UX design has become one of the most critical aspects of a product or website. With the users being accustomed to more and more convenient and enjoyable solutions, every designer aims to build a product that meets these criteria. Therefore, in this article, we will delve into the most critical principles of UX design. Read on to learn more.
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What Are the Fundamental Design Principles in UX?
Any digital product has to be prepared with user experience in mind. Yet, building the best UX is not an easy task. For that, you should follow the most critical principles, which we present below.
User-Centricity
The current market situation shows it clearly – customer-centricity is among the most crucial aspects of any business. This is why it is also a fundamental UX design principle.
On the surface, user-centricity may seem simple. All you have to do is address the needs of the people who will use your product or visit your website. But, there are a plethora of factors that affect this aspect, so it is not that simple.
Firstly, you need to analyze the data that you have collected to find out as much as possible about the users. Who they are, how old they are, where they live, and why they need your product – simply create a user persona.
Secondly, you have to proceed with choosing the UX design solutions that will indeed appeal to your target audience. The most common mistake in this aspect is focusing purely on the content. Yet, numerous other elements should be taken into account:
- Font size – Insignificant as it may seem, it is crucial for senior citizens. Older people often need larger fonts to read a text comfortably, yet increasing its size may affect the experience of the younger audience.
- Attention span – The attention span depends on the age and proficiency of the user in a given topic. You need to take it into account both when creating content, but also when considering the route that a user will most likely take in your app/product.
- Navigation – The way users navigate through a website or an app is crucial. Sometimes the most efficient solution is not the best one. More conservative users will prefer methods that they are already familiar with, even if there are better alternatives.
- UI visual design – Generation X will prefer maximum simplicity, with fewer creative solutions. Gens Y and Z will want a visually attractive UI, adjusted to mobile devices. Gen Alpha will strongly prefer images over text. Developers have to adapt their products to these particular groups and create a UI that will evoke the UX that the particular generation strives for.
- Training and feedback – Depending on the proficiency of the users in using similar products, you may need to include instructions, guides, or quick options for leaving feedback.
Consistency
Another crucial UI/UX design principle is consistency. The product is chosen by the users with certain expectations that need to be met. The first impression is critical in attracting them to spend more time with the product, but if the product fails to maintain it throughout all its features, the users will slowly turn their backs on it.
Maintaining consistency should be done on more than just the UI level. Sure, preserving a similar tone and style of the content, the same fonts, layout, icons, and colors is crucial, but there is much more to it – you need to maintain the same experience.
Creating a library of the UX design patterns that you wish to use is one way of achieving this aim. The patterns might be implemented differently in the UI, but the aim always remains the same. This is true since consistency does not mean that every element has to be identical, but it needs to be similarly intuitive and evoke the same emotions.
Your brand identity should also be visible through the emotions that the users feel. If Walmart’s vision statement is, “to save people money so that they can live better,” their app should not contain additional charges for some of its functions. If Samsung states that its mission is, “to create a valuable future through innovation and intelligence,” you would not expect its apps to contain outdated, unintuitive solutions. The UX design has to be in line with your organization’s values.
Testing
Hardly ever is it possible to find the perfect solution with the first attempt. Moreover, technology is constantly changing, so even if something is indeed the ideal option now, it might not be that good in a year or two. Thus, the third core principle of UX design is testing.
Your verification of the UX should be multi-layered. Experience is difficult to measure since it is not physical. What are the ways to introduce this UX design principle?
- Analyzing the data – Are there any bottlenecks? Particular points on your user’s route through the product where many give up? Thorough data analysis will help you localize them.
- Gathering feedback – The best way to understand what your users feel is to ask them directly. You may do this in several ways. For example, introduce a questionnaire that pops up at some points in the product where the users are asked to describe their emotions on a scale. You may also introduce more open questions, where you engage the users in explaining what they do not like about the product and why.
- Sparking discussions – Social media are not just a channel for digital product marketing. By announcing new features or asking for feedback after each update, you may engage the followers in discussions about your product’s functionality. By carefully reading through this content, you may spot the aspects that require improvements.
- Conducting user tests – Finally, you should organize user tests in a controlled environment. This will give you first-hand knowledge of how the users feel when interacting with your product. If you wish for these tests to be even more effective, introduce emotion AI – artificial intelligence capable of analyzing the emotions that people feel in real-time. This will give you a deeper and more accurate insight into your UX.
The Takeaway
The three most fundamental UX design principles are user-centricity, consistency, and testing. Only by embracing these values is it possible to create a truly successful product, capable of gripping the attention of the users for a long time.
You may also read: UX Benchmarking – forms, benefits, and potential traps
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