UX designers do a whole lot more than create positive and memorable user experiences.
They not only make sure that interfaces are accessible, easy to navigate, and a pleasure to use, but they also design the user journey and navigate human behaviour.
Through strategic, psychological design, UX designers have the potential to make a profound impact on both users and organisations that implement them.
That being said, here are four great tips that every UX designer should follow to create better experiences.
#4 Know Your Customer
The first step in good UX design is understanding your customer.
What are their needs and wants? What are they trying to accomplish with your product or service?
As a UX designer, it’s critical to understand who your customers are (age, gender, etc) and any of the pain points that they have. With a clear picture of your customer, you can identify solutions that make the customer journey far more enjoyable and memorable.
And there are so many ways to do this.
You could talk to a wide range of people to identify their needs. Or interview and observe customers based on their interactions with a product.
You could also create personas to get a better understanding of your customers. A persona is a fictional character that is based on real people and their needs. They help to keep the focus on the customer and their experience rather than on the designer or the company.
Only by understanding your customer can you create an experience that meets their needs and exceeds their expectations.
#3 Use BIG Thinking
When it comes to UX design, it’s important to think big. Don’t just focus on the small details – instead, look at the overall user experience and how you can make it better. Ask yourself how you can make your product or service easier to use, more enjoyable, and more satisfying for your customers.
It’s important that designers think outside the box and consider the bigger picture. This involves looking at the problem from different angles. Or perhaps exploring whether there is something more fundamental that can be improved.
Often, it’s the little things that make a big difference to the user experience.
The best UX designers out there go beyond incremental improvements to reimagine how an entire industry or way of life could be.
You need to challenge yourself and your team to think big and come up with innovative solutions that will make a real difference to the customer. To be the best, you should never be content with mediocrity and always seek new ways to improve things.
#2 Make Simplicity A Foundation
Simplicity should be a foundation of every UX design project that you undertake.
The best designs are simple and easy to use, without any complicated features or hard-to-discern instructions.
In fact, simplicity is known to be a fundamental principle of UX design. The Nielsen Norman Group, who are leaders in the field of UX, define ‘user experience’ as:
“The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer, without fuss or bother. Next comes simplicity and elegance that produce products that are a joy to own, a joy to use.”
Nielsen Norman Group
From the initial concept stages to the finished product, simplicity should be a focal point. By keeping things simple, you make it easier for customers to use and understand your product.
Keep your designs simple and straightforward, and avoid adding unnecessary complexity. This will make your product or service easier to use and more enjoyable for your customers.
#1 Use Data To Spread The Gospel
Make sure you use data to inform and validate your UX design decisions.
It’s essential that you collect data on how your customers are using your product or service and use it to guide you in your decision-making. Especially when making any necessary adjustments.
This data goes a long way in not only improving your project, but also acts as a means to justify any UX decisions that you offer.
For example, getting the go-ahead from your team or stakeholders. A good UX designer needs to be able to successfully advocate their designs to decision-makers.
Those that have the final say need to be on board with your plans and understand the benefits of good UX design. This includes being able to provide evidence that the design is beneficial and meeting the needs of the customer.
Data and user feedback is a great way to do this, as it provides objective information about how people are using the product.
It can also show how effective changes have been and help to get the go-ahead for future changes or iterations.
More On UX Design, AI and Big Data
By following these four tips, you’re able to improve your results and create better experiences for your customers.
To be a great UX designer requires not only a deep passion for design, but also for people. It requires empathy and understanding. The ability to identify problems and seek solutions for the betterment of others.
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