10 Things Good User Experience is Not

It’s rather curious that precious few tech-savvy companies really invest the right amount of time and effort in creating a world-class user experience. It takes truly stand-out companies like Apple and Google to change the status quo and introduce radical changes to the ways we think, work, and play.

Great user experience design is as much about avoiding bad decisions as it is about making the right ones. With that said, here’s a crash course in what not to do when approaching user experience.

1. Good user experience is not frustrating.

The best products and services out there provide the customer with everything they need and nothing they don’t. Frustrating user experience includes things like slow-loading websites or unnecessarily cluttered interfaces. Nothing should get in the way of the user accomplishing the task they set out to complete.

2. Good user experience is not intrusive.

Our society has become hyper aware in recent months of where and when our personal information will be requested, and how it will be used. Good user experience doesn’t harass or harry the consumer to provide information they’d rather keep to themselves.

3. Good user experience is not compulsory.

Have you ever abandoned an online purchase because the site required you to register? Compulsory site registration is a significant frustration for shoppers and for people who simply want to enjoy a site or make a purchase without creating another password to remember.

4. Good user experience is not loud.

The loudest commercials on television are not the most successful. That obnoxious salesman from the local dealership might not realize it, but his commercials are frustrating TV viewers – not enticing them. User experience should be equally understated, with nothing set to auto play, and nothing to make the user feel that they’re being shouted at.

5. Good user experience is not redundant.

Whether you’re designing a website or a simple sign-up form, redundancy is the source of untold frustration for users. Don’t ask them for information you don’t need, and don’t ask them the same question twice. When it comes to building a site, don’t put anything in that doesn’t need to be there.

6. Good user experience is not difficult to use.

“Intuitive” has become something of a catch-all buzzword, but it’s hugely important. The interface for whatever you’re designing needs to work the way the user expects it to; surprises are the fastest way to disenchant consumers with your product or service.

7. Good user experience is not impersonal.

For the most part, people want to go about their business in relative anonymity. When it comes to the brands and products that they interact with, however, people tend to enjoy catching a glimpse of the human element behind the scenes. Good user experience will engage with users in meaningful ways that make them feel valued.

8. Good user experience isn’t afraid to change.

Keeping things fresh is one of the keys to engaging with users. That said, frivolous or unnecessary changes won’t do you any favors. However, introducing iterative changes along the way is a great method for experimenting to see if there’s a better way of doing things.

9. Good user experience is not boring.

It doesn’t matter what you’re designing; it could be a website for auto insurance, but it still needs to be fun to use. Great user experience goes out of its way to give its users the feeling that they’re accomplishing something, rather than just going through the motions. Users who feel that they’re enjoying even mundane tasks will be users for life.

10. Good user experience is not self-righteous.

Everybody has their preferred way of doing things. Unfortunately, too many companies make the mistake of dismissing user feedback, insisting that their way is better, or that the user is simply using it wrong. Good user experience will incorporate constructive criticism and thoughtful feedback.

via Business 2 Community http://ift.tt/1tlsdgE