What are Avatars in UI Design and How to Use Them?

Avatars are UI design elements that represent a thumbnail of a user or a business’ identity in the interface. In UI/UX design, avatars can display Figma icons, images, or text and be used in any virtual environment – social media platforms, user accounts, etc. 

Avatars have become extremely popular because they provide a quick way to personalize the user experience by creating a visual identity for users using the digital platform. They are typically used along other components like menus, grids, or grids rather than being used as stand-alone elements. 

In UI/UX design, avatars create the connection between us, the users, and the app, or the design. When entering a new design we create our persona that is represented by the avatar and we have the ability to save all the logged information. 

UI design avatars also carry a functional purpose – to simplify the whole process and create a better user experience. 

Avatars are also used in UI/UX design to save up space and create a more aesthetically pleasing look for the project. And, let’s not forget that avatars offer an intuitive look of the design. We all know that the avatar icon represents our persona. And even more so, images are more easily spotted than text labels.

1. Icons 

In UI design, Figma icon avatars are represented by graphic design representations – icons, symbols, emojis, or other graphics – to represent a user without revealing their personal identity. This type of avatar can have personalized background colors. For example, a user might choose an avatar representing their interests, such as a camera icon, if they are a photography enthusiast. 

Think about it, customizing your avatar can sometimes be a thrilling experience. Choosing the right icons, and colors, and sometimes even creating an avatar that has similar features as you do is an exciting journey.

2. Images

If a picture is worth a thousand words then an image avatar is all we need to create our persona. Any UI/UX designer should usually represent a user’s profile picture. They display images – whether it is a picture of themselves, with their pets, or anything else – instead of an icon or letters. These avatars are used in messaging apps, social media platforms, and user profiles to help them identify each other. 

3. Text

A UI/UX designer should be aware that text avatars consist of the user’s initials or a single letter. This is automatically generated based on user information or chosen by the user themselves. This type of avatar can have personalized background colors. 

Whether we use lucky charms, initials, images, photos, illustrations, or emojis, UI design avatars are recommended to be used in one of the following sizes: 

1. Extra Small (24x24 px)

It should be used in user interfaces with limited space. For example, in App Bars, Headers, etc. 

2. Small (32x32 px)

It should be used in user interfaces where the avatar has little importance or the medium size is too large. For example, in Lists, Chatbots, etc.

3. Medium (40x40 px)

This is the default size for avatars in most cases. 

4. Large (60x60 px)

It should be used in user interfaces where the avatar is the main focus. For example, in Profile, Settings, etc. 

In UI/UX design, avatars can be used with additional elements for:

• User Status:

Avatars can be used to indicate when a user is online or offline. The most common way of showing a user status is to add a round indicator in the bottom right corner of the avatar. Use green when the user is online and gray or empty shape when offline.

• Notification Badges:

Avatars can be used to display the number of notifications. The most common way is to add a numbered badge with solid or bright colors at the top right corner. 

• Call to Action:

Avatars can be used to encourage a specific call to action. Use rounded buttons with intuitive visual Figma icons that suggest what the user should do or expect from the specific action. For example, include a “Follow” button as a “+” to encourage users to connect with others easier. 

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Choosing the right UI design avatar for your project can be easy. When we choose which type can fit best our design we should keep in mind the brand image we want to create. Before stating a design we are aware of the message we want to deliver. It can be a more playful approach, in which case we can use illustrations or cartoon avatars. 

However, if our audience is in a more professional niche we might need to use initials, icons, or photos as our avatars. Avatars should increase the user experience and help maintain the right identity of the brand. But, choosing and creating the right avatar might take more time than the one we have to spare, and this is where a design system comes into play.

We at uinkits understand the importance of great user experiences and creating amazing UI designs. That’s why we’ve developed a Figma UI Kit with design components that include these essential UI elements that enable you to design intuitive and user-friendly interfaces effortlessly.

“You press the button, we do the rest.” – Kodak.

Inspired by this iconic tagline from Kodak, we believe in simplifying the design process for you. Our Figma UI Kit, uinkits, is a complete design system with UI components that allows you, as a UI UX designer, to create your products as quickly as pressing a button.

Our design system includes UI components, icons, variables, cards, buttons and everything you need for your design process. All you have to do is take your UI design component needed, and you’re ready to use it in your designs!