Bento Box Design — Design trend from LunchBox into aesthetic design

I recently came across some cool articles talking about a design trend called “Bento Box”. It’s all about using blocks of different sizes to create a fun and flexible layout. But first, let’s find out what exactly the Bento Box is all about.

Familiar with these boxes?

Bento boxes are a common staple in Japanese culture. It's a creative way of arranging lunch! Instead of just throwing everything together, organize different items making it visually appealing and easy to enjoy.

Photo of three bento boxes containing japanese foods.

But hii 👋 , come back and focus I am not talking about food right now. it's about similarly in design, the Bento Box layout breaks content into blocks of various sizes, like arranging ingredients in a box. It’s like giving your design a delicious and organized makeover!

Then how can it all start?

Lots of folks thought this trend took cues from Apple, where they jazzed up dull specs by showcasing them in a captivating grid style, complete with various visual and typography tricks.

Windows start menu on the left and an Apple iPhone poster on the right shown as examples of original bento box design.

But hold on, others argue that Microsoft might have actually kickstarted. Whether it was Apple or Microsoft who sparked the trend, one thing’s for sure: it got designers worldwide fired up to create their own bento box-style designs!

Bento boxes boast the following intriguing characteristics such as :

Efficiency
Compartmentalization
aesthetic presentation

Bento Box showcases clean visuals and maintains consistency to ensure optimal functionality for every design. This is due to its simple grid system, making navigating and finding each content piece easy.

Basically, the Bento box is interesting for designers because of some of the things in the bento box itself as follows :

Simplicity: Bento UI streamlines the process of designing responsive layouts that seamlessly adapt to different devices, eliminating the complexities often associated with multi-device compatibility.

Structure: Bento Box offers a user-friendly platform for effortlessly organizing content in an aesthetically pleasing hierarchy. Its array of rounded squares not only serves to highlight key elements but also adds a captivating visual dimension, enhancing the overall appeal of the design.

Whitespace: Always keep whitespace in mind — it’s like giving your design a breath of fresh air! Embracing whitespace not only clears up the visual clutter but also adds a sense of openness and sophistication. Think of it as creating room for your design elements to stretch out and shine, striking that perfect balance between style and spaciousness without going over the top!

Improve Usability: Big names like Apple and Microsoft have hopped on the bento UI train, making this style super familiar to users worldwide. Since lots of folks already know their way around bento-style interfaces, it’s made things a lot easier and more enjoyable. In fact, after running a bunch of tests with UX research tools, users gave bento box websites two thumbs up for being super easy and fun to use.

Unlock the Essential Step to Create Bento Boxes

Create compartments Using a Grid System

Let’s kickstart your bento box design adventure by diving into the world of grids!

Bento UI design depends on a grid system, where content is neatly organized into ‘sections’. Think of these sections as building blocks that help create visually appealing interfaces and prioritize content.

And remember, in the world of bento design, squares are the cool kids on the block, giving your layout that organized and stylish flair.

Establish a Clear Order by Varying Square Sizes

Mixing up square sizes! whether large, medium, or small, adds variety and maintains user interest. It creates a visual flow, enhancing the browsing experience and making the journey through your website more enjoyable and captivating.

Whereas guide you can divide the square into 2 type

Bigger squares: naturally catch the eye and are perfect for highlighting primary elements such as headlines, key images, or call-to-action buttons.
Smaller squares: work well for less essential but still important details like secondary text or supporting images.

Cluster Similar Content to Enhance the User-Friendliness of Your Bento UI

By bundling similar content together, you’re basically creating a roadmap that users can cruise through with ease. Picture this: all the contact deets hanging out in one spot, while the product perks chill together in their own corner. It’s like throwing a party where everyone’s invited, but they know exactly where to find the snacks and the dance floor!

Arranging similar content together jazzes up the user interface, making it more enticing. When things are organized logically, users feel drawn to explore and engage with the content.

Get Set to Spice Up Your Website’s Look with Bento Box Design!

Check out these bento box-inspired designs to add some extra flair to your creations! Think of the web as your playground, and bento box design as your box of crayons. So, let’s mix, match, and doodle something totally unique to you!