7 principles of UX design for creating great website
During the day – we spend a lot of time online: reading news, scrolling through websites, using apps. And quite often the experience gained leaves a desire for better.
This is most often due to poor design that does not take into account the user experience (UX). Evaluating from a distance is quite easy, but when you have to realise the project yourself, it is more difficult to avoid mistakes than it seems at first glance.
Below are 7 best practices in UX design that are worth considering.
The design should focus on the user experience
Creating a memorable site usage experience is more important than its content. Users often forget data and conclusions, but always remember their feelings. This principle does not apply only to advertising.
Graphics, mock-ups, text and interactive elements work together to offer users an experience, not just to present information.
Your site needs to stand out from the competition, this is very important. You can use visual and interactive elements that evoke emotions in this.
Scanning the site does not read
Website elements need to be structured so that modern users do not read the pages, they scan them. Pay attention to make people want to understand more.
Users need simplicity
The visitor evaluates the design of the site in half a second. That is why it is important to make actions convenient. Visually focus on one important button, not the menu.
Always try to keep your site and/or app as simple as possible. It should be understandable to most visitors. You can move additional features to the background where only interested users will be able to find them. It is not worth putting everything on one page.
Choose the brightest and “cleanest” design for your projects. Do not force users to spend time mastering your interface. It is better to use the elements known to everyone.
Common design elements or creative?
If most sites use certain elements of the interface, it is not worth inventing a “the wheel” and confusing users.
Your UI should look familiar: the links should look like links, and the menu should be in the upper right corner. It is not worth experimenting with these standard elements.
A creative approach to the basic elements only hurts your interface, making it difficult for users to use it. In the best UI, creativity and usability work together and not against each other.
Remember, when designing links, buttons, and navigation items, you must first consider their convenience.
Know your audience
Before you start developing a site or app, it is important to know who your target audience is. This is how to start planning for the next interface.
Define the audience, formulate their requirements, desires and create a design that will meet them.
Analysis of competitors will help you in all this. Observe how they choose the colour, style and other characteristics.
If you use a design that is already familiar to your audience, then it will be very easy for them to master your site. Unique ideas for solving their problems will help you differentiate.
Do not stop. When the project is ready, conduct a test and analyze the site according to the data of its end users.
Visual hierarchy
Place the most important elements in the interface so that they attract the attention of visitors. One example of this is the size of the important elements, ie they differ in volume (size) from other elements of the design. This is the method used by online store owners to pay attention to the CTA button.
UX design features
UX design is based on the value you offer to users, in addition, your site should be:
- Useful – original content and problem solving
- Comfortable – easy to find
- Desired – Design elements evoke emotions
- Understandable – Easy navigation and logical distribution of content
- Accessible – Accessibility for people with disabilities
- Reliable – customer trust
- This is one approach to defining UX design. Here it is again:
- Be contextual – dictate to the customer what section of the road they are on
- Be human – earn trust, be transparent and prioritise your relationships with people
- Be clear – customers get what they want on their first visit
- Keep it simple – interacting with the interface does not cause problems or questions
- Be effective – with subsequent visits, users will quickly perform repetitive actions
- Be Awesome – Create an emotional connection