What Is UX Design? - An Introduction (Full Guide For 2024)

Summary

In this video, Dee, a UX designer with 12 years of experience, explains what UX design is, breaking it down with real-world examples. She outlines the core principles of UX design, such as meeting user needs, ease of use, providing control, and creating delightful experiences. Through examples like microwaves, toasters, and doors, Dee highlights both good and bad UX design. The video also covers the five fundamental steps of UX design: understand, analyze, ideate, validate, and iterate, and concludes with a look at the daily tasks of a UX designer.

Takeaways

• 😀 UX design focuses on planning how a product or service looks and works to make it easy and enjoyable to use.
• 😀 The core factors in UX design are meeting user needs, ensuring ease of use and learning, giving users control, and delighting them with added bonuses.
• 😀 Meeting user needs means ensuring the user can accomplish their goal, such as getting food delivered on time in the case of a food delivery service.
• 😀 UX design should prioritize ease of use, meaning even first-time users should be able to navigate the product effortlessly.
• 😀 Users should have control and freedom in the process, such as the ability to change their mind or cancel during a task, as seen in the food delivery example.
• 😀 Adding elements like surprise and delight can elevate the user experience, such as a free voucher or a friendly delivery interaction.
• 😀 Bad UX design ignores user needs, leading to frustration and confusion, as seen with the complex interfaces of some microwaves.
• 😀 Good UX design simplifies tasks and reduces guesswork, as illustrated by the toaster with the 'just a bit more' button for perfect toast.
• 😀 A 'Norman Door' is an example of bad UX design, where doors have confusing handles, causing users to struggle with knowing whether to push or pull.
• 😀 UX design can make a significant impact on businesses, as good user experiences encourage repeat customers and positive word-of-mouth.
• 😀 The five fundamental steps of UX design are: Understand, Analyze, Ideate, Validate, and Iterate, which guide the process from research to continuous improvement.

Q & A

What does UX stand for, and what is its definition?

UX stands for User Experience. It is the process of planning how something looks and works to make the activity of using it easy and enjoyable.

What are the three main factors in UX design?

The three main factors in UX design are: 1) Meeting the user's needs, 2) Ensuring the product is easy to use and learn, and 3) Giving the user control and freedom. An additional factor is to surprise and delight the user.

Can you give an example of how UX design meets the user's needs?

An example of UX design meeting the user's needs is an online food delivery service where the user can order food and have it delivered on time, exactly as expected.

What makes a product easy to use and easy to learn in UX design?

A product is easy to use and learn if users can navigate it effortlessly, even if they’ve never used it before. For example, a food delivery service that lets users quickly browse food, enter their address, and complete the order without confusion.

How does UX design give users control and freedom?

UX design gives users control by allowing them to make changes during the process. For instance, in a food delivery service, users can modify their order, cancel it, or reschedule the delivery as needed.

What does 'surprise and delight' mean in UX design?

‘Surprise and delight’ in UX design refers to creating unexpected positive experiences for users, such as offering a free voucher for their next order or having a delivery person greet them warmly.

How does bad UX design impact a product or service?

Bad UX design can confuse users, making it difficult for them to accomplish their goals, leading to frustration and a poor experience. This often results in users abandoning the product or service.

What is an example of bad UX design using a microwave?

An example of bad UX design in a microwave is the complexity of different buttons, dials, and knobs, which can make it difficult for someone unfamiliar with the microwave to figure out how to use it correctly.

How does good UX design make the toaster experience better?

Good UX design in a toaster could include a ‘just a bit more’ button, allowing users to easily adjust the toast to their liking without guessing how long to toast it for, making the experience simple and satisfying.

What are ‘Norman Doors’ and how do they illustrate bad UX design?

‘Norman Doors’ are doors with handles that suggest they should be pulled, but in reality, they need to be pushed. This confusion creates frustration for users and highlights poor UX design.

What are the five fundamental steps involved in UX design?

The five fundamental steps in UX design are: 1) Understand (researching user needs and motivations), 2) Analyze (interpreting data and identifying insights), 3) Ideate (generating ideas to solve problems), 4) Validate (testing ideas with real users), and 5) Iterate (continuously improving the design).

What does a UX designer do in the 'understand' stage?

In the ‘understand’ stage, a UX designer conducts research and interviews to gain deep insights into the frustrations, needs, and motivations of users.

Why is UX design such a lucrative and in-demand career?

UX design is in high demand because good UX can significantly improve customer satisfaction, leading to more users and repeat business. As a result, companies are willing to invest in skilled UX designers to create better experiences for their customers.