Level: Intermediate
An affordance is what an object allows you to do; a signifier is the visual cue that tells you it allows that action — and confusing the two is a common source of unintuitive interfaces.
A Button Should Look Clickable
Shadow, color, and shape are signifiers that communicate an element's affordance — that it can be clicked — before a visitor ever has to guess.
Flat Design Trends Have Made This Harder
Overly minimal interfaces sometimes strip away the visual cues that once made clickability obvious, requiring more deliberate design effort to preserve clarity.
Test Whether Signifiers Are Actually Being Read Correctly
Watching real users interact with an interface quickly reveals whether your visual cues are actually communicating the intended affordance.
Next step: Use the Website Screenshot Generator to capture your key interactive elements and review whether their signifiers clearly communicate what they do.