When discussing user experience, it's critical to bring up Apple Computers since, prior to 1984, when the company released the Apple Macintosh 128K computer to the public, most computer interactions involved inputting lines of code. Using a mouse to interact with folders on a "desktop" wasn't possible before to the development of System 1.0, the first Mac OS to include the Finder.
The Internet did not exist (at least not in its current form) at this time, and devices like the iPhone and ipad were decades away from being conceived. But a revolution had begun.
Microsoft immediately followed Apple with its initial version of Windows, igniting a years-long tech war that now includes Google.
These digital giants have produced numerous iterations of computers, music players, cellphones, tablets, and other goods with the aim of being the greatest in their field.
The interface that we use to engage with these gadgets is crucial to the refining process. How simple is it to use them? What do we think of them when we use them? Is it simple to navigate the environment they've developed, or will you get lost amongst the numerous options and windows? This is referred to as the User Experience.
So far, we've primarily discussed UX in terms of product design. But before we all had touch-screen gadgets in our hands, we were communicating with a different form of digital interface. That of a webpage.
User Experience and Web Design are inextricably linked. Indeed, due to the amount of time people spend online, the relevance of UX and UI in web design is expanding tremendously. When combined with the 10-second rule, it's easy to see why having a decent UX & UI approach is critical.
It's terrifying to think that you can lose visitors to your website within 10 seconds of their arrival. You've probably spent thousands of dollars on your website and could be forgiven for thinking it was all for naught if you're not getting enough inquiries or selling enough things.
However, everything is not lost. Rather than starting from scratch, you may use technologies like Hotjar to assess the efficacy of your website.
These tools, in conjunction with Google Analytics, will provide you with a good understanding of how users interact with your website. Where are they clicking and where are the drop-off points?
You can start making modest modifications to your website based on the data you collect.
The truth is that user experience (UX) has always been a component of online design. It's just that we've only just begun to consider UX as a separate discipline.
In the past, web designers would most likely jump right into the creative process. They might doodle some page layouts on a pad, but the majority of their time would be spent in Photoshop creating stunning pictures. Prioritising visual pleasure over all other considerations.
Now a days, we can easily spend more time creating wireframes and debating website structure than designing page templates. This is because we now understand the value that this approach adds to the end product, which is a more engaging website that generates more revenue for the customer.
As a web design firm, we recognise that funding for website design and development can be limited, especially during difficult economic times. However, it is worthwhile to invest some time and money up front to ensure that the correct UX and UI are in place. A small investment today will result in huge savings afterwards.
As a user, you want your web browsing experience to be as smooth and entertaining as possible. Your customers want it as well.
