10+ Golden Rules That UX Designers Must Know

User Experience (UX) is more than just a design term; it is a combined art and science that requires designers to have a deep understanding of many different fields. In the modern technological world, where competition is increasingly fierce, creating a product that is not only beautiful but also easy to use has become a key factor in determining the success of the product. The basic principles below will be a guideline for anyone looking for ways to optimize UX for their product. Let's explore with Sadesign in this article!

1. UX is not just UI

Many people mistakenly believe that UX (User Experience) and UI (User Interface) are the same. In fact, designers need to clearly distinguish between the two. UI is simply the interface that users can see and interact with, such as colors, fonts, images, and layout. Meanwhile, UX is broader, including the user's emotions, reactions, and overall experience after interacting with the product.

This distinction is important, because if you focus only on UI and ignore the elements of UX, you can create a beautiful product but it does not meet the needs and emotions of the user. To create a great user experience, designers need to consider the entire user journey, from the moment they start learning about the product until they finish using it.

2. Understand users

The user is at the heart of every experience design. If you want your product to be loved, the first step is to understand the users you are serving. This includes not only knowing who they are, but also understanding what they like, want, and expect from the product. Customer research becomes an integral part of the design process, and understanding your users will help you create a product that resonates.

Customer research is not just a step in the design process, it should be ongoing. The information you gather from your users will help you tailor your product to their real needs. Remember, the top priority in design is not just the beauty or functionality of the product, but also user satisfaction.

3. You are not a user

One of the biggest mistakes many designers make is imposing their ideas on users. In reality, the thoughts and desires of designers are not always the same as those of millions of different users. Each user has their own unique personality, preferences, and behaviors, which makes designing more complicated.

Therefore, businesses should conduct experience tests with real users, not just your friends or colleagues. Listening to real customers' opinions and experiences will help you gain deeper insight into your product. While this can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, "slow and steady" is the motto that helps you ensure that your design is aligned with the psychology and needs of real users.

4. Don't overwhelm users with a "wall" of information

A 2015 study by Microsoft found that users only have about 8 seconds to pay attention to a particular piece of content on the Internet. This means that designers need to make their products stand out from the first seconds of exposure. Otherwise, your product can easily be overlooked in the vast flow of information online.

Information overload is the biggest enemy that any designer needs to avoid. When users are pushed against a "wall" of oversized information, they will feel frustrated and not know where to start. Therefore, minimalism in design becomes an immutable principle. Instead of presenting a rich feast of information, distill and present the core elements, conveying the most quintessential things that your product can bring. Only then can users easily receive and feel the value of the product.

5. Set up a UX Design process

UX Design is not a haphazard job, but requires a specific and systematic process. Designing without a clear plan will lead to unexpected results. Designers need to rely on available data and information to build a process, instead of just relying on inspiration or personal ideas.

While there may be a general design process that works for many situations, it’s important to tailor it to your specific project. For example, if you don’t have enough information about your customers, take the time to conduct surveys and collect data. If you’re torn between product versions, A/B testing can help you find the best option based on real user feedback. The design process isn’t a one-step process, but an ongoing journey that needs to be adjusted and optimized over time.

6. Create pre-tests

One of the common mistakes that many designers make is skipping the testing phase before releasing their final product. They often rush into design without considering prototypes, which can lead to huge risks. If the product you design is not well received by the market, you will not only feel disappointed, but also waste a lot of time and resources.

Creating prototypes helps you identify areas for improvement and development before releasing the final version. This is an opportunity to gather feedback from users, which can help you adjust and refine your product. A product that is thoroughly tested before launch increases the likelihood of success and user satisfaction, which is crucial to building a long-term brand and reputation.

7. Apply content to design

Every design needs to be based on real content to help guide its style and direction. Using sample text like Lorem Ipsum can help you visualize the layout, but is no substitute for working with the actual content. When you apply real content to your design, you get a clearer picture of how the content interacts with the interface.

The ultimate goal is to win over demanding customers, and designing with real content in mind will help you achieve this. Real content not only adds value to the design, but also creates a richer, more realistic user experience. When you consider how content interacts with design, you’ll be well on your way to creating products that are not only beautiful, but meaningful and effective in attracting and retaining users.

8. Keep design content simple and consistent

In the field of digital content design, simplicity is not only an aesthetic factor but also an essential requirement. A simply designed product allows users to easily understand and interact with it without having to refer to the user manual. The success of a UX designer lies not only in creating a beautiful interface, but also in the ability to help users easily grasp and use the product's features after only a few interactions.

In addition to simplicity, consistency in design is also important. When content and layout are consistent across different parts of your product, users will feel more familiar and comfortable using it. This is especially important when they spend a lot of time on your platform. Remember, to create the best user experience, you need to commit to two core principles: simplicity and consistency.

9. Limit the need for users to perform operations from the beginning

Humans have limited memory and generally dislike having to repeat actions they have already performed. Therefore, it is important in application design to minimize the need to start over. Instead of requiring users to perform every step from scratch, you should integrate features that allow them to continue their work from where they left off.

A great example is YouTube, where users can easily resume watching a video they left off watching. This not only enhances the user experience, but also makes them feel like your product truly understands and meets their needs. Designing features that save users time and effort can make a big difference in their experience.

10. Design should focus on function rather than appearance

When it comes to the design process, many designers get caught up in creating aesthetically pleasing and appealing products. They ask themselves questions like, “Does this product look good?” or “Does this design appeal to you?” However, what matters more is the functionality and performance of the product. Users care more about whether the product meets their needs than whether it looks good.

Features are the deciding factor in user satisfaction. If a product has a beautiful interface but cannot perform the basic functions that users need, it will quickly be abandoned. Therefore, designers need to change their thinking, focusing on developing and improving features to best meet the needs of users. Design is not only about beauty, but also about creating real value for users.

11. Don't try to solve every problem yourself

One of the biggest mistakes many designers make is trying to tackle all UX design issues on their own. Not only does this leave you feeling overwhelmed, but it also leaves you without the opportunity to get valuable feedback from your teammates. Behind you is a team of talented engineers and designers who can provide different perspectives and solutions.

Consulting with your peers will not only help you find creative solutions, but it will also help improve your product as a whole. Don’t be afraid to open up the discussion and listen to everyone’s ideas. Collaboration can lead to better solutions and make your product more complete. Remember, teamwork is the key to achieving success in UX design.

12. Don't tackle all the problems at once

It is an undeniable fact that UX Design is not a linear process. Throughout the design process, you will encounter many problems that arise, and they often appear randomly, not in any order. Therefore, it is extremely important to be mentally prepared to solve each problem systematically. Trying to tackle everything at once can lead to chaos and inefficiency.

For best results, follow the principle of “Find the cause – Solve the problem – Test the solution.” This way, you not only address the problem thoroughly, but also ensure that you are on the right track. Understanding the root cause of the problem will help you find more sustainable solutions, thereby improving product quality and user experience.

13. Prevention is better than cure

When your product fails, users often react negatively. They may never use your product again if their first experience is not good. Therefore, proactively “preventing” the problem is a smarter strategy than just trying to “cure” the problem after it has occurred.

Investing in testing and optimizing your product before it goes live will help you minimize the risk of major bugs. Gather regular user feedback, conduct quality checks, and update your product regularly. This will not only protect your brand reputation, but also create a trustworthy user experience.

14. Use interactive icons

In UX design, the user is at the center of everything. They don’t want to feel left out when interacting with a product. Therefore, providing instant feedback to users is extremely important. Using interactive icons and signs not only helps users better understand the state of the product but also makes it feel more friendly and pleasant when they use it.

For example, the "loading circle" icon when an operation is in progress is a good example of providing feedback to the user. These signals not only let the user know that the system is still working, but also reduce the feeling of anxiety or confusion while waiting. Make sure that every user action is responded to quickly and clearly.

15. Don't make sudden changes to your users.

Research has shown that users are very unhappy when an application makes drastic changes. This was demonstrated by eBay when they changed the background color of their website from yellow to white, leading to a flood of complaints from customers. Big and sudden changes can leave users feeling disoriented, which can reduce their loyalty to the product.

If your business is planning to make big changes, do it slowly and strategically. Consider testing smaller changes before implementing big changes. This way, you can gather feedback from users and adjust to their needs, creating a smoother transition and better retaining users.

16. Conclusion

User experience is a challenging but also very interesting field. Understanding and applying the basic principles of design will help you create products that best meet the needs of users. Always put users first and constantly learn and improve to bring the best experiences to them.