Learning from Apple – Scrolling Website Interface

“Scrolling is a continuation, clicking is a decision.”
– Josh Porter

When we say or hear “Apple,” we indirectly refer to something premium. Apple has become synonymous with the word premium or great design. Not just their products, even their website and apps look premium.

Yes, you can’t stop complimenting Apple for its design and simplicity. But as a web designer, you can absolutely learn a ton from its website. And when it comes to website designing, there are various elements – such components are scrolling.

Yes, that simple scroll for which you roll your mouse’s centre to explore what’s beneath your screen reach. This area may consist of texts or images, by scrolling both horizontally and vertically.

Let’s have a look at what the trillion dollar brand has to teach us about scrolling website interface:

• Smooth Scroll 

The traditional scroll is definitely the most used interface for sites. But if you’re looking to enhance User Experience, then have a look at Apple’s scrolling interface. The AirPods Pro page is just lovely. With a mix of parallax scrolling, fixed background, and animated images, it takes the scrolling interface to a whole new level. Also, it allows the user to interact with the product that gives them the feel of realism.

• Continuous scrolling

Scroll bars usually are transient and only appear during user interaction. Still, to improve UX, you can always adjust the layout of your window in order to avoid crucial interface elements overlap beneath the scroll bars. Depending on the screen size, the scroll bar track has a thickness of between 11 points to 15 points. This also makes it effortless for the user to navigate across the site.

• Line-By-Line Scrolling 

Under this scroll interface, the content scrolls one line at a time as the user presses the arrow keys. In simple words, it’s much more like the traditional scroll but a little slow. Nothing fancy!

• Avoid using scroll bars as a slider 

Typically, a scroll bar repositions content within an area that allows the user to make the desired selection. So it is a wise choice to avoid using side scroll as it destroys the whole mobile experience.

• Page-By-Page Scrolling 

In page-by-page scrolling, the page follows the user’s press on arrow keys. If you look at https://www.apple.com/watch, you will realize that unlike a typical scrolling interface, this design gives you a smoother scroll experience. Definitely not like continuous scrolling, but it provides an effect that you’re navigating through a virtual page.

• Zoom Scrolling 

Visit https://www.apple.com/, and as you scroll, you will notice that the background images are zooming in and zooming out as you scroll up and down respectively.

In the end, go to each of Apple’s product pages. From Apple Watch, Apple TV, iPhone, AirPods, AirPods Pro, and more. With each page, you’ll discover and learn something new about web design – and scrolling. And then try to build a completely immersive browsing experience for the end-user.