A practical guideline for implementing effective transition animations in product design. It discusses 6 principles:
1. Fade in/out with opacity – Using opacity changes to fade elements in and out provides smooth transitions.
2. Scale to add liveliness – Scaling elements up and down during transitions makes them feel more dynamic.
3. Maintain consistent directionality—Transitions moving in consistent directions based on the product’s context improve usability.
4. Balance speed – Transitions should last 100-500ms to avoid feeling too slow or fast.
5. Prioritize and order elements – Rank elements by importance and transition them sequentially to reduce clutter.
6. Establish spatiality – Use layers and depth cues to give flat screens a sense of three-dimensional space.
The guideline includes many examples demonstrating these transition principles, such as toggling screens, opening menus and overlays, and minimizing interfaces. Following these guidelines can help designers create intuitive and engaging animated experiences.
