When we are designing a website, one of the main concepts that we consider is the UX, web usability, we mean: the web design has to be designed from its function and therefore reach it. Sometimes when we think of UX not only we have to stay with the factors we can control of the design, but also the emotions and feelings that we can pass on to them. Think why the item is there and use your energy to carry out its function successfully.
When designing a web, we must apply the same principles than when we talk about any design, for example the packaging: it does not matter how beautiful it is if it does not meet its function. Well, when designing a website we must take into account all the elements involved in it and give each a specific design so that the UX works.
Some time ago, we saw some web elements on which we should pay special attention to their design, since they could be of great help, but today we will take a step back and talk about general characteristics of the factors that you should bear in account before starting the design process. Go for it!
1. Use the universal language
Sometimes when we are really into something, for example, something as mundane as a discussion, it costs us to put ourselves in the other position. And the same happens in the design process. We must understand that we are designing for someone and therefore, the more facilities and explanations demos the easier it is for the other person to continue on the other side.
It is therefore important that the language is very clear and the buttons and icons clearly recognizable. There are times to be creative, but there are others times where without losing creativity what counts is to be clear and transmit the message in full perfection.
For example if we have an online store, the international symbol is the cart, but we can also use other elements such as a bag. But if your idea is to put a crescent … Think about it, because you can confuse your user when adding a product without knowing the next step to take.
Use the universal language on those elements that are important and you will not get your user fall by the wayside. If there are established standards, trust me, this is not the time to skip them.
2. Confirm every step you are giving
In the same way that it is very important that certain elements may not lead to ambiguity, the user should always know the step taken when doing a process.
So it may be interesting to place bars percentages or steps during a purchase, download or subscription. Sometimes not knowing if there are more steps makes us getting irritated and leaves the process half. We are usually very impatient when we surf the internet so everything that makes clearer our location is a point that we are winning.
3. Let the user be the one who has control
When we enter a web and find it difficult to navigate in it, it is likely to finish closing the tab and going to something else. When browsing we like to know we have control, we can return from one tab to another, we can find an item or a word if we want, and that ultimately, we can make the web ours.
Certainly it happened to you that navigating a web you have reached a point of no return and the only solution has been to close it. Avoid all these points of escape and let freedom to your user to navigate at will. Link some pages with others and not lose sight of the menu. We all like to have control. 😉
4. Use colour psychology
Yes, we will be repeating it until the end of the days (and possibly a day later,) if the colours carry different feelings, we should use these colours to awaken those same feelings in users.
Just as we said that we used universal terms when we spoke about the language, in the same way we do with colour. Green is been always used to validate a step, red to cancel and the valid button is orange.
If someone has already done the study and gives you the solution why not use it?
5. Do everything we just said, but… with an attractive design…
Okay, we made the previous four steps, but you cannot forget the most important. Everything has to be encompassed by a good design that is attractive to the eye and make you different from your competition web.
Use correctly all the above items but do not forget to choose the palette that best suits, the perfect font and of course the illustrations or images that make your web creative and original.
Remember the trends of the moment and try to adapt your website to them, of course without losing your original essence. 😉
