The Top 10 Principles and Laws of UX Design – Why Every Designer Needs to Know Them

Posted by sophiajasper398 on September 15th, 2022

Understanding the needs of your users is critical to creating effective design. Understanding what will work best for your users depends on who they are, where they're coming from, and why they're visiting or using your site or app. Successful websites are designed in a way that make it easy for you - the user - to accomplish your tasks in an efficient manner. There are many factors that go into this process, including creating trust with visitors, developing credibility as a company or organization, and communicating messages clearly so people understand them. With so many things happening at once on most websites, it's critical for designers to have a deep understanding of how humans interact with web-based experiences. In this section we'll review some key principles and laws of UX Design governing these interactions.

2) Use technology as an enabler, not a barrier

A large proportion of the population are considered techno-phobic, meaning they would rather not be limited by their device. The popularity of augmented reality products is on the rise because they use smartphones as enablers, not barriers. For example, Google Translate is a relatively new app that lets you point your camera at a foreign word and it automatically translates it in real time. Likewise, apps like What3Words have begun to transform street addresses into three random words for easier findability. These are all examples where technology has been used as an enabler, not a barrier.

3) Put yourself in the shoes of the user

Imagine a website that doesn't work. It's not just slower than it should be. It has critical errors and crashes, so you can't complete your task or purchase the product you were about to buy. Think about how frustrating that would be for you, as a user, because there are many other sites out there who will deliver a satisfying experience.

This is why I'm passionate about UX design. The designer is someone who understands not only what looks good but also how it feels to use an interface—to use this site or the one down the street (unless they're terrible too). For me, understanding users' needs and working with those requires empathy.

4) Focus on content first

Since the beginning of design, it has always been a goal to develop innovative and appealing interfaces that work seamlessly with users. However, the world has changed over time, going from vacuum tubes, to analog TV screens. What hasn't changed is the importance of an efficient interface design that appeals to user's needs- this is what defines user experience design or UX. To create these great designs today, one must follow the ten principles listed below- for as Charles Eames once said: form follows function.

5) Allow simple tasks to be done with ease and complex tasks to be done with some effort

These are design principles and laws that can be applied to different fields, such as architecture, engineering, product design, fashion design, game design etc. These principles give you the insight on how you should create the product or service for your customer. There are many things in designing from emotion to function and from a humanistic approach to a logical approach. This list is nowhere near complete but it does touch on some of the basics when it comes to designing well. Some topics that come up more than once include design simplicity, adaptability and clear communication with both humans and machines; all of which are essential if you want your end-user experience to be smooth.

6) Be consistent in everything you do

One area that all designers need to be cognizant of is consistency. We tend to get lost in the details of our work, trying out different design elements, shapes, colors, and more. While it may feel like we're making progress with each change we make, in the end we find ourselves juggling too many different things with little clarity on what we want our end product or service to look like. It can be a daunting task but when it comes down to it, consistency will provide us with much-needed focus because it guides us through iterations so that every new change feels relevant. Furthermore, an inconsistent design is frustrating for users because they're going in circles due to lack of consistency as they try figuring out the app or website's functionality on their own.

7) Don’t make assumptions about what users know or don’t know

Don’t assume that your users know anything about design. Consider how you can bring them along on the journey with you. In doing so, always be mindful that usability is more important than innovation. If a new design will improve the experience for your users, go for it! Just make sure that your changes don‒t compromise either the quality or performance of their experience.

10) Keep it simple, stupid!

The user experience is the single most important part of any product or service. If a customer does not find value in the UI then it is likely they will be unsatisfied with their purchase. The success or failure of a product is often determined by how well it solves problems for customers, provides them with a clear path through complex applications, answers their questions, and encourages desired behaviors. This can only be achieved by following the principles and laws of UX design.

8) Have empathy for all users

At the heart of design is understanding who your user is. A designer must have empathy for the needs, abilities, perceptions, limitations, motivations, behaviors, and beliefs that are particular to a user. Having empathy is difficult but indispensable. The more you can identify with a person’s point of view, the more you can make an app that satisfies their needs.

9) Create time for discovery (iteration is important!)

Before you start designing anything, make sure you create time for discovery. We can't always know what the users want at first. Not every iteration will work, but many of them will. Give your design some breathing room, and try different versions before making a final decision.

Final Note

Hire UI/UX Design Company in India- they have the knowledge, skills and expertise needed to create a functional, accessible site that looks great too. Hiring such professionals will help you cut your project’s timeline short, avoid any setbacks and make your site successful.