Animations and Micro-Interactions: When They Help and When They Hurt
Animations are movement on the page — a button that gently lifts on hover, a panel that slides open, content that fades in as you scroll. Micro-interactions are the small, purposeful versions that give feedback for a single action.
Used well, they make a site feel polished and guide attention. Overused, they slow pages down, distract visitors and can even make people feel unwell.
Where Motion Earns Its Place
- Confirming an action, like a tick after a form submits.
- Showing where new content has appeared.
- Guiding the eye toward the next step.
- Adding a touch of brand personality on key moments.
When to Hold Back
Animation that is slow, gratuitous or everywhere makes a site feel sluggish and amateurish. Heavy effects also hurt performance on lower-powered phones.
Accessibility Matters
Some people experience nausea or dizziness from motion. We respect the device's reduced motion setting and cut back animation for anyone who has asked for less of it.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.