Organizing Form Elements in Forms

Although many visual and interaction design considerations play an important role in how people complete forms, it’s often the content within the form and how we organize it that either leaves people scratching their heads or allows them to whiz through unperturbed.

There are plenty of reasons why consistency in form design matters. A primary goal when designing forms needs to be getting people to scan through the form fields quickly and easily. But forms with cluttered layout and inconsistent design often divert your users, doubting the authenticity of it and make them to abandon the form or sometimes leave your website.

So, to make your customers feel safe and steer in right direction while they fill up forms in your website – you need to design forms with clear, logical structure with properly aligned label and fields, consistent spacing and more.

In this article, we’ll delve into the principles of creating consistent layouts in web forms and highlight some common outliers that can disrupt this consistency.

Why is Organizing Form Element Could be

People need to parse every question you ask them, formulate their response to that question, and then enter their response into the space you have provided. The best way to speed up that process is to ask questions that really matter at the time or place to get an answer from people. (answers from your users that could benefit growth of your organization)

The Impact of Form Design

Since Web forms broker crucial interactions like checkout and registration, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they can have a big impact on business goals. Increased completion rates of 10–40 percent were not uncommon in many of the form redesign projects I’ve been part of. And when form completion means new sales or new customers, it’s easy to see how improvements in form design can amount to substantial increases in revenue.

Key Principles for Consistent Layout in Form

Logical Flow in Forms

Logical flow in forms is crucial because placing questions in irrelevant or illogical places can make users question the form’s purpose and trustworthiness. It forms the roadmap that guides users through the form-filling process in a way that feels natural and intuitive.

Imagine an online loan application that asks for your income and bank details before even asking for your name or contact information. Your users will likely wonder,

This confusion can lead to form abandonment and mistrust. By structuring forms logically, you provide a smoother and more reassuring user experience.

Understanding the Logical Flow: “IF” and “THEN”

Designing forms with a logical flow is akin to writing a good piece of code or an effective argument. Just like logical statements often follow the “IF” and “THEN” structure, form fields should be grouped and sequenced in a way that makes logical sense to the user.

When organizing form fields, think about them as conditions and actions:

• IF: In a event registration form, collecting personal information (e.g., personal details, basic choices) about the users should be the foremost data that you expect users to share and that always sets the stage.
• THEN: Following up with relevant details based on the initial information (e.g., event details, payment choices).

This logical progression ensures that users encounter fields in a natural and expected order, reducing confusion and enhancing usability.

Why Logical Flow is Your Secret Weapon for Killer Forms

• Smooth Sailing for Users: Logical flow acts like a GPS for your form. Users can breeze through it without getting lost or confused, making the entire experience a breeze. No more cognitive overload, just smooth sailing towards completion.
• Fewer Mistakes, More Accuracy: When questions flow naturally, users are less likely to skip fields or make errors. This means you get the data you need, minus the typos and missing information.
• Higher Completion Rates from Users: Nobody likes a frustrating form. A logical flow keeps users engaged and motivated to finish, leading to higher completion rates and a happier user base.
• Data You Can Trust: Clear and logical forms ensure the data you collect is accurate and reliable. No more head-scratching trying to decipher what users meant by their answers.

By prioritizing logical flow, you’re not just creating a form, you’re crafting a positive user experience that gets you the data you need. Now that’s a win-win!

Grouping of Form Elements

In order to keep the conversation flowing smoothly, it’s a good idea to organize the questions you’re asking people into meaningful groups. Depending on their size and context, these groups could then be presented across multiple Web pages or as sections of a single Web page.

For example, Yahoo keeps it’s users registration forms in just three sections. It put contact information fields (name, gender, postal code) in one section, user credentials in another section, forget password security questions in another. This helps users visually connect the dots and makes filling out the form more intuitive.

Read the article on best practices for grouping form elements that can enhance conversion rates on your website.

Align Labels and Inputs:

• Top-Aligned Labels: Placing labels above the input fields generally works well for mobile devices and forms with short input fields.
• Left-Aligned Labels: Aligning labels to the left of input fields can be beneficial for readability, especially for longer forms or forms with long input fields.
• Right-Aligned Labels: Right-aligning labels can reduce the distance between the label and the input field, making the form look more cohesive and easier to scan.

Consistency across forms:

• If you have multiple forms on your website or application, strive to maintain a consistent layout across them. This means using the same fonts, colors, spacing, and field ordering. Users will appreciate the familiarity and feel comfortable navigating through different forms.

Whitespace is your friend:

• Uniform Padding and Margins: Ensure there is consistent spacing between form elements, including labels, input fields, and buttons. This helps in creating a clean and organized appearance.
• Whitespace: Use whitespace effectively to separate different sections of the form, making it easier to focus on each part without feeling overwhelmed. -Easy tappable areas on mobile screens

Visual Hierarchy:

• Grouping Related Elements: Use visual cues such as borders, background colors, or spacing to group related form elements together. This helps users to understand the structure and organization of the form.
• Highlight Important Sections: Emphasize critical sections of the form by using bold fonts, different colors, or larger sizes to draw attention.

Consistent Button Styles:

• Primary and Secondary Actions: Clearly differentiate primary actions (like Submit) from secondary actions (like Cancel) using consistent styles, colors, and sizes.
• Placement: Place buttons in predictable locations, such as at the bottom of the form, and ensure they are easily accessible.

Responsive Design:

• Adjust Layout for Different Devices: Ensure that the form layout adapts to different screen sizes and orientations, providing a seamless experience on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
• Touch-Friendly Elements: Make sure that form elements are large enough to be easily tapped on touch devices, with enough space around them to prevent accidental taps.

Feedback and Indicators:

• Error Indicators: Clearly indicate where errors occur, preferably near the relevant input field, using consistent styling such as red text or icons.
• Loading Indicators: Show loading indicators or progress bars during form submission to inform users that their data is being processed.

Accessibility: Briefly mention the importance of using clear and concise language for labels and instructions. This ensures users with disabilities can understand the form easily. Additionally, consider using semantic HTML elements like <label> and <fieldset> to improve screen reader compatibility. By incorporating these additional considerations, you can create a form layout that is not only consistent but also user-friendly, visually appealing, and adaptable to various devices and screen sizes.

The text you provided on “Consistent Layout” for forms is excellent and covers all the major points. Here are a couple of minor additions you might consider:

Checking Logical Flow in Forms (AT LAST: REPHRASE IT)

1. User Testing: Observe real users as they interact with the form. Note any points of confusion or hesitation.
2. Heuristic Evaluation: Use established usability principles to assess the form’s structure and flow.
3. Analytics: Track form completion and abandonment rates to identify problematic fields.
4. Feedback: Gather feedback from users to understand their experience and make necessary adjustments.