According to the Interaction Design Foundation, user experience (UX) design is “the process design teams use to create products that provide meaningful and relevant experiences to users. This involves the design of the entire process of acquiring and integrating the product, including branding, design, usability and function.”
UX design greatly focuses on the why, what and how of deliverables. The “why” refers to the reasons behind a user’s motivation to choose a product. Meanwhile, the “what” relates to the product’s possibilities and what it is used for. Finally, the “how” addresses the design aspects which need to be accessible and aesthetic.
With this in mind, let’s think about the implications of UX for website design. These principles guide designers and developers to build usable websites aligned with the users’ interest and aiming to boost site permanence. For this to happen, key design elements need to be seamlessly integrated to provide the best possible user journey.
Now that we know what UX design is and why it is crucial for website development, let’s talk about some key considerations to improve our website’s overall experience.
1. Maintaining simplicity
Overcrowded sites with unnecessary elements will only add confusion. All pages should have a clean layout according to each page’s objective with a cohesive color scheme, blank spaces or breathing spaces to give users a visual rest and fonts aligned with the brand image.
2. Optimizing page speed
Always be aware of your site’s loading speed. If it takes too long to load, users will leave your page right away and all your other efforts will be useless. Users expect speed and efficiency and it is our job to deliver just that.
3. Always begin with insightful user research
A thoroughly conducted user research will be the starting point for everything. This is why you should know your audience, their interests and anything relevant to their online and offline behavior that may affect their on-site performance.
4.Make sure your website is responsive
Your website has to be mobile-friendly to ensure that your audience can have an optimal experience from any device possible.
5. Content has to be UX friendly too
Don’t forget about presenting clear writing and concepts with a tone that gets to your users. Also, use various media like images, videos, graphs and anything that can add value.
6. Create a clear navigation path with distinct elements
This will help your audience find their way around your site. For example, make CTA buttons distinct by setting them up in a different, catchy color and include navigation panels for easier access to all pages. You can also have a search field to facilitate locating information across your site.
As you can see, there are many things to say and learn about UX design. Although these recommendations are a great way to start, you can dive deeper into this topic and learn more in our upcoming event. Juan Daniel Florez, Rootstack’s CTO, will be leading “UX tips to Consider When Building a High-impact Site” on January 21st at 10 am Panama time. Don’t miss out! You can register online here. See you there!
