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Best Practices

Example Use Cases

There are two primary types of use cases when designing haptic experiences: Feedback and Notifications.

Feedback

Haptics provide immediate tactile confirmation of user actions, helping users to build muscle memory, speed up reaction times, and feel more precise.

Feedback haptics use case

Trigger haptic feedback when the cursor or an object spatially snaps with:

  • Alignment guides
  • Important vertices & handles
  • Artboard edges
  • Timeline markers

Trigger haptic feedback to highlight when there is a change in the click input context:

  • More options available
  • Change in the type of selection
  • Different manipulation for the selected element

Notifications

Turn your sound off and stay longer in your flow state without missing gentle reminders being directed to the haptic button.

Notification haptics use case

Trigger haptic notification to know when:

  • A long process was completed
  • An event is happening in the background
  • Code is compiled

Design Guidelines

Waveform Selection

  • Use subtle waveforms for frequent events
  • Reserve intense waveforms for important notifications
  • Consider the context of your application/plugin

Event Timing

  • Avoid triggering haptic events too frequently
  • Ensure haptic feedback aligns with visual feedback and plugin functionality

Device Support

  • Always provide a DEFAULT waveform
  • Test on supported devices when possible

Examples

Precision Enhancers

Cursor hovering over an element in the Actions Ring interface
Event: Cursor hovers on Actions Ring Element
Haptic feedback: The waveform Subtle Collision is played
Playhead snapping to align with the beginning of a video clip
Event: Playhead snaps with beginning of clip
Haptic feedback: The waveform Subtle Collision is played
Layer content snapping into alignment with a smart guide
Event: Layer content snap with smart guide
Haptic feedback: The waveform Subtle Collision is played
Handle colliding with the end of a slider control
Event: Handle collides with end of slider
Haptic feedback: The waveform Subtle Collision is played
Cropped area reaching maximum height and width limits
Event: Cropped area reached max height/width
Haptic feedback: The waveform Subtle Collision is played

Progress Indicators

Adobe Premiere Pro export progress bar showing completion at 100%
Event: Adobe Premiere Pro export progress bar is full
Haptic feedback: The waveform Subtle Collision is played
AI mask successfully created and applied to an image
Event: AI Mask was created
Haptic feedback: The waveform Damp State Change is played

Incoming Events

Incoming call notification showing someone is calling
Event: Someone is calling you
Haptic feedback: The waveform Ringing is played
Notification showing someone has entered the waiting room
Event: Someone entered the waiting room
Haptic feedback: The waveform Knock is played
Message indicating unable to join the meeting
Event: Unable to join this meeting
Haptic feedback: The waveform Mad is played