Take a moment and think about all the exciting websites you have come across over the past few months. There are probably a handful of designs that stand out. At first glance, they do not seem to have anything in common, but think harder: they all caught your attention. Top-of-the-class websites usually share a few characteristics, including:
- A user-friendly interface
- An appealing layout
- A harmonious combination of fonts and colors
- Easy navigation
So, what if we could extract a few Principles of UX Design? That way, you, too, can have an outstanding website with a magnificent impact on your visitors. The good news is, you can! Here are 7 irrefutable laws of UX design.
#1 User-Oriented Design
Arguably one of the most fundamental principles of UX design is user-centeredness. Simply put, designers and developers should put themselves in the viewers' shoes and respond to their needs. Even the most skilled and creative designers can easily succumb to their own brilliant ideas and lose empathy for the user's point of view.
Sometimes, as a designer, you must leave your preferences behind and focus on the viewers' preferences, opinions, and ways of thinking. That's why most design teams thoroughly research users' personalities before developing a website; each audience segment has different tastes.
#2 Usability
You can design the most beautiful and innovative web design in the world, but it's worth nothing if viewers can not use the website. Usability is what makes the other principles of UX design meaningful. Imagine a cluttered website that is extremely difficult to navigate. Do you think viewers stay around for the insightful content? At least not many of them!
A robust UX design is directly related to increasing conversion rates. Therefore, every element should serve the same purpose. Every button, text, snippet, and action item must make it easy for users to navigate the website until they make a purchase. Remember that there is no single formula for the optimal UX design. You should factor in variables like competitor websites, brand identity, customer persona, and type of products.
#3 First Impression Effect
We, humans, have an instinct to pay attention to visual cues. More than 80 percent of our sensory data is taken in through sight! So what does it have to do with the principles of UX design? Well, you have probably heard of "first impression." It applies to physical interactions in the real world as well as the digital world. How?
It takes about 50 milliseconds or 0.05 seconds, for a viewer to decide whether to stay on or leave your website. And, of course, those few moments are not spent reading your blog posts or checking out testimonials! It's all about visual cues. A successful UX design always involves the clever use of visual cues such as colors, images, and content layout.
#4 Add a Personal Touch
We've already mentioned that a user-oriented approach is one of the most important principles of UX design. But that doesn't mean it shouldn't represent the brand's image. There's nothing wrong with adding personality to your web design, and it may even have a more favorable impact on viewers. Blog articles, social media posts, or any other form of content are your unique way of communicating with your audience.
Adding color to your voice breaks the iron curtain between you and your audience. Develop a solid and attractive identity for your brand, and let it become your most knowledgeable representative in the market. Adding a personal touch doesn't violate the principles of UX Design; on the contrary, it ties them together and gives you a full-fledged online presence.
#5 Visual Hierarchy
Visual hierarchy is how designers communicate with users and convey to them the meaning of each element on the website. Elements such as color, contrast, scale, balance, texture, etc., should be used sufficiently and in the right place to help users' eyes gradually move across the interface from the most crucial aspect to the least.
Many principles of UX design aim to reduce the effort required to engage with your product. Why? Because, frankly, people get bored and frustrated very quickly, and you want to remove as many hurdles as possible. And you know what? Creating a visual hierarchy is relatively easy. You just need to prioritize the factors that will make your website design a success.
#6 Consistency
Every marketing campaign, no matter the industry or brand, has a core principle: consistency. It means implementing the right UI components and repeating them to help users make mental connections and better communicate with the website. For example, specific icons or buttons should behave similarly on all pages.
A user-friendly design always features a consistent experience. If a user has to find a new way to solve a similar problem each time they navigate your website, it will only lead to frustration and confusion. Consistency also shortens the learning curve and familiarizes users with the purchasing process more efficiently.
#7 Storytelling
There is something magical about stories that makes people interested in telling and hearing them. Somehow our stories make us relatable and down to earth. So don't hesitate to share the story behind your business and how you've made it this far to help your audience. Adding context to your UX design increases trustworthiness and builds a supportive community of clients.
Storytelling in user experience design leaves a lasting impression on users and inspires people to appreciate your services and products and even recommend them to their friends and acquaintances. You can also use images, videos, animations, and text to make your narrative more impactful.
Bottom Line
There you go, folks! Now that you've learned the principles of UX design, it's time to take the next step. Don't worry if you're new to this road. We know it like the back of our hand and would love to help you have a successful UX design. Reach out to our team of experts today.
