User experience design is an important aspect of web development. Many companies today invest in UX/UI design to satisfy and meet the growing demands of users. Research shows that the UX market size is estimated to grow to $356 million by 2026. This prediction means that the UX industry is big business. That is why many companies today hire competent experts to handle the design phase of their products.
A professional UX design agency has seasoned experts who work on each phase of developing a web product. The entire team puts in the time and effort to conduct research and understand customer behavior and user needs.
Multiple studies reveal that consumers make decisions subconsciously about web products based on certain UX design elements. Thus, designers always have significant rules that govern their work to ensure seamless designs that meet users’ expectations. Pioneer designers in the UX industry formulated these laws that modern designers are still using.
Let us explore these invaluable UX laws to help you create top-tier designs with impressive usability.
80/20 Rule
One of the most common principles is the 80/20 rule, which experts also refer to as the Pareto Principle. It is a known theory stating that 80% of any outcome is because of the 20% effort you put in the process. In short, this principle means that designers can work efficiently by focusing on the vital areas with more impact. By concentrating on making the crucial features seamless, users will gain access and enjoy the experience.
Apart from UX, the 80/20 rule applies to many industries like computer programming, healthcare, and even sports. Microsoft is a good example of a tech company that applied this law to eliminate errors and frequent crashes on its system.
Thus, as a UX designer, applying the 80/20 law guarantees that you will create functional products that meet the market standards.
Consistency
Design consistency is an important rule that will help you create top-tier products. According to Don Norman, an expert in design matters, consistency is a principle designers must follow to achieve uniformity in web products.
As a UX designer, ensure your elements have a similar appearance. You can apply consistency in the icons, typeface, image size, or CTA buttons. It is a critical tool that allows users to connect with each element and create a logical visual hierarchy.
Furthermore, you need to ensure that the elements perform the intended action. For instance, call-to-action buttons should lead users to the correct page. Understanding the benefits of preliminary design processes like wireframing can also enhance consistency across your design elements. For more on this, you can read about the benefits of wireframing.
Aesthetic – Usability Effect
The aesthetic-usability effect is a design theory stating that users often choose appealing designs because of their usability and intuitiveness. This effect states that products with a visual appeal are more likely to function better. Usually, most users will tolerate small issues in a product if the UX design is attractive. A well-designed website or app evokes positive emotions, and the users perceive the product to be functional. This Law reveals how a seamless user interface integrates perfectly with an exceptional UX.
Choice Overload
Overloading your users with many choices is detrimental to usability. Choice overload is a UX principle that uses the economics of behavior. It states that choice has a direct impact on results. But more options do not meet your product will perform better. Usually, many features in an app increase the complexity, which negatively affects usability.
Goal Gradient Effect
Another important principle is the Goal Gradient Effect, a psychological hack in UX design. It states that users get motivation when they are almost completing a goal.
Most apps apply this effect by offering loyalty cards to customers. Or by featuring a status report or a progress bar during the sign-up process. Showing your customer that they are halfway through the profile completion will encourage them to continue. Products without a goal-driven effect have a higher number of user abandonment.
Ikea Effect
The Ikea Effect is a fascinating theory that claims users tend to gain value from products they have invested time and effort in. This principle states that the more effort a customer puts in knowing your product, the higher the value perception. Thus, the users will not abandon your product and might become loyal customers. That is why UX experts create attention-grabbing features that make users invest in a product. The designers tailor the customer journey interactively to enhance value perception.
Jakob’s Law
Jakob’s Law explains that people prefer familiar experiences. Humans are comfortable with doing things in a certain way. If this pattern is disrupted, it might cause confusion. The same applies to UX design. Users want a seamless journey with familiar features and navigation bars, but introducing unknown elements might cause friction and frustrations.
Thus, violating this Law will affect your product since customers will opt for other options.
Social Proof
Social Proof is a law that claims that humans follow the crowd and are easily convinced to take action if they see the evidence. Today, companies post product reviews, client testimonials, and influencer promotions, among other persuasive strategies.
Thus, incorporating social proof on your website or social media channels will draw customers to your product.
KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid
KISS is a principle that focuses on simplicity in designing user experiences. One approach is to use the minimalism aspect to create simple yet impactful designs. The secret behind this Law is that simple products are easily maintainable and reliable.
Seasoned designers understand the significance of eliminating clutter to get clean interfaces that enhance usability. Thus, KISS is a crucial law that will help you create exceptional product designs.
Recognition over Recall
Recognition over Recall is a rule stating that it is simpler for the user to recognize than recall visual patterns. In UX design, users often recognize images and icons more than lengthy texts. So, designers often use this principle to add relevant elements that allow users to recognize immediately without struggle. For instance, social media or support icons instead of the features’ names are easily recognizable and cause no recall issues.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the final product design should have offered an excellent user experience and functional features. The UX laws discussed above will guide you during the design phase to develop intuitive and simple interfaces. Master these rules and become a guru in your UX career.
