User experience design (UXD or UED) is the process of enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty by improving the usability, ease of use, and pleasure provided in the interaction between the customer and the product. This implies that regardless of its medium , UX Design encompasses any and all interactions between a potential or active customer and a company.
This is a sampling of some principles I follow when tackling design solutions—which I think anyone who touches a "product" used by people should strive to follow.
- Take time to understand the underlying problem before attempting to solve it.
- Make things simple and intuitive.
- Acknowledge that the user is not like you and have empathy.
- Present few choices.
- Limit distractions.
- Create a visual hierarchy that matches the user's needs.
- Provide signposts and cues to relevant actions.
- Make things efficient.
- Design with purpose (Less is more).
- Be consistent and contextual.
User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) are some of the most confused and misused terms. A UI without UX is like a painter slapping paint onto canvas without thought; while UX without UI is like the frame of a sculpture with nothing on it. A great user experience starts with UX followed by UI. Both are essential for success.