Motion

Establish a Motion Language

• Document a set of animation principles (speed, rhythm, style) that reflect your brand.

• Provide usage examples and do’s/don’ts so designers and developers can apply them consistently.

Use Motion Purposefully

• Tie animations to meaningful events (e.g., hover, click, load) rather than adding decorative flourishes.

• Keep transitions short enough that they don’t hinder usability.

Be Accessible

• Offer settings or preferences to reduce motion for users who experience motion sensitivity or vertigo (e.g., “Reduce Motion” toggle).

• Ensure essential content is accessible even if animations don’t play (e.g., no crucial info hidden behind a transition).

Consider Device Constraints

• Use hardware-accelerated transformations (e.g., translate3d in CSS) to reduce performance overhead.

• Test on lower-end devices and different browsers for any animation lag or artifacts.

Maintain Consistency

• Reuse the same timing and easing functions for similar animations (e.g., button presses, card expansions).

• This repetition helps users build familiarity and predict how the interface will behave.

Iterate & Validate

• Test your animations with actual users; gather feedback on whether they aid or hinder the experience.

• Adjust timing, easing, or duration based on insights from user testing and performance metrics.