Decent to Dialed-in: Breaking Down a UI Interface

How do you go from before to after, and why does the second one just feel better?

I’ll show you what changed and why it matters when you're designing UI interfaces for clients, products, or your own portfolio.

The status bar and nav bar felt crowded. We didn’t need two bands of color. And the word “Menu” was unnecessary.

Removing those freed up visual space, letting the image expand and the entire top section breathe. Cleaner layout, stronger first impression.

We gave the back arrow more visual weight with a soft gradient and a little progressive blur. It now looks clearly interactive, without needing to overstate it.

Too many designs let functional elements blend in, leaving users unsure of what to tap. Every interactive element should look intentional and inviting.
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When you remove distractions, your core content stands out. It’s not just about minimalism, it’s about hierarchy.

Next, we aligned the price with the title baseline and shortened the headline width. That created a tighter reading rhythm and a stronger visual connection between elements.

Spacing isn’t just a numbers game. It's about the feel of the interface. The more natural your layout, the less your users have to think.

In the original, orange was doing too much. It was used for the headline, the price, and the primary CTA. These are both interactive AND read-only elements.

When a color is assigned too many roles it dissolves the meaning within the interface. So we simplified. Orange just for the price, and a separate color (green) for interactive button.

We asked a simple question: Do we even need this tab bar?

Once we removed it, the image gained more prominence and the call-to-action became the star. Less clutter, more clarity.

Everything in your UI should earn its place. If it doesn’t help the user, it probably doesn’t belong.

Each of these changes might seem small, but together, they transform the entire experience. This kind of detail-first thinking is exactly what I teach inside Shift Nudge.

If you're ready to build a skillset that sets your design work apart, the next round is coming up.

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Happy Sunday,