Consistency in UX/UI Design: Nice to Have, Not a Must-Have?

“Users do not care about an inconsistent UI — if they can’t use the interface.”

Simonas Maciulis shared the above insight in his monthly newsletter #23, published on December 28, 2024.

This sparked a reflection on the role of consistency in UX design. While consistency is often touted as the holy grail of design principles, it’s worth questioning if it’s always necessary, especially when it starts to compromise the overall user experience.

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Writing on a chalkboard repeatedly “I must remain consistent”. Image by Shane P Williams

Myth of Consistency

The UX community often champions consistency, believing it to be the cornerstone of a seamless user experience. But let’s pause and ask ourselves, is this belief always justified? Is it possible that in our quest for uniformity, we sometimes lose sight of what truly matters — the user experience?

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” — Steve Jobs. Image by Shane P Williams

User Experience Over Uniformity

Imagine you’re navigating a website that adheres strictly to its design system. Everything looks uniform, but you find yourself struggling to accomplish…