PRO INSIGHT
UX Designers tend to over invest in learning technical skills, tools, and best practices.
When you peel back the layers, the core skill of a UX Designer is very simple.
To think logically from first principles to truly understand what our clients and customers need.
If you develop your critical thinking and improve the quality of your questions, you will no longer need to rely on frameworks, tools, best practices or the opinions of others.
You’ll have developed the single most critical skill that UX Designers need.
The ability to ask meaningful questions.
Jack O’Donoghue (2 x Bestselling UX Course Creator)
– UX Strategy Blueprint
– Design Thinking Made Simple
There are certain habits that may seem beneficial on the surface, but they actually hinder innovation and creativity.
Here’s how you can identify and break away from these toxic habits to get closer to your full potential as a designer.
Habit 1: Designing for an Undefined ‘Everyone’
The Break: Trying to design for all can lead to diluted solutions. Instead, habituate yourself to focusing on your core audience. Understand their specific needs deeply and design to create the best experience for them.
Habit 2: Relying Solely on User Feedback
The Break: Overvaluing what users say they want can lead to misguided designs. Develop a habit of observation and interpretation. Go beyond what users say to understand what they truly need and innovate accordingly.
Habit 3: Postponing User Testing
The Break: Waiting until the end to test with users can lead to significant issues. Make it a habit to incorporate user testing iteratively throughout your design process. Early and frequent testing ensures the final product is well-tuned to user needs.
Habit 4: Never Questioning Best Practice
The Break: While best practice is important, being too rigid can stifle creativity. Learn to balance consistency with creativity. Know when a break in the pattern can enhance the user experience without causing confusion.
Habit 5: Overloading with Features
The Break: Believing more features equate to a better experience can lead to clutter and complexity. Cultivate the habit of minimalism. Evaluate each feature for its necessity and value. Embrace simplicity and clarity.
Habit 6: Accessibility Is an Afterthought
The Break: Often, accessibility is seen as a box to tick after the main design is complete, but this approach is both ineffective and unethical. Designing with accessibility in mind from the start not only broadens your user base but also leads to cleaner, more functional design for everyone. Make it integral, not additional. Use color, typography, and layout with accessibility in mind, ensuring that your design is inclusive from the get-go.
Habit 7: Blindly Following Trends
The Break: Don’t let current trends dictate your design decisions. Develop a habit of critical evaluation. Let the real needs of your users guide your design, and use trends as inspiration, not gospel.
Wrapping Up
By recognizing and breaking these toxic habits, you’ll be better positioned to create thoughtful, user-centric designs that truly meet the needs of your audience. Cultivate positive habits that lead to innovation, inclusivity, and effectiveness in your UX work.
You Asked, We Answered
Q: What are the key UX design habits that contribute to creating habit-forming products?
A: Key habits include understanding user behavior, frequent user research, applying behavioral design principles, and iterating based on feedback to enhance user engagement and habit formation.
Q: How can a UX designer effectively utilize the Hook model in their design process?
A: By embedding the Hook model into the design process, a UX designer can create compelling user experiences that encourage repeated use and habit formation, focusing on triggering, action, reward, and investment.
Q: What’s the difference between UX and UI design in terms of user habit formation?
A: UX design focuses on the overall feel and experience, aiming to create positive habits through ease of use and satisfaction. In contrast, UI design concentrates on the aesthetic elements that guide and facilitate these habits.
Q: How can understanding user behavior improve the user experience in app design?
A: Understanding user behavior helps designers predict user needs and preferences, enabling the creation of intuitive and personalized experiences that increase user satisfaction and retention.
Q: Why is Nir Eyal’s work important for UX professionals looking to design habit-forming products?
A: Nir Eyal’s work provides a framework for understanding what drives user engagement and how to design products that become essential and habitual parts of users’ lives.
Q: What role does psychology play in the UX design process?
A: Psychology is crucial in understanding user motivations, perceptions, and behaviors, allowing designers to create more intuitive and compelling experiences that resonate with users.
Q: How does information architecture contribute to a better user experience?
A: Effective information architecture organizes and structures content logically, making it easier for users to navigate and find what they need, thus enhancing overall user satisfaction and engagement.
