How to create UI avatars?
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UI avatars are graphical representations that enhance user interaction and identity personalization within apps, making them valuable in collaborative or communicative environments.
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Avatars should be used when identifying users is important, like in team collaboration, profile pages, or to indicate user status.
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They should be avoided in cluttered interfaces or when dealing with non-personalized content and when privacy concerns are present.
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The types of avatars range from simple icons to detailed 3D representations.
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Displaying avatars with text can improve identification and organization, particularly when including names, roles, or statuses.
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Avatar size variations should be chosen based on the context, from small sizes for lists to larger ones for profile settings.
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When grouping avatars, ensure consistent sizing, manage overflow with indicators, and maintain adequate spacing to avoid visual clutter.
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To improve inclusivity in avatar design, consider using initials with unique colors, adding pronouns for identification, utilizing neutral geometric patterns like identicons, offering playful animal avatars, providing diverse options that reflect various cultures and genders, and allowing customization for individual expression.
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In the metaverse, avatars should be customizable and adaptable across virtual spaces, with dynamic features like real-time expressions for better immersion.
Deep dive
UI avatars are graphical representations of a user or entity within a digital interface. It can range from a simple icon or placeholder to a more complex 3D rendering. Avatars humanize interactions and can be used for personalization, providing users with a sense of identity and familiarity.
In enterprise apps, they may be used to represent employees, team members, or users in collaborative environments, dashboards, or communication tools.
Is it always necessary to use UI avatars in an enterprise app?
Avatars are not always essential in enterprise apps.
Use an avatar in UI when:
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You need to differentiate between multiple users for better identification.
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The app involves collaboration or communication, where avatars help represent team members.
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You have profile pages where avatars provide a visual representation of users.
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Status indicators are important, and avatars can show availability (e.g., online, offline, busy).
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The app includes social features, and avatars help create a sense of community.
Don’t use an avatar in UI when:
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It would clutter the interface, especially in task-focused environments where avatars can distract from key content.
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The content doesn’t involve specific users, such as non-personalized data or tools.
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The app is not collaborative or social, where avatars would add little value.
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Privacy concerns make displaying personal avatars inappropriate, especially in sensitive or confidential contexts.
What different types of avatars exist and what are their pros and cons?
Generic avatars
Simple icons or initials.
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Pros: Lightweight, neutral, easy to implement.
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Cons: Lack of personal identity.
Photo avatars
Actual photos of users.
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Pros: Personalized, recognizable, humanize interaction.
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Cons: Privacy concerns, size and quality limitations.
Illustrated avatars
Custom drawings or cartoons.
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Pros: Flexible, creative, and non-invasive.
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Cons: Can appear impersonal or unprofessional in certain contexts.
3D avatars
Face or full-body representations, often used in virtual or mixed environments.
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Pros: Immersive, modern, and engaging.
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Cons: Requires more resources to create and maintain.
How to display a user avatar with text?
Sometimes, you may need to place text next to an avatar image in enterprise applications. In these cases, follow these guidelines:
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Use larger text for names: Place the user's name next to the avatar in a larger font for clear identification.
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Add optional details: Include smaller text for additional information, like user status, department, or role.
- Ensure visual clarity: Maintain proper spacing between the avatar and text to avoid visual clutter, especially in tables or lists.
For profile-related sections, you can place text beneath larger avatars to highlight user-specific information, such as settings or account details.
What avatar size variations should I consider?
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Small (16px - 32px): Use these sizes for avatars in areas with limited space, such as accordions, data lists, or tables.
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Medium (40px - 80px): These sizes are suitable for use in layouts, bands, or cards where the avatar needs to be visible but not dominate the design.
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Large (96px - 128px): Opt for these sizes in profile displays or account interfaces, where the avatar serves as a more prominent visual element.
How to display avatars?
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Default state: Displays the user’s profile picture or 3D avatar.
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Empty state: Shows a placeholder or initials when no profile picture is available.
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Event indicator: Adds a border or badge to highlight new events or updates.
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Progress indicator: Features a stroke or progress bar to show achievements or progress.
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Selection state: Combines a confirmation icon and stroke to indicate selection.
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Error state: Displays an error icon or color change to signal issues.
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Loading state: Shows a loading spinner or animation while content is being loaded.
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Disabled state: Applies a faded appearance to indicate inactivity or unavailability.
How to group avatars?
Consistent sizing and shape
Ensure all avatars within a group are uniform in size and shape to maintain visual harmony.
Overflow management
For groups exceeding a certain number (e.g., five), implement an overflow indicator (e.g., "+3 more") to manage space and maintain clarity.
Spacing and alignment
Maintain adequate spacing between avatars to prevent visual clutter. Align avatars consistently to enhance readability and organization.
Interactive elements
Incorporate interactive elements, such as tooltips or modals, to provide additional information about each individual when an avatar is clicked or hovered.
Responsive design
Ensure avatar groups adapt to various screen sizes and orientations, maintaining usability across devices.
Should we care about inclusivity in avatar design?
Inclusivity in avatar design is critical for creating a welcoming and representative digital environment. Often, default avatars reflect a narrow, dominant view—typically male or white—which can alienate users from different backgrounds. To address this challenge, designers must move beyond generic or biased defaults and strive for designs that reflect diversity in more thoughtful, engaging ways. To build more inclusive avatars, consider these ideas:
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Explore geometric patterns like identicons.
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Use playful, anonymous animal avatars.
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Implement initials with unique colors.
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Incorporate smiley faces to foster engagement.
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Experiment with brand-related mascots or symbols.
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Include names, surnames, or pronouns with avatars to improve accessibility and user identification.
How to create a user avatar for virtual space (Metaverse)?
When designing user avatars for the metaverse, it's important to prioritize both usability and inclusivity. The avatar should reflect the user's identity in an immersive, interactive environment. To create successful avatars, consider the following actionable insights:
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Balance realism and abstraction: Find the right mix between realistic and abstract avatars based on the virtual space's context.
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User customization: Allow users full control over their avatar's appearance, offering various skin tones, hairstyles, and accessories.
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Cross-world avatars: Design avatars that work across multiple virtual worlds without requiring a reset for different environments.
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Seamless creation process: Enable easy avatar creation from photos or selfies, followed by customization options.
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Real-time facial expressions and movement: Incorporate dynamic facial expressions and motion tracking for realistic interaction.
❓Questions designers should ask themselves
By asking the right questions, designers can question their decisions, find areas to improve, make sure nothing is overlooked, and reduce mistakes, leading to better, more thoughtful designs.
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Will avatars enhance the user experience or add unnecessary complexity?
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How will avatars be used in the context of the app (communication, identity, collaboration)?
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Is inclusivity and diversity adequately considered in avatar design?
🤝 Credits
Our content combines the knowledge of Cieden’s designers with insights from industry influencers. Big thanks to all the influencers for sharing awesome content!
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Design Better Avatars by Michelle
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6 Ideas For Creating Better Avatars Placeholders by Nick Babich
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Avatar by Red Hat design system
📚 Keep exploring
Never stop growing. Explore resources thoughtfully handpicked by Cieden’s designers.
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Avatar design and the future of character illustration by Johnny Levanier
- Metaverse design guide: User avatars (Part 1) by Nick Babich