UX Archives - UI/UX Design

UI/UX Testing: Tools of the Trade

In the design stage of product development, testing is the ideal tool to optimize and refine for usability. Usability testing is one of the most fundamental parts of the overall UI/UX design process. These tests can and should involve close observation as users move through pathways, for the purpose of identifying any usability issues or user experience sticking points. Naturally, as a part of the design process flaws are often unavoidable part of the design process and once these issues have been discovered, a site owner can strategize on a plan to rework the process for heightened UX. The first step to getting set up for any kind of testing is to first observe what’s happening on your website. You can do this with the usage of inexpensive software that’s fairly easy to set up and understand. They will give you a good idea of how users are interacting with your website on multiple levels. […]

Applying Social Proof to Your Web Design

Equipped with well crafted content and engaging imagery, getting customers to point of purchase should be a simple feat – right? The reality is that even if a product or service is the best in its class and is represented by a beautiful web design, it might not be enough to make an conversion in the digital environment. There are many elements that go into a user making the decision to engage with a company. However, it’s what you don’t say – and more about what other people do say – that can be the most powerful aspect in the conversion process. Leveraging the opinions of an audience in marketing, is nothing new, but in the digital world, social proof has become an essential part of user experience design. Analytics show that the use of social proof is over 70% effective in convincing a customer to purchase a good or […]

Balancing Content and Simplicity in UI Design

A digital content strategy can prove to be the most important relationship that a company shares with its audience, helping to build authenticity and ample conversion opportunities. A successful content implementation builds trust and develops a connection without actually being face to face, however, when it comes to designing a clean and minimal user interface to represent the content, it’s common that the content editing process becomes a problem. The process of designing and developing a user-centered interface that is simple yet effective is no small feat, particularly when there is detailed content at hand. Distilling information down to the core meaning, while remaining coherent and resonant is a powerful approach and can mean, among many other benefits, a sustained level of heightened conversion and a better user experience – but getting there can be a winding road. Many shy away from a minimalist approach to content and design because adding, […]

UI Design: Bridging the Gap Between Simplicity and Complexity

Both determining if a user interface needs a redesign, and the task of designing it is no simple feat. The process involved can be ardouos, involving many steps, stakeholders and time. While a UI redesign at the onset may seem like a cut and dry endeavor, it is critical to understand the inner workings of how an optimal end product is produced and the challenges that will almost certainly arise as the project unfolds. Engaging in a UI redesign usually means that a site is either outdated or is not working ideally for the user. Aspects in consideration could be as simple as a navigation restructure to content all the way to image curation. Each project has it’s own set of goals specific to the company it represents, but ultimately, creating an interface that is as intuitive as possible is the holy grail. This is where the hard part comes […]

Why Cards May Be the Ideal Design Structure for Mobile

There’s a reason cards are so prevalent in the digital environment today. Delivering digestible information in a clear way allows a user the ability to consume a great deal of information at one time. Acting as ‘containers’ for content, their usually boxy shape lends easy arrangement across multiple devices. The popularity of cards can best be attributed to the rise of mobile usage. Though it is used widely by designers and developers – the trend will certainly continue – and for good reason. What are cards? Originally gaining ground via image sharing sites such as Pinterest, cards have become one of the go-to implementations for designers looking to organize content, particularly for a responsive approach to web design. Frequently paired alongside the technique of flat design, cards are a successful framework for organizing visual and contextual assets built around many individual pieces of content. Without a structural system such as cards in place, […]

8 Simple Truths of Responsive Design

It’s become clear that Responsive Design is no longer a trend. Delivering an across the board optimized user experience no matter the device can bring far reaching benefits and help a newly launching brand or existing organization widen their audience. The fact of the matter is that sites not utilizing responsive design are simply missing out on readily available customers. This ‘leg up’ can help a brand build trust and gain advantage over their competition. So why are people still designing and redesigning sites that don’t utilize this necessary innovation? A few ‘simple truths’ of RWD: Responsive Web Design Is Evolving…and Improving. Originally, responsive design was just about fitting a new screen size. Now, design elements must include different screen sizes to ensure a uniform experience across devices instead of just designing for one device. New approaches to CSS are taking this into account. It’s Not Just About Devices. Getting a […]

Redesigning Interface for Better UX

If the layout of your website or app seems to be good but you’re still experiencing high abandon rates, then it may be time to look at your user interface. Having a confusing UI can confuse users and dissuade them from exploring your website. At first glance, it may seem like your UI design is okay but you have to understand that it goes beyond just how it looks. Here are some ideas for redesigning your UI as part of your UX design goals. Idea #1: Make Clarity the Main Goal Think about how the user sees the interface. Does it make sense to the user as much as it makes sense to you? To be effective with your interface, users must recognize how it works, get value out of it, and understand what it’s doing for them. If they can quickly grasp these ideas, they’ll get gratification from using […]

5 Benefits of a Mobile First Design Approach

Traditionally, web designers begin the design of an interface design with sketches, ideation and wireframing from a desktop point of view. Nauturally, this has been the progression as personal computers were for the most part tethered to a users desk. With the trend shifting to a a heavily mobile using audience, designers must adapt to the differences and challenges in user experience that a smaller screen brings. Acknowledging the growing need for a user centered and consistent approach to mobile design, the development of Responsive Web Design was born. Working to ensure the optimal in UX, RWD consists of incorporating design elements that allow a page to respond to the screen size, and device, that a browser is using to view that page. Design elements must include different screen sizes to ensure a uniform experience across devices instead of just designing for one device. In Responsive Web Design, instead of a mobile site with […]

Kicking Off A User Interface Project With Purpose

The process of user interface design tends to be a shifting maze of discovery from project inception to delivery. Many developers and designers kick off a project with the best of intentions only to come up with an interface that doesn’t seem to fully align with the original idea or purpose. User interface design is not just about making an idea fit into a box. There is an immense amount of work that goes into providing a great user experience and great interface design. It is a dynamic process where test results are constantly used and updated, and feedback is analyzed to change the design and structure of the UI. Meet the audience halfway and they will be of great assistance in optimizing an ideal branding strategy. Find Purpose The underlying foundation of every website or application must be, of course, to embrace aesthetic and remain easily navigable for users. Coupled with clean, original design, the interface’s usability is the key to a website’s […]

The Importance of Consistency In UI Design

They may not be aware of it, but users who have become familiar with specific elements in design behave in a certain way; depending on the intended result, designers must be vigilant to optimize their interface for user experience. Consistency and predictability go a long way when establishing a positive brand association, and that concept applies fully to user interface (UI) design. Elements as seemingly simple as control buttons, navigational details, and toolbars have an effect on the impression made with site interaction. Going deeper into each component (for example), there are different ways to structure basic elements like check boxes – implementing check lists is best when the boxes are placed vertically, drawing the eye to its natural scrolling motion that has become prevalent throughout web design (in this case, users are already familiar with the parallax scrolling phenomenon that has swept through design – knowing that fact and structuring […]

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