In this blog post, we'll explan 7 fundamental UX design principles with examples based on our first-hand experience.
1. User-centric design
UX design is all about the user.
User-centricity means creating products and services that solve user problems. Therefore, a UX designer must align the design process through in-depth UX research on users’ preferences.
The goal is that users quickly understand how the product works. So, they can decide whether to subscribe, upgrade or pay for the service.
This user-centric principle is about:
- designing from the point of view of the user
- using data on users’ needs and goals
- designing solutions according to users’ feedback
For instance:
When designing a fitness tracking app, consider the user's need to navigate the interface easily and avoid inaccurate readings for activities, performance, heart rate, or calories burned.
2. Consistency
Consistency is a key factor in design. Keeping colors, alignment, proximity, fonts, texture and size consistent helps your audience grasp ideas quickly.
Customers become accustomed to specific interface objects and even the location of those objects on a screen.
This makes the user experience familiar, making your product better.
Consistency includes establishing the:
- colors
- typefaces
- tone of a product
- alignment
- proximity
- etc.
For example, when objects are aligned or arranged in a straight or circle line, they are perceived as being related to each other.
Like this:
Therefore, consistency in UX design reduces the learning curve for all users. As such, users should switch between applications without confusion.
Similar interfaces make it easier for users to switch between applications without confusion.
3. Simplicity
Simplicity in UX design can reduce the uncertainty your user experience with your product.
In other words:
- simplicity makes products easy to use
- core functions are accessible
- the structure remains focused and uncluttered
However, simplicity in design involves presenting complex information in a clear and organized manner.
Task flow and user flow can help.
Simplicity is a balance between cutting the clutter, embracing white space and creating seamless user flows.
But there is a risk of oversimplification when it comes to ruthlessly editing UI elements. Every button, icon, and menu item needs a clear purpose.
While clearing clutter, simplicity also emphasizes core meaning. Good spacing and layout focus users on goals, while a strong visual hierarchy calls out the next steps.
While simplicity aims to create clean UI, achieving it effectively requires the most careful and complex work.
4. Accessibility
Design should be inclusive, for example, helping users who are unable to distinguish colors.
This principle is about ensuring that designs are accessible to to users with varying abilities.
For example:
Designers should not use colors as the only visual means of conveying essential information.
5. Visual hierarchy
Visual hierarchy refers to the process of arranging design elements in a logical manner to show their order of importance.
For example, dramatically contrasted colors are eye-catching (i.e. contrast) or closely placed elements seem related (i.e. proximity)
This way, designers influence users' perceptions and guide them to desired actions.
Good example is that logos almost always go the top left corner and CTA button to the top right corner.
Or something like this:
6. Flexibility
It’s all about offering users different ways to follow app processes with purpose apart from just looking pretty. So, they can choose what method is the most convenient for them.
For example, good product design is flexible enough to be efficient for experts, and friendly to newcomers.
Do not overwhelm new users with too much information. Let them quickly perform their tasks, because there’s no need to teach them to use every single feature of your app during the first session.
For example, on Strava app, users can jump straight into activities with a single tap. Or they can explore advanced features like "this week progress" or "monthly activities" if they subscribe to a premium service.
7. Affordances
Affordances mean that users instinctively know they can click or tap it to initiate an interaction. It directs users toward specific actions.
For instance, when users encounter a button that clearly resembles a clickable element, they know they can click or initiate an action.
Animated buttons on Shazam, designed to pop up, are a great example of clear visual affordances.
Here it is:
It is supported by a text “Tap to Shazam” or centered icon, so the affordance becomes even more clear.
By contrast, implicit affordances are hidden. They may be revealed only in a particular flow of users’ actions and are specific for pricing pages, like here:
The cases when we get tooltips or explanations hovering on a layout element are the ones. There are also multilayered elements of navigation such as drop-down menus.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we've discussed 7 fundamental UX design principles that can greatly enhance user experiences. By focusing on user-centric design, consistency, simplicity, accessibility, visual hierarchy, flexibility, and affordances, designers can create intuitive products that meet users' needs.
Applying these principles in your projects will improve usability and increase user satisfaction.
