The 12 signs that make a screen look generic. For each one: what it looks like, why it looks generic, and how to fix it. Slop Check looks for these signs.
The logo, headline, body text and buttons all use one plain sans-serif font, often Inter or the system font, usually bold and tightly spaced. It is never wrong, and that is the problem: the type says nothing about the product.
How to fix: Use a font with more character for headlines, such as a serif or a sans-serif with unusual shapes. Keep the plain font for small text. Use two fonts, each with one job.
A purple-to-blue gradient sits behind centred white text and a round button. It became common because it looks finished without anyone choosing a colour.
How to fix: Choose one brand colour that comes from the product or its subject, and use it to point at what matters. To set a mood, use a real photo or a strong layout instead of a gradient.
Three identical cards with rounded corners. Each has an icon in a pale circle, a short bold title and a line of grey text. People see "a list of features" before they read any of the text.
How to fix: Let the content decide the layout. Try one large feature with two small ones, a simple list, or a real image of the feature working.
Tiny, widely spaced capital letters or a "New" badge sit above the headline. They are often numbered "01 /", as if the page were part of a series that does not exist.
How to fix: Remove it, or give it a real job, such as a date, a section name or an issue number.
Two short matching sentences, such as "Think bigger. Ship faster." Or overused words such as "supercharge", "seamless" and "unlock". They could sell any product in any category.
How to fix: Write one specific claim that a competitor could not make.
The headline, text and two buttons (one filled, one outlined) are all centred, and every section after them is centred too. There is no strong edge to guide the eye.
How to fix: Align most things to a strong left edge. Break that edge once, on purpose.
See-through blurred panels, glowing shapes and colourful light effects in the background, used to make things look deep and important.
How to fix: Show what matters with size, weight and space. Use borders instead of glows.
Round numbers, made-up statistics, fake dashboard charts and rows of grey logos that could belong to any company.
How to fix: Show one real customer or one real number. If you do not have any yet, leave proof out.
Rockets, sparkles and lightning bolts, or the same generic line icon on every heading, used as decoration rather than to mean something.
How to fix: Use one icon set with one line weight, and only where an icon helps someone find something. Or use no icons at all.
Large rounded corners and the same soft shadow on every card, button and input, so nothing looks more or less important than anything else.
How to fix: Choose one corner style on purpose. Square corners are a valid choice. Separate things with space and lines before you add shadows.
A section of three numbered steps, or three equal feature columns, whether the product has three steps or eleven.
How to fix: Show the real process at its real length, or show the result and leave the steps out.
A near-black page with one bright green or cyan colour, chosen because it looks "technical", not because it suits the product.
How to fix: If the product needs a dark theme, choose each background colour with care and use a calmer accent colour. If it does not, do not use a dark theme just for the look.
Have you found a sign that is not on this list? Email us the sign and a image that shows it. The index grows from what designers send us.