Trello Design Principles

Universal

Work for everyone regardless of their role, industry, or technical ability. The tool should adapt to how people naturally think about work.
Easy

Keep the learning curve shallow. Users should understand how to use the product within moments of seeing it.
Personal

Let users make the tool their own. Support different working styles and preferences without forcing a single approach.
Visual and Tactile

Make information visible and interactions feel physical. Moving cards should feel like moving real objects.
Familiar

Draw on patterns people already know. Use metaphors from the physical world that translate naturally to digital.
Succinct

Say only what needs to be said. Remove unnecessary words, options, and visual noise.
Direct

Let users interact with content directly rather than through menus and dialogs. Reduce the steps between intention and action.
Flexible

Support many different workflows without prescribing how people should work. Adapt to users, not the other way around.
Collaborative

Make working together feel natural. Keep everyone informed without overwhelming them with notifications.
Fun

Inject moments of delight. Work is serious, but the tools we use don’t have to feel heavy.

Universal