Thread by @smashingmag

Everything I think about when thinking about filters. #uxpatterns

01 — Can we avoid a filter icon and show filters as they are?
02 — If not, what icon do we choose to indicate filtering?
03 — Is the icon plus padding large enough for comfortable tapping?

04 — Do we put the icon at the top, bottom, or floating (mobile/desktop)?
05 — What exactly happens when the user clicks/taps on the icon?
06 — How will the icon change on tap/click?
07 — Will we have some sort of animation or transition on click?

08 — Will filters appear as full page/partial overlay or slide-in?
08 — Can we avoid sidebar filtering as it’s usually slow?
09 — Do we expose popular or relevant filters by default?
10 — Do we display the number of expected results for each filter?

11 — Can we use a horizontal swiper to move between filters?
12 — Can we avoid dropdowns and use only buttons/chips plus toggles?
13 — For complex filters, do we provide search within filters?
14 — Do we use icons to explain differences between various filters?

15 — Do we use the right elements for filters, e.g. sliders, buttons, toggles?
16 — Do filters apply automatically (yes, for slide-ins)?
17 — Do filters apply manually on confirmation (“Apply”) (yes, for overlays)?
18 — How do we communicate already selected filters?

19 — Can selected filters appear as removable pills, chips, or tags?
20 — Do we recommend relevant filters based on selection?
21 — Do we track incompatibility between selected filters?
22 — How do error messages or warnings appear in the UI?

23 — Do we allow customers to reset all filters quickly, at once?
24 — Are filters (or filter buttons) floating on scroll on mobile/desktop?
25 — Can users tap on the same spot to open/close filters?

If you'd like to see a few more examples of various #uxpatterns, we have online workshops on smart interface design patterns coming your way soon :-)

smashingconf.com/online-worksho…

Just sayin' ;-)