Since the release of Windows versions 8 and 10, the new tile-based design has experienced a resurgence across the design world. It's everywhere you look: on websites, smartphones, and other user interfaces, as well as in magazines, architecture, and art. But why did this simple array of rows and columns become such a hit?
In short, the tile grid offers a clearly structured design and user-friendly navigation, plus some advantages you may not have considered. Every designer may have their own reasons for using a tile layout. If you still have any doubts about the value of this clean and simple look, here are a few suggestions on how and why the tile surface could significantly expand your repertoire.
1.) Tiles create a clear structure
A primary purpose of arranging elements in a tile format is to create a clear and organized spatial layout. Structure and symmetry are appealing to our eyes. Just consider examples from our natural environment, such as beehives, blossoms, or fruit.
Their evenly structured design is perceived as aesthetically pleasing and has always inspired artists and architects around the world to imitate this evenness of nature, such as Antonio Gaudí's Sagrada Familia cathedral in Barcelona.
We are naturally drawn to order, and uniformly arranged things are pleasing to us. Just imagine the contrast between entering a chaotic environment and a room where everything has its place. Firstly, you would find things much faster in a tidy room; secondly, it would be a place where you feel more comfortable and can breathe more freely.
The same principle can be applied to visiting a website. Instead of being overwhelmed by a multitude of options and frantically clicking around to find what you need, an elegant and simple structure can offer easy navigation.
In summary: Tile design helps to create a tidy and organized space. Take a look at the following examples:
Windows 8
2.) Easy creation and navigation
Tile-based interfaces not only eliminate clutter, they are also easy to design and can save a lot of time on coding and organizing the design. You don't need to be a professional designer or webmaster to use tile-based design. It has never been easier or faster to design a well-functioning website.
This is partly because the tile layout acts as a design guideline, leaving only the decision of where elements should be placed and how large they should be. Troy Templeman explains that the tiles “help designers decide where content should be placed, rather than where it could be placed.”
A tiled surface means you don't have to start from scratch. To use an architectural analogy, it's as if the structure of the house is already in place. You just have to move in and decide where to put the furniture. Having the architecture done definitely saves time, but you're not quite out of the woods yet. The beauty of a house depends primarily on the interior design, so there's still plenty of opportunity to unleash your creativity. There are countless ways to design a tiled surface that is both unique and beautiful.
However, the more elaborate the created layouts are, the more complicated and difficult they are for the user to navigate.
3.) Simply represent hierarchies
It is often assumed that a tile-based interface cannot have a hierarchy, since all elements are the same size. This is not the case, because the tile design can be used to combine blocks.
If we return to our house analogy from before, then the tiled surface is like a house with rooms that can be designed. However, one can also choose to remove a wall to combine the kitchen and dining room into one larger space.
It's no problem at all to construct larger spheres and thereby highlight certain areas. In this way, tile grids can even make it easier to establish hierarchies.
Consider the following examples. Note that they all share the same basic structure, but the tile surface is divided differently, emphasizing different segments.
To give you an even better idea of what this could look like, here are some PowerPoint templates that use the tile design:
4.) Create simple infographics
Another major advantage of tiles is the ease with which you can integrate various elements such as images, numbers, or text (as illustrated by the examples above). You can even go a step further and create your own infographics quite easily using a tile design. Simply place numbers and labels in different tiles, and voilà! It's that easy. Here are some examples of infographics from PresentationLoad:
5.) Structured yet original
Occasionally, you can break away from the tile-based layout entirely to create a visual focal point. This is a good method for drawing attention to specific content, but it shouldn't be used too often.
6.) Balance is inherent
One of the great advantages of the tile surface is the ease with which balance can be achieved. Equilibrium is almost automatically established through the symmetrical layout, which allows you to balance the elements and decide whether one side dominates the other.
7.) The tile surface helps to align everything.
In art and photography, tile design and its division ratio appear as a design principle. Have you ever heard of the "rule of thirds"? The canvas is divided into three columns so that viewpoints can be arranged at the intersections.
The tile interface is used here not to fill the individual tiles, but to determine whether the content is arranged in a balanced way. The rule of thirds can be used to check all layouts, designs, or presentations. Here are some examples of PowerPoint templates based on this pattern:
8.) Tile surfaces are extremely flexible
Are you unsure whether the simple grid layout is suitable for more complex and important content? In fact, the tile design is quite adaptable and will make it easier to organize even a large amount of information. Simply add more rows and columns; the more blocks you have, the more design freedom you gain. So, whether you're creating business reports, economic analyses, or presentations, the tile interface can work wonders for clearly organizing your content.
Here are some popular layouts that you've probably come across before. Were you aware that they use a tile design?
Bonus: Do you dare to try the diagonal?
Want to try something different? Tile designs can work just as well on the diagonal axis. This allows you to create a stylish look for posters or printed materials, as well as a well-thought-out design for a website or presentation.
More examples can be found here .
So why the tile design?
The decisive argument for the tile interface is the excellent user experience it provides. Its elements are easy to organize, content and text don't float aimlessly in space or are irritatingly slightly off-center, and at the same time, creative arrangements and fills are possible.
Tile design simplifies everyday life with its clear structure. Creative minds don't need to feel restricted, as they can freely configure the space by, for example, occasionally breaking out of the pattern or arranging everything diagonally. Tile design is quick to produce and easy to apply, making it equally advantageous for designers and users.