Have you ever wondered how to evaluate the usability of a website? Many people are looking for ways to check whether their shops or websites are easy and intuitive for users to use. From this article, you will learn how to tackle this issue yourself. You will learn 4 key UX principles that will change the way you look at digital products.
Principle 1: Minimise user memory load
When designing digital products, it is crucial not to require users to remember unnecessary information. A good example of the application of this principle is banking applications that offer a ‘copy code’ function. This eliminates the need to manually rewrite long strings of characters, significantly simplifying the process and improving overall usability.
Users often find it difficult to maintain context when navigating between different screens and forms. To remedy this, it is useful to use techniques such as persistent display of key information or automatic saving of progress in forms. This reduces the user’s cognitive load and makes it easier for them to complete tasks.
The implementation of these practices is essential to ensure a smooth interaction and a high level of user satisfaction. Remember that the aim is to create intuitive interfaces that allow users to focus on their main objectives rather than memorising technical details.
Principle 2: Balance between aesthetics and functionality
When designing interfaces, it is important to remember that aesthetics should support functionality, not dominate it. It is crucial to find the right balance to avoid cognitive overload for users. Overloading the interface with an excess of information, complex visuals or too much text can effectively discourage use of the product.
Take, for example, the websites of aesthetic medicine clinics. You can often see how decorative graphic elements obscure important information, making it difficult for users to find key data. To prevent this from happening, the principle of progressive disclosure should be applied: the most important content should be visible immediately and the details made available gradually, as the user needs them.
A minimalist approach to design usually results in a more intuitive and user-friendly interface. By focusing on ease of use, we can significantly improve the usability aesthetics of the product. Keep in mind that the main goal is to create an interface that not only looks attractive, but more importantly effectively supports the user in their tasks.
Principle 3: Effective management of errors
Error management in digital products is crucial for the user. Completely eliminating errors is impossible, and problems such as ordering the wrong shoes or running out of storage space can occur in any application. It is therefore important to inform users of potential problems. Introducing effective alerts will help to manage errors. It is also worth considering other support systems that offer help in crisis situations – such as a contact form.
Principle 4: Adequate support and access to documentation for users
Effective documentation is a key element in the success of a digital product, serving end users as well as design teams and product owners. To maximise its usefulness, it makes sense to consolidate all information about interactions and design patterns in one easily accessible place. Platforms such as Figma, Notion, or Google Docs work well in this role, allowing you to quickly find the information you need.
A key step is the creation of a comprehensive help centre, which includes not only user manuals, but also notes on updates and new features. Such a solution allows customers to find answers to their questions themselves and quickly, which significantly increases satisfaction with the product. The structure of the documentation should be intuitive and user-friendly. The FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) format is particularly effective in enabling quick access to specific issues.
Develop your knowledge and awareness of user experience optimisation
Nielsen Norman Group provides a wealth of valuable material on usability evaluation – their 10 Usability Heuristics for User Interface Design is a key guide to help analyse and optimise interfaces. A wealth of practical knowledge can be found in books such as ‘The Mom Test’ and ‘Don’t Make Me Think’, which we heartily recommend. These publications discuss practical approaches to usability testing of interfaces. Thanks to these sources, you can enrich your knowledge regarding the use of UX principles when developing your website.
We have discussed 4 key web design principles to improve the user experience. By implementing these principles, you can make websites user-friendly, look attractive, but also effectively support users in their tasks. Remember that user-centred design is an ongoing process that requires constant improvement and adaptation to changing audience needs.
