Have you ever wondered why some websites or apps are so easy to use, while others can drive you crazy? Two letters have the answer – UX. It may sound like a secret acronym, but it’s actually something you’ve probably experienced before. So, let’s talk about UX – what it is, why it matters, and how you can get started.
UX: User Experience at its best
UX, or User Experience, is about how users feel when they interact with a product – whether it’s a website, an app or a coffee machine. The goal of UX is to make that experience as enjoyable, intuitive and frustration-free as possible.
Imagine you go to a coffee shop. If the interior is cozy, the menu is clear, and the staff is friendly, your “user experience” is great. But if you wait forever for your coffee or aren’t sure how to order, you leave disappointed. UX design is basically the same thing – just in the world of digital products.
UX vs. UI: Two sides of the same coin
There is often confusion here. People confuse UX with UI (User Interface). But these two terms are not the same. Think of UX as the overall experience and UI as the visual part of the product. UX answers questions like:
- How easy is it for a user to get to the information they’re looking for?
- Is the registration process simple?
- Are the steps logically connected?
The UI then takes care of how the whole thing looks – the colors, the fonts, the buttons. UX is more psychology, UI is aesthetics. The two areas are closely related but not interchangeable. You can have a beautiful site (great UI), but if it’s hard to use (bad UX), users will get frustrated.
What does a UX designer do?
A UX designer is a bit like a detective. He or she has to find out what users need, where they’re struggling, and design solutions that make their lives easier. Here are some of the main tasks a UX designer performs:
- User research – A UX designer collects data – through surveys, interviews, or user behavior analysis. The goal is to understand people’s needs and expectations.
- Creating user journeys – Where do users go? Which steps do they go through to reach their destination?
- Wireframes and prototypes – A wireframe is a simple “sketch” of a website or application. A prototype is then an interactive model on which to test if everything works as it should.
- Testing – This is where feedback comes in. What works great? And where have users run into problems? The UX designer explores, iterates and tweaks.
A simple example from practice
Imagine you want to order a pizza. You open the first app, but you barely know your way around – the buttons are small, the menu is confusing, and every time you select something, the app gets stuck. After a few minutes, you give up. Then you open another app. Welcome to paradise: clear categories, fast loading, and even the option to save your favorites for next time. You choose a pizza, pay with a few clicks, and before you know it, you’re watching it make its way to your door.
See the difference? The first app frustrates you. The second? The latter brings you joy and convenience. That’s the magic of good UX – it removes obstacles and makes ordinary tasks a pleasant experience.
Tips for great UX
The cornerstone of good UX. You need to know who you’re designing for. How to do it?
How to find out:
- Questionnaires and surveys: send out short questionnaires to your customers. Ask them what’s bothering them, what they like and what they would change. Tools like Google Forms or Typeform are ideal.
- Schedule calls or in-person meetings with a few key users. Focus on their needs, frustrations and wants.
- Web Behavior Analysis: Use tools like Google Analytics or Hotjar to track what people are doing on your site – where they spend the most time, where they click, where they leave.
- Personas: Create “fictional” representatives of your users. Describe their age, occupation, needs and goals. These personas will help you focus on what’s really important.
Simplicity is key
No one likes complicated things. The user experience should be clear and intuitive.
How to figure it out:
- Usability test: ask several people who are not part of your team to use your product. Watch to see if they find it easy to navigate or if they get “stuck” somewhere.
- The 5-second test: you would show your site to someone for 5 seconds. Then close it and ask: What did you remember? What was it about? This will determine if your message is clear and immediately understandable.
- Eliminate redundancy: Go through each page or screen and ask: Is this necessary? Does this improve the user experience?” If not, get rid of it.
Speed first
People have no patience. If something takes more than a few seconds, you will lose the user.
How to find out:
- Test loading speed: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix. They’ll show you how fast your site is loading and offer specific recommendations on how to improve it.
- Image optimization: reduce the size of your images using tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim.
- Code minimization: Go through your CSS, JavaScript, and HTML and remove anything that isn’t needed.
- CDN (Content Delivery Network): Use a CDN like Cloudflare to make your website content load faster from different parts of the world.
Continuous testing
UX is not a one-time thing. You need to constantly monitor how your product is performing.
How to find out:
- A/B testing. For example: does the “Buy Now” button perform better when it’s blue or green? Tools like Optimizely or Google Optimize are great for this.
- User testing: invite people to test new features. Observe their reactions and ask what they would improve.
- Heatmaps: Tools like Hotjar or Crazy Egg show you where users click and how they move around the page.
Feedback
Your users are your best advisors. Listen to them.
How to find out:
- Feedback forms: Make it easy for users to write their feedback to you. Put a “Let us know” button or short form on your site.
- Ratings and reviews: See what people are writing about you on social media, in Google reviews, or in forums.
- Customer support. This is a goldmine of information.
- Regular surveys: once in a while, reach out to your users and ask how satisfied they are and what they would improve.
Why is UX not just about technology?
UX is not just the domain of websites and apps. In fact, it applies to any product, service or experience. From the design of product packaging to the clarity of airport directional signs, everything people use can have good or bad UX.
UX is not just a buzzword
Investing in UX means investing in the satisfaction of your customers. And happy customers come back – and often bring their friends. Whether you’re starting your own project or looking to improve an existing one, remember that UX is what will set you apart from the competition.
