Even if we do not want to always admit it, we would all most likely want to be more organized than we are.
Whether we are talking about our schedule for the next two working weeks, or taking up more yoga classes while also squeezing in the occasional hangout in between, good organizational skills help us achieve more and more tasks we set out to do.
Luckily for us, technology has evolved in such a way that it is fairly easy and intuitive to put folders, channels, and different digital components in such an order that makes sense. And UI UX designers contribute to this by creating user interfaces that have clear and straightforward organizational systems that make the user experience more approachable.
One of the strategies used in UI UX design to make it more user-friendly is the integration of tree views. So, let’s find out exactly what they refer to.
The tree view is a UI element that helps users visualize a structural hierarchy more easily. Tree views illustrate the parent-child relationship between nodes.
To better understand the tree view element, we can think about a website that has information about the world's countries. In order to have a more intuitive categorization, and while also saving up relevant page space, we could insert a tree view. This tree view can have the main nodes, which are the continents.
When the users click on one of the main nodes, like the Europe node, the tree will collapse, revealing additional nodes - each of these nodes representing a different country from the European continent.
As a UI/UX designer, if you’re able to implement this, that’s how you know you’ve done it, and you’re able to create as many product designs as possible while still maintaining the user experience. In other words, that’s how you future-proof your UI/UX design career.
The default form of a tree view showcases a tree structure with labeled nodes. By clicking the arrows, users have the capacity to see the child nodes, as they collapse, revealing an additional list.
- Basic Tree View With icons
Additionally, to the basic tree view, this type adds icons to the nodes. The icons can be visualized between the collapse/expand arrow. If a tree is used alongside other design elements, its icons should be easily differentiated and distinguishable.
These three views integrate checkboxes that appear between the collapse/expand arrow and the name. Their main purpose is to indicate whether a node has been selected.
As UI UX designers, we need to be familiar with the parameters and rules that should be respected during the design process of tree views for apps and websites.
If a node from a tree view has an adjoined icon, that means that every node in that tree will also need to have a designated icon. This is done to ensure visual balance and coherence in the design. The icons we choose for a tree view should also be familiar to our target audience, and it is generally recommended that icons are not very complex to avoid confusion.
Interactions are important parts of tree views, as they create the link between the user and the information. There should only be one interaction per tree item; otherwise, the structure becomes complicated and difficult to use.
The actionable elements in a tree view should be mouse-only and should not be focusable. Besides this, they should be hidden from keyboard users and screen readers.
A tree view has to show elements based on a hierarchical structure. Usually, nodes are either organized alphabetically or by priority.
For example, if we had a tree view of movie genres, the main strategy would be to order them alphabetically, as these types of films could vary in significance based on the users who are accessing them. While some users may be interested in horror flicks, others could be avid comedy fans, which entails an alphabetical hierarchy.
The labels used for each of the nodes in a tree view need to be straightforward and intuitive. Another important aspect is to keep labels as short as possible, due to the limited space.
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!
