Designing Perfect Accordion: 5 Best Tips

The organization of content on your website is just as important as the color or font. It may matter even more. Our team has worked on improving various designs and can confidently say neat content is the key to success. 

Accordions are one of the tools that you should know about if you are looking for neatly organized content. As an integral component of web design, accordions offer a practical solution for concisely and visually appealingly managing content. 

This guide delves into the intricacies of accordion design, showcasing how it enhances UX and contributes to modern websites' aesthetic and functional prowess.

Table of Contents

• Why Use an Accordion

• How to Design an Accordion in Figma

• Design Recommendations

• Final thoughts

Why Use an Accordion

What is an accordion in web design? Accordions are a staple in web design, mainly due to their efficiency in managing space and organizing content. By allowing users to expand and collapse content sections, accordions facilitate a cleaner design and enhance UX by preventing information overload.

Here are some types of projects where using an accordion is beneficial:

• FAQ Sections on Websites. Accordion designs let users quickly find answers to specific questions without overwhelming them with too much text.

• E-Commerce Sites. On product pages, accordions can neatly organize product details, shipping information, and customer reviews. It makes it easier for customers to find what they need without scrolling through a long page.

• Forms and Surveys. Accordions can group related questions, making the form appear shorter and less daunting, potentially increasing completion rates.

• Educational Content and Online Courses. In e-learning platforms, accordions can effectively categorize lessons, topics, or modules, allowing learners to navigate the content more efficiently.

• Data Presentation. For dashboards that present a lot of data or information, accordions help in organizing content in a clean and accessible way. 

• Mobile Applications. Due to limited screen space, accordions are extremely useful in mobile UI design. They help reduce clutter and improve navigation within the app.

• Downloadable Content. If a website offers various resources for download, accordions can organize these neatly.

Remember, the key is to use accordions judiciously — they should simplify the customer journey, not complicate it.

How to Design an Accordion in Figma

Designing an accordion requires a thoughtful approach to ensure functionality and aesthetic appeal. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you create an effective accordion in Figma:

1. Set up the basic structure. Begin by creating frames for each accordion item. These frames will serve as containers for your text and interactive elements. Ensure that the size of each frame is consistent to maintain uniformity in your design.

2. Employ components for reusability. Convert each accordion item into a Figma component. It allows for reusability and consistency across your design. Components are beneficial when making changes, as they automatically update across all instances.

3. Implement auto-layout. Utilize Figma’s auto-layout feature to ensure that your accordion items adjust their size dynamically based on content.

4. Add interactive elements. To simulate the accordion's behavior, use Figma’s interactive components. 

5. Design the header. Use typography and color to make it stand out. It is where users will interact to expand or collapse the accordion sections.

6. Lay out content within each section. Within each expandable section, organize your content. Use text styles and spacing to enhance readability. 

7. Incorporate icons and indicators. Icons are a vital element in website accordion design. They indicate the state of each section (e.g., open or closed). Ensure these icons are intuitive and positioned consistently within each header.

8. Polish animations and transitions. In Figma, experiment with transitions for the expanding and collapsing actions. These should be smooth and not too distracting.

9. Mind responsive design. Test your accordion design across various screen sizes. Adjust the layout and components to ensure the accordion is functional and visually appealing on desktop and mobile devices.

10. Prototype and test. Finally, use Figma’s prototyping features to test the accordion’s functionality.

Design Recommendations

Creating an effective accordion design involves more than aesthetics. It requires a deep understanding of UX and interaction design. Below are recommendations for crafting a functional and visually appealing accordion.

Proper Use of Icons

Icons are not just decorative elements. They are crucial in guiding user interaction. In accordion designs, icons indicate the action that will occur — to expand or collapse a section. For clarity:

• Use universal symbols (like plus for expand, minus for collapse).

• Ensure icons are of a size that is easily clickable or tapable.

• Maintain consistency in icon style to match the overall design theme.

• Place icons near the section headers for immediate visibility and understanding.

Showing Divisions

Divisions between sections help users distinguish one segment from another, reducing cognitive load. To effectively show divisions:

• Use subtle lines or varying background colors to delineate each section.

• Ensure these visual cues do not outpower the content.

• Space out each section adequately to ensure a transparent appearance.

• Consider using shadows or borders for a more pronounced division, especially in a minimalist design.

Maintain Hierarchy

Content hierarchy in an accordion is critical to providing a clear and pleasant reading experience. To maintain hierarchy:

• Use typography strategically — larger or bolder fonts for headers and simpler fonts for body text.

• Employ color coding if necessary to differentiate between types of content.

• Align text and elements consistently to avoid confusion.

• Utilize indentation for sub-sections within an expanded accordion to denote different levels of information.

Responsive in Nature

A well-designed accordion should work seamlessly across all devices and screen sizes. To ensure responsiveness:

• Test the accordion on various devices to check for consistency in appearance and functionality.

• Use media queries in your CSS to adjust the layout for different screen sizes.

• Consider the touch targets on mobile devices; they should be large enough to be easily tapped.

• Ensure that the accordion works with both mouse/keyboard and touch inputs.

Mathematics

Mathematics is vital in design, especially in elements like accordions, where accuracy is critical. To incorporate mathematical precision:

• Pay attention to the spacing between elements. Consistent and rhythmic spacing can significantly enhance the design.

• Ensure that the timing of animations (like the expansion or collapse) is not too fast or slow; it should feel natural.

• Use grid systems for alignment and proportion, keeping the layout balanced and harmonious.

• Consider the proportions of text size to accordion size, ensuring readability and aesthetic appeal.

By applying these detailed recommendations, your accordion design will be visually appealing and provide a smooth and intuitive UX, enhancing the overall quality of your digital product.

Final thoughts

From accordion design examples, we see that the most effective accordions are intuitive, responsive, and seamlessly integrated into the site's overall design. Accordion design UX is about making information accessible and digestible. 

In FAQ sections, complex forms, or detailed product descriptions, accordions efficiently organize content and enhance user-friendliness. They are crucial in accordion website design, optimizing space, and catering to users' limited attention spans.

As you embark on your next project, consider the various aspects of accordion design we've covered, from using icons correctly to ensuring responsiveness and applying mathematical precision. 

You can also reach out to our team of professionals for advice. Arounda has extensive experience creating and redesigning various elements, including accordion UX design. By applying the tips and best practices outlined in this article, we can take your accordion design to the next level.