It’s always necessary to highlight the importance of quality UX and UI in software development. Every technology and practice tend to evolve and develop in order to fulfill the needs of their users. This is especially true for everything IT related since this industry is always quickly evolving.
When it comes to software development, users always want the fastest, the most efficient, and easiest approach. This is always the case whether the user is searching the web, or going through a mobile application. You probably know that it's bad if the webpage is too slow to load, hard to navigate, or just looks outdated. This can seriously affect you and your business. After all, it’s all about the consumers, right?
So, what’s the big deal with the UX and UI? What are exactly UX and UI? And what’s the importance of quality UX and UI design in 2021? What’s different than last year?
If you want to develop a website for your business, read about Top 8 Web Design Trends for 2021!
What are UX and UI?
UX stands for User Experience, and it represents the overall experience user has while using the software. It’s the impression software makes on users during the interaction. Its main focus is creating the wireframe and structuring components and elements into a cohesive flow.
UI stands for User Interface and it represents the software’s overall look and presentation. This includes every visual element such as pages, buttons, and images. It’s all about assets and elements that us user sees and interacts with.
Why are they important?
The primary goal of every business or entrepreneur is to grow, expand, and increase income. And since the bast decade, almost everything is being digitalized. This also includes businesses. If your business does not have an online presence, it’s like it does not even exist.
In 2020, because of the coronavirus, people have been more than ever before turning to the internet for almost everything. General shopping, ordering food, groceries, and even services. And the year 2021 is not going to be very different. Every store that had an online shop, or was at least present online, had more success than the ones that did not. It’s not hard to understand why.
Besides the usual shopping, people use the internet to read reviews and research possible purchase options. Doesn’t matter if your business offers products or services. If you’re not online, what you offer is probably not going to be amongst the possible options. But, it’s also not really just enough to be present online. Your website or app needs to seem trustworthy, easy and intuitive for users to use (UX). It also has to look good (UI).
Quality made UX and UI will motivate users to make a purchase and win their confidence. Most of the time, UX and UI are crucial factors for the first impression your possible customer has of your business. For example, if your website is outdated, looks ugly, or isn’t responsive, users will assume something similar about your business. If you do not care about your online presence it might seem like you do not care about your customers.
UX and UI are there to introduce your business to users. Treat it as if it’s your online digital employee, that is there to inform customers and encourage them to engage with what you are offering. But which “skills” does this employee need.
Core elements of UX and UI
The core elements of UX and UI are visual design, interaction, wireframe, and usability. All four of these core elements must be well developed in order for your software to be well perceived by the user. They are all equally important. This is something not every user will understand, but you must.
It’s important to notice that different UX and UI work for different businesses. It’s not a one-size-fits-all situation. Even if we are talking about business in the same branch, UX and UI contribute to the originality and branding of your business.
Visual design
People make assumptions about your business the second your webpage or app starts loading. And the first biggest impression they have is the way your webpage or app looks. Which colors are dominant? How do the buttons look? Is the text easy to read? Are there enough images? These are some of the questions you must ask yourself while working on the visual design of your webpage or app.
Did you know people unconsciously associate certain colors with certain things? For example, the color green is good for businesses that deal with health, healthy food, and lifestyle. While at the same time, if your business has something to do with meat, green color can be associated with mold. Be careful and intuitive while working with the designer.
Interaction
If your website looks beautiful, but it’s hard for users to interact with it, it’s useless. Many users leave the website or delete the app if it’s not responsive or confusing to use. Interaction is created using different elements, such as a navigation bar, buttons, images, and similar. If some element seems like it’s clickable (while it’s not) user might click on it expecting something to happen. And when nothing happens, users might think something’s off or broken. Also, if it takes too much time for users to get around your website, they might just leave it in a hurry.
Did you know there is a whole field of studies around digital interaction, called Human-Computer Interaction or HCI?
Wireframe
For a website, a wireframe is a simple layout that specifies the size and placement of page elements and features. It includes all pages the user can visit, their purpose, and the way they are all connected. Wireframes are the base of website design and development. They are the visual guides that present the skeletal frameworks of both websites or apps.
Usability
This can be understood as the websites' general effectiveness in conveying information. It is also referred to as user-friendliness. If the website looks beautiful, is running smooth but if it does not give the relevant information the user needs, it’s practically useless.
We hope you now understand the importance of quality UX and UI design a little bit more. What we’ve said here just scratches the surface of what UX and UI can actually do for your website or app. Each website or app has to be well-tailored to the business it represents. And the way users interact with or expect from the website is usually vastly different. Do you know the difference between B2B or B2C websites?
If you have any more questions or want to learn more about website or app development, please do not hesitate to contact us! Addria is an IT consulting firm with years of experience in website and app development. Whether you want to start from scratch or just bring your existing online presence to its full potential, Addria's team of experienced developers and designers are here to help!
