear at a glance is a rigid requirement, which is the foundation for short and fast interaction between users and wearable devices;

Fitness trackers use flashing lights to transmit information;

The clear visibility design on wearable devices is not only about minimizing visual feedback, but also about providing users with certain and useful content at specific times;

Keep the interface clear, concise, and easy to read;

Due to limited screen size, designers should design for the most critical information, allowing users to digest all critical content in less than 5 seconds;

A smart watch is a typical example, where the interface and interaction revolve around the moment the user raises their hand and looks at it.

2. Designed for contextual scenarios

Wearable devices usually contain a series of professional sensors for calculation and scene judgment. If you want to present clear information at a glance, you need to rely on these sensors to obtain environmental information, identify usage scenarios, calculate corresponding data, and present content based on this. Timely information presentation is the cornerstone of wearable device UI design.

3. Designed for lightweight interaction

Although desktop and mobile apps typically involve relatively long user processes, the interactions involved in wearable devices are mostly fast, efficient, and tailor-made. Shortness is a characteristic of wearable device interaction. If a process takes more than 10 seconds to complete, you need to reconsider the entire process. Try to keep the interface simple and interactive quickly and intuitively enough. For example, after receiving a message with a smartwatch, typing is a very unrealistic choice, and it is best to use voice input.

4. Keep it simple

Considering the unique attributes of wearable devices, stuffing more interaction and information into them can disrupt the experience. On the contrary, focusing on simple use cases and strengthening processes to help users quickly complete tasks will make the usability of wearable devices better.

Making interaction as simple as possible, highlighting the execution of individual tasks, and completing one task at a time is the basic interaction rule for wearable devices.

5. Design a minimalist interface

Designing a minimalist interface is not based on a need for style, but rather on the need for users to be able to visually read the content and easily interact with the interface. In a sense, minimalism is the ideal choice for wearable device interfaces. From color to layout design, this should be the case:

A sharp contrast. Contrast is particularly important on small-sized screens as it is the foundation of readability, especially some key factors;

Minimal font layout. Non serif font with uniform strokes is the most readable font, therefore it is the preferred choice;

Leave enough space between elements. The screen size is limited, and reasonable spatial control can maximize the presentation of content to users. You need to make adjustments based on functionality and availability.

When you do the three things above well, your design should look quite good on the small screen.

6. Minimize interference

Even on large screen smartphones, system notifications often affect and interfere with users. On wearable devices, the destructive experience brought by this interference will be amplified. It's one thing for a smartphone to emit a beep in its pocket, and the experience of a smartwatch vibrating on your skin can be even more annoying.

There are several simple rules to follow when designing notifications for wearable devices:

Try to filter out non critical notifications and push information as frequently as possible. Do not let wearable devices interfere with users' normal life and work.

When you need to notify users in real-time, you should ensure that notifications are important and of high quality. You can push notifications in a more surprising way, and if you understand the actual needs of users, the impact will be positive.

Allow users to configure the time and type of notifications, allowing them to easily disable notifications when needed, or choose more suitable notification methods for themselves (vibration, flashing, etc.).

7. More privacy settings

Compared to smartphones and computers, wearable devices are closer to users. So wearable devices need to be more user-friendly, and they also need to display users' personal information, where private conversations and health information are stored. But unlike smartphones hidden in their pockets, wearable devices such as smartwatches are worn externally, and related privacy information is easily exposed. So, there are several suggestions for this issue:

Understand the display content and mode of wearable devices. Allow default not to display, or only to display specific items. Click on 'open' to display more information.

The notification system also follows a similar approach, with default vibration and subsequent display.

8. Make full use of interfaces and interactions beyond visual perception

The saying 'the best interface is without an interface' is actually particularly suitable for wearable devices. Focusing too much on visual design can easily limit ourselves. Attempt to fully utilize non visual media such as sound and vibration to convey information, and use speech for input.

9. Interacting with other devices is important

Wearable devices should not exist in isolation. You should integrate wearable devices with other smart devices into a digital ecosystem, and wearable devices should benefit from the entire system. For example, a smartwatch should be able to be controlled through a mobile phone, which can serve as a terminal for collecting health data and outputting it to other devices, helping doctors and users better understand their health status.

10. Ensure offline use

Just like other digital devices, wearable devices that cannot be used without the network are absolutely not allowed. When it leaves network support, it should be able to retain core functionality.

The Apple Watch does not have an offline map function and cannot be loaded when it is not connected to the network.

11. Exploring feasibility

When designing an app for wearable devices, it is important to fully consider platform limitations and proactively plan and explore more possibilities. Explore the additional features provided in the SDK, identify which ideas may be implemented in future upgrades, and identify which ones may not be feasible. For example, the dynamic design of the Apple Watch below is great, but some of them are unlikely to be produced in actual development.