Key Takeaways
- Animations should enhance, not distract from user experience
- Keep animations subtle and purposeful
- Performance matters—heavy animations hurt page speed
- Respect users' motion preferences (prefers-reduced-motion)
- Test animations across devices and browsers
When to Use Animation
- Feedback: Button hover states, form submissions
- Transitions: Page loads, navigation changes
- Attention: Drawing focus to important elements
- Delight: Adding personality and polish
Animation Guidelines
- Keep durations short (200-500ms for most interactions)
- Use easing for natural movement
- Ensure animations serve a purpose
- Don't animate everything—reserve for key moments
Accessibility Considerations
Some users experience motion sickness or distraction from animations. Respect the prefers-reduced-motion media query to disable or reduce animations for users who request it.
