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Glossary – UX design

UX design

Nikiforov Alexander
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What is UX design?

UX design, or user experience design, involves creating the impressions that a user experiences when interacting with a product. This interaction can be characterized by terms such as "convenient," "attractive," or, conversely, "inconvenient," "disappointing." In other words, UX design aims to provide the user with a comfortable and pleasant interaction process with the product.

Although the term is most often applied to the development of websites and mobile applications, it can also be used in other contexts, including physical objects such as cars, household appliances, or furniture. It is important to understand that the lack of thoughtful UX design becomes noticeable when users experience difficulties or frustration while using a product. For example, on the website of the Governor of the Sverdlovsk region, documents are presented in PDF format without the ability to search text, which creates inconveniences for users.

Components of UX design

Peter Morville, one of the founders of UX design, identified seven key components of user experience:

  1. Value for the client: The design must align with business objectives, whether it's increasing profits or improving image.
  2. Benefit for the user: The product must provide real value to the end user.
  3. Ease of use: The interface must be intuitive.
  4. Ease of navigation: Users should easily find the information they need.
  5. Accessibility: The product must be accessible to people with disabilities.
  6. Ability to evoke desire: Emotional design techniques are used to create appeal.
  7. Ability to evoke trust: The presence of elements that foster a sense of reliability in the user.

As can be seen, UX design is a more complex and multifaceted process than just visual design. It is engineering work that begins with analyzing the tasks that the product must solve and studying the target audience and competition.

Why is UX design necessary?

The primary goal of UX design is to provide the user with a positive experience when interacting with the product. It brings numerous business outcomes, including:

  • Reduction of development costs: UX design helps avoid unnecessary features that can confuse users.
  • Increased conversion: Optimizing user actions can significantly increase the number of target actions.
  • Increased loyalty: Convenient and pleasant interfaces help form habits among users.
  • Reduction of support costs: An intuitive interface decreases the number of support requests.

UX vs Usability

The terms UX and usability are often used interchangeably, but this is not entirely correct. Usability is a measurable characteristic that shows how easy it is to use a product. Key usability metrics include conversion, time to complete a target action, and bounce rate. In contrast, UX encompasses a broader range of aspects, including user emotions and trust.

UX vs UI

Don Norman, the creator of the term user experience, explains that UX includes all interactions between the user and the company and its products, while the user interface (UI) is just one part of that experience. UX concerns how users perceive the product, while UI is responsible for its visual aspects. For example, a review website may have a great interface, but if it does not provide the necessary information, the user experience will be negative.

Principles of UX design

Searching for information about the principles of UX often leads to descriptions of usability principles. However, the principles of UX can also include methods that help create trust and evoke specific emotions in users. Examples of such methods may include:

  • Accessibility of contact information: People trust companies that provide ways to get in touch.
  • Use of mascot characters: They can create a positive mood and make interaction more enjoyable.
  • Feedback: Users should receive responses to their actions to create a sense of control.
  • Hints: Educating users within the application helps improve usability.
  • Adaptation for mobile screens: The convenient arrangement of interface elements is crucial for mobile users.

What is UX copywriting?

UX copywriting is a field focused on the text in applications and on websites. It includes creating prompts, section titles, and button texts, which can significantly affect the user experience. The UX editor's job is to formulate information in a way that is clear and pleasant for the target audience.

The main tasks of a UX editor may include:

  • Creating texts that are understandable for a broad audience.
  • Collaborating with designers and developers to ensure consistency.
  • Assessing the effectiveness of the text based on metrics such as the number of visits and time spent on the site.

UX copywriting is a relatively new field that is actively developing in large companies such as Yandex and Tinkoff Bank, and its role in creating a positive user experience is becoming increasingly significant.