Three Ways to Wait

I’ve always hated loading screens. They feel like dead air. So I tried three different ways of handling “waiting” in a simple app, just to see what worked.

1. The classic spinner

I dropped in the usual circular spinner. It does the job, but it felt like a shrug. Users know they’re waiting, but nothing else.

2. Skeleton screens

Next, I mocked up gray boxes that looked like the layout-to-come. Even though the data wasn’t ready, it felt like the page was already there. People didn’t mind waiting as much because their brain filled in the blanks.

3. Playful animation

Finally, I tried a animated rubik's cube. This one made the wait feel lighter, almost like the app was alive. But it risked being distracting if the wait was more than a few seconds.

What I noticed

• Spinners remind you you’re waiting.

• Skeletons trick you into thinking you’re not.

• Playful motion entertains you, but only briefly.

None of them are perfect. But each one changes how “waiting” feels. It made me realize: loading states aren’t empty space. They’re part of the experience, and they deserve as much design attention as the main screen.