UX is not about computers

Richard Mann — Sat, 10 Dec 2022 14:59:23 +0000

Yes, you read the title and it’s true. UX is not about computers. It’s always been true, even before I chose to write this article.

UX is not really about technology. It’s not about computers. In two senses, UX is about people. First and foremost, it’s inherent in the very name “User Experience” that is about the users. And the most important point about users is that they are humans with very different characteristics than the computers they’re using.

That is why a specific discipline is required to bridge the gap between these humans and these technologies. To create effective user interfaces, we must first understand human traits. Yes, we must understand computers, but it is the people who are most essential.

It’s tempting to believe that the primary point about UX is technology, because we’re constantly building every user interface to be given through a certain technology. But it doesn’t really matter if we’re building a graphical user interface for a PC, a cloud-based online service, or a phone app.

Yes, the icons will appear different. Slider controllers, for example, will be slightly different depending on the technology. However, the most significant effect on the usability of the design will be things like our workflow design and whether it meets human requirements, as well as the interaction architecture and UX writing of everything from labels to menu items to instructions.

The second aspect in which UX is People is that it is all about us. The UX specialists, as well as our work procedures and approaches. UX lives through us as we strive to create better products, and any UX advise must take into account how humans function in teams and organizations.

So UX is about aligning design to human features as well as developing techniques that allow human designers to produce these user experiences effectively. In other words, user experience is about people.

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5 common UI design mistakes to avoid as a beginner

Richard Mann — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 18:06:32 +0000

Whether you want to learn UI design from the scratch or improve your skillset, you should research the most common mistakes rookie UI designers make and how to prevent them. I used to make Mistakes 1 and 3 quite frequently.

Mistake 1: Lack of proper research

In the design process, research focuses on understanding consumers’ wants, experiences, and behavior so that products can solve their issues.

Working with cross-functional teams, such as marketing and product, or just understanding the problem that the product is attempting to solve from the user’s point of view, might be part of the study.

Mistake 2: Missing Important UI design fundamentals

Design elements such as contrast (color, size, alignment), logical CTAs (such as buttons and links), decent form, typography, responsiveness, and creating with realistic content should never be neglected.

If you did not attend a typical design school or have not taken many classes on the subject, now is the time to start before these errors surface in your work.

Here are 3 YouTube channels to get you started on your UI/UX journey.
FluxWithRanSegall
DesignCourse
AJSmart

Mistake 3: Prioritizing trends over usability

Though it’s wonderful to be inspired by design trends, you’ll find that “trendy” designs are rarely implemented in some of the most successful platforms and products on the market.

Beautiful designs don’t always translate into effective ones. Remember this and always question yourself, “Is this design functional? “. Functional designs aren’t always unattractive, but prioritizing function above beauty is essential.

Fonts and designs that are trendy one month may not be the same the following month. A trend might draw attention to your product and possibly attract a few new users, but frequent changes to the interface will annoy and confuse your devoted customers.

Mistake 4: Ignoring the accessibility of your user interface

Fonts, color, and style consistency are important elements of a strong UI design. While your design may appear attractive on the surface, it must also be accessible and inclusive to all sorts of users. Individuals who are blind, colorblind, or visually challenged are included.

Downloading plugins like Stark to help verify if your designs are accessible while you’re designing is an easy method to guarantee you’re fulfilling web accessibility guidelines.

Free UI/UX PDFs

Mistake 5: Failure to seek and utilize feedback

As a new designer, you must be open to comments and help from more experienced designers who may have made the same mistakes you did when they first started out.

The greatest place to begin is by finding a design mentor. You may grow your abilities faster and have a more richer learning experience if you seek out a mentor rather than navigating the continuously shifting design field alone. In addition to assisting you in launching your profession, you may make a new friend.