What is user experience design?

Written By Amy Hedger

UX is the overall experience a person has when interacting with a product, system, or service. In digital terms, these could be websites, apps, tools and platforms.

Why is UX design important?

Effective UX design brings several benefits to a product or service:

  • creates a meaningful experience for users

  • increases user satisfaction

  • saves money by reducing mistakes

  • maintains a positive reputation for a business or organisation

  • lowers internal support resource and cost

  • speeds up development time

What are the principles of UX design?

  • usability - the product or service needs to be easy to use

  • accessibility - the product or service needs to be usable by as many people as possible, including those with other disability needs

  • functionality - the product must meet the needs and expectations of the user

  • aesthetics - UX design is not just about making something look good, however a visually appealing product enhances the overall experience

Is there a UX design process?

Yes, there is! UX design is just one discipline which works in user-centred design. Other disciplines include user research, content design, service design, interactive design and information architecture. All disciplines work together in a multi-disciplinary team, which enhances the UX process by bringing diverse perspectives and expertise together.

  • user research - (surveys, interviews) to understand needs, goals and pain points

  • design - wireframes, prototypes, and visual designs that map out the user flow

  • testing - conducting usability testing to ensure the design works in practice and tweaking it based on user feedback

  • iteration - UX is a continuous process, after launch, data and feedback lead to future continuous improvements

Key things to remember when apply UX design principles

  • ask yourself: who are my users, what do they need and what are their goals?

  • put yourself in your users’ shoes, be empathetic

  • engage and collaborate with users through your project lifecycle

  • test the product with real users to gather feedback

  • foster a culture of continuous improvement

Amy Hedger
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