Section 9 · Time, Motion & Interaction

Interface States

Definition

The distinct visual conditions an element occupies — default, hover, focus, active, disabled, loading, error, empty, success.

Why it matters

An interface designed only in its ideal state is unfinished. Loading, empty, and error states are where users actually spend their difficult moments.

Example

A submit control rendered in default, hover, pressed, loading, and confirmed states.

Teaching note

Beginners design the happy path exclusively. Asking what the screen looks like with no data, or on a failure, is often the single most productive critique question available.