On the Levis Blog this week, our designer extraordinaire Madi Kot gives a crash course on UX/UI design. Read on to find out why certain online experiences rock and why some really REALLY do not.

What was the last website you visited?

Do you remember how it made you feel? Odds are, you likely remember the content or maybe even the design, but the actual experience of using the website didn’t strike you all that much. And it shouldn’t.

If you do remember, it’s probably because the user experience wasn’t anything to write home about. Well executed user experience should blend seamlessly into the background. The only time it should stand out is if it is so well designed that you find yourself thinking, “This website is a dream come true!”

We know what you’re thinking. What makes a good User Experience... ‘good’? Well, there’s no right answer to that question. But we’re here to help you wrap your mind around UX - the concept that’s taking the world by storm.

What is User Experience (UX)?

The User Experience is how a person feels when interacting with a system. It includes any interaction a user has with a product or service.

This can include web presence, your service offerings, social media presence and in this day and age, even your employer brand.

A successful UX will encourage positive experiences that keep your users and customers loyal to your brand. UX Design in turn, is the process of designing products that are useful, easy to use, and delightful to interact with. UX Designers focus heavily on understanding their users on a deeper level, as well as the business goals and objectives of the company.

While a beautiful design is always nice, the most important thing to remember is to build the best user-friendly experience possible. A good designer will empathize with their users and create natural, intuitive products that make it easy to get from point A to point B.

Why is UX so important?

With job boards packed with UX opportunities and huge digital companies crediting their success to good UX, the buzzword is taking the world by storm. When a website is hard to use, poorly laid out and lacking intuitiveness, your users will simply leave. A bad user experience can be fatal to your brand reputation. On a grander scale, UX is imperative as its goal is to fulfil user needs and provide positive experiences, which keep your customers loyal and coming back from more. 

What is ‘good’ UX?

Truth is, there is no right or wrong answer to this.

User Experience resonates differently with everyone, but we’ve all experienced bad UX at some point. Have you ever found yourself clicking the wrong button incessantly and then reaching for the manual in a frenzy of confusion? Remember that app you downloaded that sent you to an online tech forum where you met more confused users like you?

We’ve all been a victim of bad UX.

There are a few easy ways to ensure that you’re creating a good experience:

• Write copy that is simple to read and understand
• Include clear instructions
• Use contrasting colours for different purposes
• Have someone develop the content that truly understands the topic
• Bear FAQ’s in mind
• Always address the user (by using ‘you’ and not ‘we’.)

UX is for EVERYONE!

In summary, an amazing User Experience will not only satisfy your customers and your users when they land on your product or brand, it will also keep them coming back for more. If your experience is simple, clear, and doesn't add unnecessary barriers, it will make all the difference between a product that sells, or a website that is well used and visited, and a product or site that collects dust.

How can you master the User Experience?

It’s all about understanding your customers. Interacting with them, watching them use your product, getting inside their brains and walking a mile in their shoes. Pay attention to your users - they are your best teachers.

By creating interactions that are simple and intuitive, you are making your end users’ lives easier. How many times have you tried to push a door only to find you need to pull it instead? Taking a second to decide whether to push or pull sounds like a small thing, but those types of delays will add up on the web and cost you loyal customers.

Your website is now akin to customers walking into your store or office. If they have a bad experience or can’t find what they need, they are going to leave and not come back. 

There you have it! Ready to take a fine-toothed comb through your online presence? Not sure where to get started? Talk to some experts. Give us a call to set up your free consultation today.