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User-centered Web Design

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 O Web Design it is a complex process.

When we say “complex”, we are not simply referring to the design e desenvolvimento. As a whole, the process and the various stages of decision-making are also complex. So, from start to implementation, putting a website up and running is no easy task, especially if you are the type of designer or programmer who likes to put his heart and soul into each project.

So, how do you arrive at a model of web design user-centric? The user-first approach is something that is not achieved by accident. Overall, it requires not only meticulous planning and in-depth thinking, but also constant feedback from multiple sources. As a result, sometimes even the best ones can produce some websites that don't take the user-centric approach into account.

The question that must, as a result, be asked is: how can this be avoided? Let's try to answer it in this article.

The Desire to be Spectacular

Most of the time, it all starts with just this: – a designer working hard in their attempt to create a spectacular website.

Often times, many designers and programmers somehow fail to realize the fact that some particularly “spectacular” features may not be necessary, or even worse, may not even be possible.

This does not only apply to the web design: for example, when we are working on a mobile application (or another), we have noticed that everyone continues to look for that “spectacular” element. You saw an application with all xpto animations and you will do anything to have them in your own application, even if you don't need them!

In a somewhat similar way, when we arrive at the Web Design, people continue to look for elements that they consider “spectacular. However, you have to think: are such extravagant efforts really necessary?

The point is, our web design is intended to make life easier for the end user. If our website looks good, but has some more annoying features that turn visitors and potential customers away, the project has failed. On the internet, people have very short attention spans and if you fail to make a good first impression, you probably won't have the opportunity to create a second one. The key point here is that the one web design user-centricity can compensate for the simplicity of web design.

To sum it up in one sentence: Don't sacrifice user experience for a design “spectacular”.

Questions to ask

When you're designing a website, you should often ask yourself:

  1. What is the website about?
  2. What does the website do?
  3. How do I do it?

The first is self-explanatory: You cannot launch a website unless you are completely aware of your target audience. If you have no idea about the target demographic, your design and content will be made through hunches and, obviously, we can't always be lucky with hunches.

The second question, of course, deals directly with our subject: web design user-centric. It goes without saying that Unless you know the purpose and objective of the project you have in hand, you will never be able to complete it perfectly. Naturally, you will need to have well-defined objectives so that you can achieve them. Therefore, asking yourself the question of what the website intends to do will help you prioritize the defined aims and objectives and ensure that the final product does not deviate from the defined line.

Finally, the part where we get to work. This third question is strictly for the site creators; Still, the way you respond will determine the reception your website will have from its users. Why? Because when someone visits your website, he or she will answer the first two questions (albeit from the visitor's point of view), but the third one is still waiting for you to answer it.

There are countless ways to get a website up and running, however, the key point here is that by the time you get to the third question, you should already have satisfactory answers to the first two.

Decisions to Make

Generally, decisions related to the web design are taken based on aesthetic and visual appeal. To a certain extent, it may even be correct, but, in the end, everything will come down to the questions: Whose visual choice? Whose sense of aesthetics?

Again, the web design User-centric means that you should take your users' preferences into account. It's very easy to fall into the temptation of choosing a good aspect based on efficiency, but things can get worse here, because even “efficiency” has several definitions. Your idea of efficiency may be different from that of your visitors and vice versa. In this case, a good idea would be to carry out a mini questionnaire, or a survey, and then maybe you can find out what your visitors think.

The purpose behind trying to get feedback from your visitors is to ensure that your website does not bypass its main purpose: serving those who visit it. And when some of the feedback leaves you personally unhappy, what should you do? Just remember that "The customer is always right."

Commitments to fulfill

As a designer or programmer, you have already made a commitment, albeit unofficial, to creating a website that serves those who visit it well. And this is where the irony arrives: when you design a website, you are amazed by its beauty, falling in love immediately. However, normally, your visitors do not go to your website to be amazed by its beauty, but rather to find the information they want. Of course, if the design If it's good, they'll probably be very impressed, leaving perhaps a word or two to that effect, but at the end of the day, all they're looking for is the information that interests them. If the web design helps them find certain information, they may or may not praise you, but if the web design makes it difficult for them to find this information, they will certainly criticize you.

Consider, as an example, showing videos on the home page. If the video does not obstruct, it will be seen by anyone who is interested. Those who are not interested will pass by him and thank him for not obstructing him.

On the other hand, if the video takes over your entire page and continues to appear every moment (or worse: starts automatically), your visitors will feel uncomfortable beyond reasonable limits (with good reason, we must add). and, almost certainly, they will abandon your site in no time.

As a lesson, here is the fact that your users expect your website to behave well, to be user-friendly and that you should try to do your best to meet their expectations. This is because a website can only be considered good if it proves useful to its users, right?

Last words

Any website reflects the identity of its owner, as well as the skill of its designer. It is therefore natural that the necessary care is taken, so that this reflection is exactly the way we want. Um web design user-centric shows that your promoters are interested in their customers. Furthermore, it also testifies to the fact that the designer cares about his work.

As a result, if you really want your web design is a success, you must ensure that the experience you provide to your users is excellent – this includes not only the visual elements, but also the relevance of your content. Once your website is able to satisfy your users' needs, it won't be long before users prospects become loyal customers.

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