How to Craft a Winning User Interface Design Strategy
User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) are terms used to describe how people interact with technology.
UX designers focus on making it easy for people to accomplish tasks on a computer, tablet, mobile phone, digital product, etc., while UI designers focus on design decisions that affect the look and feel of those devices. UX designers work closely with software engineers during the design process to make sure that the end product meets its target audience's needs, while UI designers create the interface -- including navigation, layout, fonts, colors, etc. -- that makes it possible for users to navigate the device. Designers also consider "Cognitive Load", which is the amount of mental resources (or brain power or cognitive load) that is required to operate the system.
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Tip 1: Delve Into Design Process Details
Designers and design experts often overlook small details that make a big difference in user experience. In fact, some people think that good design is just making things look pretty. But there are many ways you can improve your designs without changing anything major. Here are some suggestions to help you do just that.
Use Subtle Type On Page
The best way to use typography is to keep it simple. If you want to convey information, don’t go overboard with fancy fonts. Instead, choose something that works well with the rest of the text. For example, if you’re writing about a product, stick with sans serif fonts like Arial or Helvetica. These fonts work well because they’re easy to read and don’t distract from the main points.
Keep Your Text Short
If you want to give readers a quick summary of what your article is about, try keeping your text short. This makes it easier for visitors to scan the webpage quickly and find what they’re looking for. You can even break up long paragraphs into shorter ones.
Add Visual Interest
You might think that adding visual interest to your design will take away from the overall experience. However, it actually adds a lot of value. Adding images, icons, charts, graphs, and videos can really bring your design to life. They can also help you tell a story.
Tip 2: Establish Your Organization's Brand
A company's brand is often confused with its messaging. But it's important to distinguish between the two. Brands are what people think of you; messaging is how you communicate those thoughts to others. So, while both are important, businesses must focus on one over the other.
Branding is also about establishing an identity. You want to make sure that everyone knows exactly what your company does. This helps people find you online and connect with you offline. And it makes it easier for buyers to spend money with you.
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Messaging is about communicating your brand to others. For example, when someone sees your logo, they should know immediately what kind of business you run. It could be a restaurant, a retail store, or any type of organization.
To establish your brand, start by thinking about who you want to target. What kinds of customers would benefit most from your products? How do you want them to feel after using your services?
Your brand guide should include all elements of your brand. These include everything from logo design to social media posts. It should be easy to read and implement.
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Tip 3: Bake In the Use of White Space
Great website development involves the integral component of white space. But don’t be afraid to use it. In fact, you should embrace it. Website development is a powerful subject where white space helps readers focus on what matters most.
White space is often overlooked in favor of flashy graphics and eye-catching colors. However, white space plays a crucial role in creating a clean, readable experience. When used correctly, white space creates visual hierarchy, guides the reader’s eyes around the webpage, and makes text easier to read.
In addition, white space adds breathing room to headlines, paragraphs, images, and videos. This allows those elements to breathe and grow naturally without being cramped together.
Finally, white space gives us a chance to pause and reflect. We spend a lot of time online, and we want our digital lives to feel meaningful. So why not give ourselves some downtime every once in awhile?
Tip 4: Place Clear Call-To-Actions (CTA)
The most important thing you can do to improve conversion rates among clients and potential customers is make it easy for people to convert. In fact, we've found that making it easier leads to much better conversion rates than trying to trick visitors into taking action. But what does "easy" mean? You can use text, images, videos, and calls to action (CTAs).
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During your design and marketing efforts, think about where and how to place clear CTAs on your site. Clarity matters. Some common places on the webpage where you'll often find a call-to-action are; In the header - reader's eyes are naturally drawn to the top of the webpage, In sidebars - positioning CTAs here can naturally "follow" readers as they move down the page, and In Between Text on Page - As readers move down the page, its hard to avoid CTAs that are spaced in between paragraphs.
Clear call-to-actions also help your website with SEO (search engine optimization), so not including that in your overall design process could hinder your website's rankings.
Tip 5: Avoid Stock Photos and Use Pictures with Real People Instead
Images are one of the most powerful ways to communicate online. They help you connect with customers, build trust, and make it easier for them to understand what you do. But while there are many benefits to including pictures in your marketing materials, there are some things to keep in mind.
First off, don’t use stock photos. If you’re looking for inspiration, check out the numerous collections of free stock photo sites online, but don't use those images, rather try and recreate them yourself.
Next, make sure that each image represents your brand. This might seem obvious, but sometimes we see companies post images without thinking about whether or not it really reflects their brand. For example, if you sell shoes, don’t show someone wearing flip flops. You want to represent yourself well, so think carefully about how you present yourself.
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Third, don’t forget to include captions. A good caption tells the reader exactly what the image is showing. In fact, studies suggest that people read captions twice as fast as they read text. So, even though it seems like a small detail, adding captions can actually improve conversions.
Finally, remember that images aren’t just used for visual appeal. Images can convey important messages too. For example, if your product is expensive, you could use an image of a person holding up a price tag. Or, if you’re selling something that’s hard to find, you could use an illustration of a treasure map.
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Key Takeaways and Bonus Tips
Website development and responsive design are big endeavors. It's important that you understand what you're getting yourself into before diving headfirst. Here are some key points to remember:
Incremental vs Comprehensive Approach
There are two primary approaches to a website design: incremental and comprehensive. Incremental refers to making small changes over time while keeping the site largely the same. This type of design allows you to make gradual improvements without having to completely rebuild the entire site. On the other hand, comprehensive refers to implementing major changes to the overall look and feel of the site. This requires a complete overhaul of the existing code base and often involves rebuilding the site from scratch.
Technology & Features
When planning a website redesign, think carefully about how you can leverage newer technologies and features to better meet customer needs. For example, if you plan to use responsive web design (RWD), you'll want to ensure that your current site works well across multiple devices. You might also want to consider adding video to your site to increase engagement and provide additional information.
Customer Experience
Another consideration is whether you plan to keep the old site up during the transition period. If you do decide to maintain both sites, you'll want to make sure that the new version provides a seamless experience for visitors. In addition, you'll want to consider how you can improve the customer journey throughout the redesign process.
And for a Bonus:
1. Make Sure You Have a Mobile First Approach
Mobile traffic accounts for over 50% of total internet usage today. This number is expected to grow even further in the next few years. In fact, according to Statista, mobile browsing is projected to increase by nearly 300% by 2021. To ensure that your startup is reaching customers where they spend most of their time, make sure your website is responsive. Responsive sites adapt automatically to fit any device screen size, making them easier to navigate and use.
2. Keep Content Simple and Easy to Read
People don't like reading long blocks of text. They prefer short paragraphs and bullet points. When writing copy for your website, break down complex topics into digestible chunks. Don't force your audience to scroll endlessly through dense blocks of text. Instead, focus on providing concise information and easy-to-read headlines.
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