Common Myths about UX Design
UX, also known as User Experience, has been and will always be one of the most important factors when choosing to find the requirements of a user. It is also one of the most challenging stages in the field of software development. UX isn’t just about increasing user engagement through visuals or having great designs.
It is a process that simply focuses on the best user needs for the best experience.
The real factor is that UX isn’t easy, and with UX comes many misconceptions that people tend to believe in. With that in mind, here are a few myths that are deemed true, but are not.
Myth #1: You are the user
The reality: You are not your customer.
As a UX designer or developer, you may use the system sometime later on, or be a potential customer, but you should NOT consider yourself one with UX. Most teams base their own experience on their designs, but the result is often not suitable for every end-user.
You might have studied the requirements, analyzed them, and now you probably know the scope of the product way better than they do. But what you should keep in mind is that your customer:
- Does not have the experience of what UX is.
- Is unaware of any features being implemented in the future.
- May not be a frequent user all the time.
The best way to address as a UX professional is to think simpler — focus on the actions that they might take when they open the product for the first time. Using simple language might also be a bonus, as most users are more fond of simplicity and easier action.
Myth #2: You already know what the customer wants
The reality: Without research, the understanding of your customers will be based on assumptions only.
Any field without research and learning is best off being set aside, because what is UX without research? As a professional, you know that UX is a trending, evolving topic in the field of design, and no research will probably not have your product reach its full potential. The goal is to assume less and understand more, and that will need more research and learning than you think it would. Get out of your comfort zone, and discover the odds of how you can make a product have the most convenient user experience.
To help avoid making assumptions, ask yourself these questions:
- What might be going on for the user?
- How can they see it according to their perspective?
- What else is there that is not considered?
Remember, it could be confusing for one user and convenient for another, so make sure you bring out the best critical thinking on human behaviour.
Myth #3: You can’t afford it.
The reality: Can you afford not to?
Let’s take an example: You have a business page and you post two advertisements, one having text only and the other with visuals and high-quality graphics. Which one would you obviously, as an interested customer, go for?
The advert with visuals, of course.
The key to a successful business is great UX, whether you consider adverts or user interfaces — it is a fundamental factor to be considered for a long-lasting business.
As a user experience professional, you are a catalyst for change. You are the odd one out because you see the company through the eyes of its customers, whereas management sees the company through the lens of revenue and growth. You shouldn’t expect them to connect with you. You must connect with them. Communicate UX in business terms. Describe how user experience affects profit, revenue, and differentiation. Overall, an excellent user experience leads to success.
Myth #4: There is no ROI
The reality: Investing in research helps to mitigate the risk of project failure and increases the probability of success in ROI
Research can assist you in determining the current effectiveness of your communication strategy. Pre- and post-campaign testing can then be used to determine ROI and make changes as needed for ongoing improvement.
There are many ways in which you could invest yourself to research more on UX — the possibilities of learning something new are endless! When your business spends money, you want to know that it is producing results, which is why there is a strong emphasis on continuously improving your ROI.
Myth #5: A perfect design is enough for UX
The reality: UX does not always depend on the best design, but on the best way in which a user will have the simplest experience of the product.
When it comes to UX, flawless design is always a good choice. However, it does not ensure the success of a system or a product on its own. Even if your system is visually appealing, it must be tested for performance.
For example, you should consider whether you overlooked details such as page loading errors, links that do not change colour, menus that confuse users, and other issues that taint the overall UX. This is why testing comes first when it comes to improving the user experience on any system. Make a list of common UX issues and address them during the testing process.
So there you have it! As a budding UX professional, there are plenty of more things to learn in the field of UX, but make sure that the idea is simply not within your comfort zone, it’s the power of learning and experience.
