In the early days of the internet, websites were often frustrating, hard to navigate, and did not add much value. Websites were all about search engines and rankings. UX and UI design emerged to address these challenges.
Although they are different, they are both vital to web design and a user’s overall experience on a website.
This article will discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in web design and how it can increase traffic and sales.
UX Defined
UX means the user's website experience. UX design creates user-friendly, accessible websites, optimising navigation and interactivity for a superior experience.
UX vs UI Explained
To understand the difference between UX and UI design, think of them like "person (UX) versus pixel (UI)."
UX designers aim to improve a user's online journey (person), whereas UI designers work on website functionality.
UX design
UX stands for user experience and refers to user reactions to website elements, as well as understanding user visits and the solutions they find.
UX design involves creating meaningful and relevant experiences for users by understanding their requirements and behaviours. Its priority is creating a meaningful and relevant experience for the user.
UX designers handle practical and emotional aspects of their design process, considering everything from the user's perspective. A UX designer delves deeply into a user's psyche, researching insights to understand their needs and wants. This information is used to create a user-centred design.
UI design
UI stands for user interface. It is the first impression a user has of your business or eCommerce website. It incorporates the visual landscape and interactive components of the website.
User interface design focuses on visuals, like graphic design and layouts, for aesthetically pleasing results.
UI designers focus on the general look and feel of a website, including typography and colour schemes, images, and icons.
Interaction design is the process a UI designer uses to create effective human-computer interaction, like when a user scrolls or clicks a button or a link. UI designers look at user interactions, the amount of time spent on the page, and the visual appeal of a website.
Key Elements of UX Design
There are quite a few key elements, but let's look at the main ones below.
Navigation
Always have a user-centred approach as users want to visit easy-to-navigate websites. This includes knowing where they are in relation to other pages. Breadcrumbs and UX-designed navigation help with this. Navigation may be different on mobile, but it is equally important.
Prioritising usability helps to create a frustration-free experience when users visit a website. Information architecture is important because it is about structuring content flow, with consistency helping to provide predictable journeys. Use content markup to guide users through the content, and don’t forget fast page load times.
Visual hierarchy
Visual hierarchy refers to how the elements on a page are arranged and presented. Users scan the content and are drawn to the visual design. The visual hierarchy guides users through the main content and visual elements. This is done by utilising design principles, including the size of elements and fonts, colours and contrasts, and well-utilised white space.
Responsive layouts
Mobile devices have become a prominent part of UX designs as many searches now happen on mobile devices and tablets. However, a web page that works on a PC may not work on a mobile device, and mobile apps won't necessarily work on a PC. Users get frustrated if they have to zoom in to read the text and continuously scroll left and right while trying to keep track of which line they are reading.
Responsive design solves this issue. Responsive layouts mean that the typography, graphics, and layout change according to the device and orientation of the screen.
User research and testing
The first step for UX professionals is research. They need to understand the audience and their motivations. Usability testing is used here as a process in which a website is tested for functionality and ease of use.
When creating a website, a web designer creates wireframes to illustrate the website layout, or a functional prototype to demonstrate usability. Functional and interactive prototypes are useful to see what the user experiences. Web designers also create user personas for testing to ensure the interface design functions correctly.
The Importance Of UX In Web Design
UX design is all about the user - or visitor - of a website. A user comes to your site looking for answers, which may be in the form of information, products, or services. UX design takes into consideration what the user is looking for, what they feel while on your website, and if they find the answers they are seeking.
The UX design process starts with understanding the business and the potential audience. Creating a positive and meaningful user experience helps to develop customer relationships and loyalty as the UX designer identifies what the user needs, what the pain points will be, and how easily they will accomplish their objectives.
By putting the user first, considering their limitations, motivation, and objectives, and offering solutions, it helps fulfil the objectives of the business. All of this is done while giving them a memorable, effective, and efficient website experience.
Understanding users
In our busy world, people do not have time to waste. They have a problem and want to get to the answer as quickly as possible, with the least amount of frustration.
When people access your website, they expect to find answers. These may be products, solutions, information, or services. They see the page, scan the visuals and content, and if they do not find what they are looking for, they will probably move on to your competitor's website.
UX impacts website performance
Bad experiences can destroy business opportunities. Users get frustrated and leave if a web page loads sluggishly, if they click buttons and nothing happens, or if they can't find what they are seeking.
When users leave your website, your bounce rate increases, which is bad for SEO. However, if users find what they want and enjoy their experience, they will stay longer. This is why a web designer needs both UI and UX design skills.
Is UX part of web development and design?
Web development is more about the coding of a website. Web developers focus on performance and capabilities, and may develop complex applications. Web design takes both UX and UI design into account. The user experience and interface are both important parts of web design, along with the technical side of web development.
Web designers sometimes use a web developer for technical aspects, and a team of content producers may also be involved in creating highly effective SEO content. A graphic design team may be used for the visual components.
Conclusion: Transform Your Website With Ryde
Ryde is a highly acclaimed, award-winning full-house web design agency that you can rely on. Ryde specialises in web design and development and is an expert on ExpressionEngine. Ryde recognises the importance of UX, and its UX designers create an extraordinary user experience for each and every client. Contact Ryde today to help you grow your business.