ATICLE SUMMARY: As designers we go to great lengths to create the best user experience possible, we want them to be functional, intuitive, enjoyable, and trustworthy.
There are times when designers fall short of the mark, the problem is the users don’t tell you that your UI leaves a lot to be desired. They leave without saying a word, leaving you wondering, “Why isn’t anyone using this?” When this happens there are questions you can ask to help determine why this happened.
In Ryan Almeida’s article, “7 subtle signs your UI is frustrating users” he gives you some of the reasons why users are going elsewhere for the same product or service, and how to fix that. He points out issues such as:
- Users keep asking the same questions
- Users are taking way too long
- People are abandoning mid-flow
Designers need to make user actions intuitive. If a user needs a tooltip to figure out what something does, they already have one foot out the door. The last thing you need is a visitor feeling like your UI is a set of IKEA instructions without the tiny man drawing.
The bottom line is to really listen to your users; they are the ones spending the money on your project. There is also a lot to be said for minimalism: simplify, reduce friction, and strip back anything unnecessary. Let’s face it, nobody wants to pay for frustration.
This is a great article for all designers, especially the beginners. Let us know what you think in the comments.
