The Power of Good User Experience Design: Lessons from Great Examples

User experience (UX) design is more than just aesthetics; it’s about creating a seamless, intuitive, and enjoyable interaction for users. Great UX design can turn visitors into loyal customers by ensuring that their journey through your website or app is as smooth as possible. Let's delve into some key aspects of good UX design, illustrated by a few standout examples.

1. Simplified Navigation

Example: Apple’s website is a masterclass in simplified navigation. Everything is laid out clearly, with intuitive menus that guide users effortlessly to their desired destination. This ease of navigation ensures users can find what they’re looking for without frustration.

Book Reference: In "Don't Make Me Think" by Steve Krug, the author emphasizes the importance of intuitive navigation, comparing a website's navigation to a well-organized book where readers can quickly find what they need without confusion.

2. Responsive Design

Example: Slack's responsive design ensures that the user experience remains consistent across all devices. Whether you’re accessing the platform on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone, the interface adapts smoothly to provide an optimal experience.

Book Reference: Ethan Marcotte’s "Responsive Web Design" discusses the principles of designing websites that adjust gracefully to various screen sizes, much like a book that is designed for both print and digital formats to ensure readability in any format.

3. Fast Loading Times

Example: Google’s homepage is famously minimalist, which not only looks clean but also ensures lightning-fast load times. Users appreciate not having to wait, which can significantly reduce bounce rates.

Book Reference: In "High Performance Web Sites" by Steve Souders, the author explains how minimizing content and optimizing resources can significantly improve loading times, much like how a well-structured book keeps readers engaged without unnecessary delays.

4. Consistent Branding

Example: Spotify’s consistent branding across all touchpoints – from its app to its advertising – reinforces its identity and creates a cohesive user experience. This uniformity helps users feel more connected to the brand.

Book Reference: "Building Strong Brands" by David A. Aaker discusses the importance of consistent branding and how maintaining a unified brand image across all platforms is akin to a book with a cohesive design that enhances the overall reading experience.

5. User Feedback Integration

Example: Duolingo’s use of gamification and real-time feedback keeps users engaged and motivated. By offering instant rewards and progress tracking, it turns language learning into an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Book Reference: In "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries, the concept of continuous feedback and iterative improvements is highlighted, much like how a well-crafted book incorporates feedback to improve and keep readers engaged.

6. Accessibility

Example: The BBC’s website includes a range of accessibility features, such as adjustable text sizes and compatibility with screen readers, ensuring that all users, regardless of their abilities, can access content comfortably.

Book Reference: "Inclusive Design for a Digital World" by Regine M. Gilbert provides comprehensive insights into designing for accessibility, much like creating a large-print book to accommodate visually impaired readers.

Conclusion

Good UX design is about creating a user-centric experience that is intuitive, enjoyable, and accessible. By looking at these examples and integrating similar strategies into your design process, you can enhance the user experience of your own website or app. Remember, just like a well-written book, a thoughtfully designed website can captivate and retain its audience.

Transform Your Understanding of Design with The Design of Everyday Things

 Discover the Hidden Mechanics Behind Everyday Objects

Have you ever struggled with a door that wouldn't open the way you expected? Or found yourself baffled by a complicated remote control? These everyday frustrations are the very problems that The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman addresses. In this revised and expanded edition, Norman, a pioneer in usability and cognitive engineering, unveils the principles of good design and explains how thoughtful design can make everyday life more intuitive and enjoyable.

Why This Book is a Must-Read

1. Understand the Importance of User-Centered Design: Norman introduces the concept of user-centered design, where the needs and abilities of users are prioritized. This approach helps you understand how products can be designed to be both functional and delightful.

2. Learn from Real-World Examples: Through engaging anecdotes and practical examples, Norman demonstrates the impact of design on our daily interactions with objects. These insights will change the way you look at everything from kitchen appliances to mobile apps.

3. Empower Your Problem-Solving Skills: By exploring the psychology behind how we use objects, Norman equips you with the tools to identify and solve design problems. Whether you're a designer, engineer, or simply someone interested in the way things work, this book will enhance your problem-solving skills and creativity.

What Readers Are Saying

"This book is a revelation! It opened my eyes to the intricacies of design and how it affects every aspect of our lives. Highly recommended for anyone interested in understanding the world around them." - Amazon Reviewer

"Don Norman's insights are invaluable. This revised edition is a treasure trove of knowledge for both beginners and seasoned professionals in the design field." - Amazon Reviewer

Take the Next Step in Your Design Journey

Don't let poorly designed objects frustrate you any longer. Dive into The Design of Everyday Things and start seeing the world through the lens of a designer. Whether you're looking to improve your professional skills or simply gain a deeper appreciation for the objects around you, this book is your guide to understanding the principles of effective design.

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The Soap Dispenser on Public Toilets

Every time I wash my hands in a public toilet I notice how badly positioned the soap dispenser and sink usually are. 

Yes, you should wash your hands with soap ... And, to do so, making use of the dispenser usually creates a big mess.

Soap dispensers regularly are placed to the left of the sink. If there are several sinks next to each other depending on where you are standing it might be to the right ;-)

The dispenser is mounted in a way that if some droplet of soap - given principles of gravity - drops, it drops on down to the floor.

Watch out for it! - You will rarely find a public toilet where underneath the soap dispenser there is not a big mess. Even the regular cleaning by cleaning staff over time can not cope with permanent stains.

The worst is with automatic dispensers. Dispensers having a sensor and dispensing only after the hand has been moved underneath. - Given the issue of latency time ... these designs are just too slow ... (see also my articles on general issues with latency in the automatized and digital world: Latency no. 1 and Latency no. 2) ... to securely drop the pre-specified amount of soap into the users hand. Usually one has already pulled back the hand before the soap dropping, resulting in systematic mess with soap on the floor.

As a result it then requires at least two attempts by the end user in order to get his soap into the hand which heavily impacts soap consumption.

A little bit better are dispensers which deliver soap as foam. The improvement here is just that the foam either sticks to the dispensers nozzle, or that the portion of foam does not drop that fast, so that a fast reacting user can still catch it before it is hitting the drop zone on the floor.

Now, the big question: why is this almost everywhere - exceptions apply - the case?

• Is there a norm or standard that requires such design?
• Is it just because nobody cares?
• Is it because consumers and users just accept it and do not complain?
• Is it because the cleaning staff just accepts it?
• Why?

I doubt that I am the only one to notice. And I doubt that I am the only one who sees this a problem.

And given the enormous number of public toilets around the globe I doubt that there is no opportunity for a decent solution to that problem!

Latency - No. 2

As discussed in my earlier post - Latency - No. 1 - latency times in today‘s computerized products are a true pain to user experience.

There are different ways of handling it, if it can not be shortened down enough by design.

The most common one is the spinning icon.

However, there is also the traditional solution through good documentation and user guidance.

The good old SOP - standard operating procedure.
Do‘s and dont‘s ...

See to the right - recently found at the breakfast buffet in a tourist hotel in Ticino, Switzerland.
If it truly solves the problem - I doubt it!

At least for me it didn‘t work out. It took me longer to find my language to read - I can read and understand them all - and act on it, than to make everything wrong already in parallel while not waiting for the slow machine to take its time.

Yes, it‘s well documented. And yes, I was the one, impatiently not following the SOP. And, yes, if you would follow it - just slow down - the user experience would be pretty seamless and clear.

As user experience, UX experts usually generate evidence by observing and testing a statistically relevant sample of users. Here, the job obviously has been done. Otherwise nobody would have solved the problem with such a nice SOP in four languages and four colors.
And, from a user end it is always hard to get product design changed in a true user centric way. Once a product is launched, in most cases, there is no room for user centricity and agility to adapt to it any longer. Quality in UX is then only measured in terms of units sold or generated revenue.

In the example given above, a very nice SOP, written by a very pragmatic and customer focusing person, will prevent the manufacturer of the coffee machine from going out of business due to poor UX. What a success!