According to a report by Exploding Topics, the average person spends 6-7 hours per day on screens connected to the internet. However, because of various reasons, consumers are increasingly looking to limit their screen time to improve their physical and mental health and productivity (CNBC, 2018). This makes competition among tech companies more intense as they try to grab their customers’ attention in a short amount of time. This might be a matter of concern for many companies and one effective way to combat this is by investing in appealing UI and UX. According to User Guiding, between 30-48% of visitors consider a website’s design to be the most important factor in determining a brand’s credibility. Additionally, 31-94% of a website’s first impressions are due to its design, and 32-41% of customers prefer a simple website design, while 59% want something stunning. Whether consciously or unconsciously, UI/UX design plays an important role in shaping a brand’s reputation, attracting new customers, and ultimately increasing revenue. It also contributes significantly to customer retention.
Understanding UI and UX
User/Human interface (UI) design is the process through which designers create interfaces in software or computerized devices, with a focus on the visual appearance or style. Simply put, the interface is the means by which a human interacts with the computer. Human interfaces can range from a keyboard/mouse to a button on a traffic light, a doorknob, or the lever underneath a car seat to adjust the bench. To create a good user interface, designers must always keep visual design principles and processes in mind, such as shapes, colors, typography, textures, alignment, information hierarchy, etc.
User experience (UX) design is mainly concerned with the overall experience of the product, rather than just its appearance. UX encompasses several areas, such as design, branding, research, usability, accessibility, and function. UX is about understanding why, what, and how the product is being used by its users.
The Impact of Good UI and UX
Having a good user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) is crucial in today’s competitive market. It can make the difference between a successful product and one that fails to meet its intended purpose.
A good UI design is essential because it enables users to interact seamlessly with the product, making it easier for them to navigate and achieve their goals. It should be visually appealing, easy to understand, and intuitive. A well-designed UI can result in increased user engagement, customer satisfaction, and brand loyalty.
Meanwhile, UX refers to the overall experience that a user has when interacting with a product or service. It encompasses everything from the UI design to the ease of use, speed, functionality, and accessibility. A good UX is more than just making something easy to use; it should also create a positive emotional connection with the user. When done well, it can result in increased user retention, higher conversion rates, and improved customer satisfaction.
The Software Development Process
Product design is the process of developing a software or digital product from start to finish. It starts with setting business goals and defining what the product should do. Then, the product’s interface is designed. This helps estimate how much time and effort it will take to build the product.
Designing a product with software development in mind can save time and money. You can also test the product’s design before building it to make sure it works well.
When UI/UX designers are involved in software development, the end product is not only pretty to look at but also easy to use. This helps find and fix any problems early on, so you don’t have to spend more money later. It is critical for UX to be involved from the earliest phase of product development to reduce costs by detecting and addressing issues early on. The benefits of UX design include increased productivity, sales revenue, and customer satisfaction, as well as reduced support and training costs, development and maintenance costs, and development time.
The UX design process consists of several phases such as discovery and planning, strategizing, research, analysis, design, and production.UX focuses on the overall experience of the product, while UI is more concerned with the look and feel, such as fonts, colors, buttons, layouts, and space. UI supports UX, and UI extends UX. If we boost UX and UI too quickly, users will not be able to adapt to the changes. Therefore, everything should take place in a natural, discrete, and orderly manner. The biggest mistake startups or companies make is failing to plan their UX at the beginning of a project (Canziba, 2018).
A good UI design is essential because it enables users to interact seamlessly with the product, making it easier for them to navigate and achieve their goals. It should be visually appealing, easy to understand, and intuitive. A well-designed UI can result in increased user engagement, customer satisfaction, and brand loyalty.
Meanwhile, UX refers to the overall experience that a user has when interacting with a product or service. It encompasses everything from the UI design to the ease of use, speed, functionality, and accessibility. A good UX is more than just making something easy to use; it should also create a positive emotional connection with the user. When done well, it can result in increased user retention, higher conversion rates, and improved customer satisfaction.
Common UI and UX Best Practices
When designing products, it’s important to keep in mind that the ultimate goal is to serve the people and the purpose they have. This means that you should try to create something that is intuitive and easy to use. To achieve this, it’s crucial to avoid making any assumptions about the users and their needs. Instead, try to understand them by conducting research and gathering feedback.
Furthermore, it’s essential to avoid making the user guess or remember anything that’s not necessary. Stick to best practices, as they exist for a reason. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to designing products that work well. Moreover, it’s important to keep things simple and straightforward. The KISS principle – Keep It Simple, Stupid – is key. Only use necessary information and take a minimalistic approach. This will help users navigate your product with ease and avoid confusion.
Conclusion
UI/UX plays a crucial role in software development. It not only enhances the user experience but also increases the usability and functionality of the software. By prioritizing UI/UX in the development process, the software can attract and retain users, making it more successful in the long run. Design is a mandatory part of digital product development. New business ideas and use cases are rare without it.
WeAre is partnered together with Roihua who specialize in digital product design and constantly research and experiment with the latest technologies. “Since Roihua’s inception in 2022, we have delivered numerous projects with excellent client satisfaction. We firmly believe in designing before doing.” If you would like to discuss how we could help with your digitalization challenges and develop products with a prominent-looking user experience, get in touch with us today at sales@weare.fi.