ARTICLE SUMMARY: There is nothing good about running into a poorly designed interface, it’s like you came, you saw, got confused and left. The site was anything but user friendly.
Part of the problem is confusion, updates that do anything but make the experience predictable and easy to understand. Nobody wants to relearn how to navigate their favorite website after an update. Let’s face it, it’s painful to watch older users wrestle with yet another change that only complicates their experience, especially when it could have been avoided.
In Erik Messaki’s Intuitive Interfaces: What Actually Makes Them Clear,” he points out several roadblocks designers may have inadvertently added, and, more importantly, how to avoid them. He talks about:
- Clarity isn’t a ready-made solution
- Meeting expectations
- User scenarios — the road to the goal
The goal is to make the interface feel invisible, something that’s hard to achieve when users are forced to dig through settings or decode cryptic icons. Without clarity, you risk losing your audience to a competitor with a simpler, more intuitive experience.
It’s like Erik says, “It’s about thoughtful design centered on real people and their tasks. It feels like an invisible guide, speaking your language, anticipating your steps. Like a smooth road without obstacles — where the destination fills you with anticipation, not frustration.”
This is a great article with a lot of useful information for both new and seasoned designers alike, Let us know what you think in the comments.
