How clear form designs reduce user errors

If your forms use placeholders like Name, Subject, or Message as labels inside input fields, you’re unknowingly creating a frustrating experience for users. When users start typing, these placeholders disappear, leaving them without context. This increases errors because users often forget what information is required—and the only way to check is by deleting their input to reveal the placeholder again.

A poorly designed form can lead to abandoned submissions, directly impacting your ability to serve the goal that the form is intended for.

A Simple Solution with Immediate Benefits

Users retain context throughout the process by placing labels above or next to input fields. This small change enhances clarity, reduces errors, and speeds up form completion—leading to more successful submissions.

For even more outstanding results, replace vague placeholder text like Type here… with meaningful examples. For instance, instead of Name, try "Maria"; instead of Email, try "maria@example.com." This makes your form intuitive, builds user confidence, and improves completion rates.

A “Contact support” app screen with input fields for the name, subject, and message. 

Here’s an example Zander Whitehurst, founder of Memorisely, created to illustrate how these changes work in practice. Watch the linked video for a quick overview of the principles.

Investing in UX design aligns with your development efforts and delivers measurable results. Let’s make your forms work for you!