{"id":12619,"date":"2025-01-12T05:55:50","date_gmt":"2025-01-12T05:55:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/userpilot.com\/blog\/feedback-ui\/"},"modified":"2026-03-08T22:04:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T22:04:23","slug":"feedback-ui","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/userpilot.com\/blog\/feedback-ui\/","title":{"rendered":"Feedback UI: How to Humanize the SaaS User Interface? (+Examples)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Does UI feedback affect the in-app experience for end users?<\/p>\n

Short answer, yes.<\/p>\n

UI design<\/a> is one of the most valuable ways you can enhance users\u2019 experience and drive product adoption. And you can do that using feedback that engages and explains how your product works.<\/p>\n

This article will show how you can offer valuable user feedback and improve usability testing using visual feedback.<\/p>\n

What is user interface (UI) feedback?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

User interface (UI) feedback refers to how your product UI is designed to respond, and the type of output it generates based on how users interact with it.<\/p>\n

This is not the same as asking users for feedback<\/a> about the system\u2019s look and feel.<\/p>\n

When users navigate the UI, a good UI system is meant to engage and explain, making the overall user experience<\/a> less confusing.<\/p>\n

For example, when a user clicks on a button and nothing happens, it causes friction. But when an error message shows, this is how the system offers feedback.<\/p>\n

Why is feedback important in UI and UX design?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Your product aims to help users achieve their goals<\/a> easily while providing a good UX. Good usability helps with that, but feedback is what makes the difference.<\/p>\n

UI feedback improves user experience<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Feedback is how you create a connection with your users and communicate contextually, setting the right expectations from the product.<\/p>\n

When you tell users what they\u2019ll get and when they\u2019ll get it, you automatically improve their experience.<\/p>\n

And since UI feedback comes in many forms, for example, the change of button color, a small tooltip<\/a>, an embedded message, etc., there are many ways you can offer meaningful interactions that improve user experience.<\/p>\n

A simple example here is a pre-loader.<\/p>\n

\"Userpilot<\/picture>
Userpilot pre-loader.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pre-loaders are generally the first thing your users see when waiting for your app to load. Keep them staring at an empty screen and they\u2019ll think something is wrong, reload the page and at some point, abandon the page.<\/p>\n

A simple animation, spinning wheel, or message displayed while the app is loading will greatly improve their experience<\/a>.<\/p>\n

UI feedback removes friction<\/strong><\/h3>\n

UI feedback minimizes user confusion by providing immediate confirmation of their action to help them stay on track.<\/p>\n

Without it, users may feel lost or unsure if their actions were successful, which may result in frustration<\/a> or drop-offs.<\/p>\n

Take the example of a user who is trying to sign in to your tool. However, they miss the email and password fields and continuously click on the login button. If no feedback is given to them, they might think your tool is experiencing a technical difficulty.<\/p>\n

However, a simple error message or change of color to signify missing information is enough to make them realize they\u2019ve forgotten to add their credentials.<\/p>\n

\"UI<\/picture>
UI feedback example in Userpilot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

UI feedback improves engagement and product stickiness<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Users churn when they fail to experience the promised value, often due to poor user experience or bad UI product design <\/a>that leaves them unsure of where to start or how to proceed.<\/p>\n

The opposite happens when you actively reduce friction points. To drive engagement, go beyond simple error messages or minor tweaks like button color changes.<\/p>\n

In-app prompts like native tooltips and action-driven messages offer users clarity precisely when they need it. For instance, replacing empty states with actionable guidance motivates users to explore features and complete tasks.<\/p>\n

This not only enhances their experience but also strengthens product stickiness<\/a>. Users who quickly realize value are far more likely to return and make your product an essential part of their daily routine.<\/p>\n

Feedback types: Methods to provide UI design feedback<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As mentioned above, there are multiple ways to provide feedback through the UI to engage, set expectations, and guide users<\/a> through performing multiple tasks.<\/p>\n

Here are the most important types good UX\/UI designers should consider.<\/p>\n

Feedback loading progress<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This is the type of meaningful feedback you should provide while the user is waiting for an action to be performed. Preloaders<\/a>, loading pages, and skeleton pages are the UI designs to consider here.<\/p>\n

The purpose of these tools is to inform users that the system is performing an action and that there aren\u2019t any errors.<\/p>\n

You can create interactive design (animations\/spinners), or add messages that reinforce your brand and positioning. As a best practice, designers generally reinforce the brand along with a few tips that can help users further in the process.<\/p>\n

\"Spinning<\/picture>
Spinning progress bar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Feedback progress bar<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Progress bars are used to communicate, you guessed it- progress. But there\u2019s more.<\/p>\n

When the user has to perform an action that involves them engaging with more than just one web page, a progress bar<\/a> can keep them engaged. Seeing how far along they are in the journey, or how close they are to the finish line helps them finish the task.<\/p>\n

The most common use case for progress bars is during signup and onboarding flows<\/a>, but they can also be used to showcase any type of progress when you want to prompt the user to complete a task.<\/p>\n

\"Percentage<\/picture>
Percentage progress bar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Empty states feedback<\/strong><\/h3>\n

An empty state<\/a> is a blank screen that users see when they log in to your platform for the first time. And it\u2019s usually blank because there is no data to be displayed since the user is just starting out.<\/p>\n

Often overlooked, this is a critical point in helping users get started with your app.<\/p>\n

You want better UI designs in a way that prompts users to quickly find their way around, take specific actions, and get to experience value<\/a>, fast. If your app is a bit more complex, you can add demo data to replace an empty dashboard or leave instructions regarding how to proceed, like in the image below.<\/p>\n

\"Empty<\/picture>
Empty state feedback.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Auditory feedback<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Auditory feedback uses sound to signal that an action has been completed.<\/p>\n

For example, a short chime might play in music production software when a new track is successfully added. On mobile devices, it\u2019s often paired with vibrations for a richer experience.<\/p>\n

You should use auditory cues sparingly to avoid overwhelming users and always provide accessible alternatives for those who may not hear them.<\/p>\n

Contextual guidance feedback<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This type of feedback provides <\/a>users with real-time guidance or prompts based on their current actions.<\/p>\n

It helps users navigate tasks smoothly by delivering relevant cues like tooltips, notifications, or color changes exactly when and where they\u2019re needed.<\/p>\n

For example, hovering over the menu bar shows users a short tooltip explaining what each web page is about.<\/p>\n

\"In-app<\/picture>
In-app prompts to help users with easy navigation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The best UI feedback examples for inspiration<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Now that you\u2019ve seen different types of UI feedback<\/a>, let\u2019s check how other SaaS products are using these in context.<\/p>\n

1. Mural’s progress bar<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Mural uses a progress bar to show the current status of the app loading. Notice the clever use of the white space on the loading screen<\/a> that they filled with useful tips on how to use the app.<\/p>\n

\"Progress<\/picture>
Progress bar in Mural.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2. Notion’s blank state<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Notion displays a populated blank state <\/a>by showcasing a helpful checklist. The checklist provides useful tips along with giving users a glimpse of what they can create with the tool.<\/p>\n

For example, Notion explains different ways users can style their writing by actually showing bold, italic, highlighted, and underlined text.<\/p>\n

\"<\/picture>
A populated blank state displayed by Notion.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. Impala’s welcome message<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Impala greets new users with a personalized welcome message and sets them up for success. But they didn\u2019t stop there.<\/p>\n

By implementing Userpilot, Impala<\/a> created a no-code onboarding flow that walks users through its different features. What makes Impala\u2019s onboarding flow stand out is the striking color palette against the white background.<\/p>\n

In fact, adding this onboarding flow increased Impala\u2019s activation rate by 100%.<\/p>\n

\"User<\/picture>
User welcome message in Impala.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. Userpilot’s feature tooltip<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Userpilot is a product growth tool<\/a> that consistently adds new features to help its users achieve their goals. But when there are too many features, there is always a risk that users don\u2019t understand them and worse, never use them.<\/p>\n

To avoid this, Userpilot added a question mark icon on a noticeable part of the UI. Once a user hovers over it, they are shown a tooltip that elaborates on the feature.<\/p>\n

\"Instant<\/picture>
Instant feedback example in Userpilot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. Miro’s confirmation message<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Miro shows a confirmation message before an action is performed. This is a good practice, especially when dealing with important actions that involve privacy or user interaction data.<\/p>\n

This simple message sets the right expectation and is also an upsell opportunity<\/a> as it leverages FOMO for the premium feature.<\/p>\n

\"Confirmation<\/picture>
Confirmation message in Miro.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6. Attention Insight’s celebratory slideout<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Attention Insight<\/a> uses a celebratory slideout to acknowledge the work their users have done and motivate them to keep going ahead. This is an effort to strengthen relationships with customers and humanize the brand.<\/p>\n

They also share a helpful tip to ensure users make the most of their platform and achieve their goals: a win-win situation!<\/p>\n

\"Attention<\/picture>
Attention Insight\u2019s celebratory slideout.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

7. Simplenote’s error message<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Displaying an error message when the user inputs the wrong data is a classic example of good UI feedback. Simplenote\u2019s sign-up error message highlights the UI elements that require the user\u2019s attention and displays a message with instructions.<\/p>\n

\"Simplenote\u2019s<\/picture>
Simplenote\u2019s sign-up error message.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

UI feedback best practices for a great user experience<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Follow these best practices to get the most out of UI feedback and consistently provide a satisfactory user experience<\/a>:<\/p>\n