Many designers fear testing. However, it actually empowers them and prevents constant revisions. Hey all. I’ve been working on preparing the user research and testing workshop for the end of this month, so I’ve been thinking a lot about testing’s role in design. I know that some designers are resistant to testing, and understandably so. Ridiculous examples like Google’s decision to test dozens of shades of blue set a poor precedent for how testing should be used in design. It undermines rather than supports designers’ roles. Testing should support designers not undermine them Most designers kn ..read more

Embracing a pragmatic approach to usability testing. Let's shed insecurities, adopt a pragmatic approach, and celebrate small steps in UX. Hi all. I’ll go out on a limb and hope I’m not the only one who feels this. Sometimes, I feel a huge gap between what I’m supposed to do in my job and what I actually do. Am I alone in that? I hope not. The Struggle with Usability Testing Usability testing is a good example of this. You read all these best practice articles on how to do it, but I rarely have the time or budget to work like that in practice. And even if I do some testing, it never feels enou ..read more

Explore the essence of web app design: Consistency. Uncover how it elevates UX, speeds development, and ensures seamless transitions across devices. Hey all. I have been working on web apps a lot lately. It has reminded me how important the basics are. It is easy to get distracted by the more appealing aspects of what we do. Things like interface animation and personalization. Yet, it is the foundational principles that transform the user experience. Principles such as consistency. Subtle inconsistencies tend to infiltrate interface designs. They become major culprits of user friction. These m ..read more

I've realized how different web apps are from traditional websites. They require an approach and come with unique challenges. Hi all. It’s funny how work goes through phases. After a few years of focusing primarily on traditional websites, I am now doing an increasing amount of work with web apps and have been struck by just how different the two are. From Websites to Web Apps There is a spectrum from traditional websites to web applications. You have primarily informational websites like government or news websites at one end. Conversely, web apps like time trackers, accounting software, or o ..read more

A UX designer is not another musician in the orchestra; they are the conductor. They exist to create harmony and balance in the music. Hello again. As I transitioned from UI design to UX, one of the lessons that took me too long to learn in my career was the need for balance. As a UI designer, your job is well-defined; you must make the interface as straightforward and engaging as possible. However, things are more complex when looking at the entire user experience. Suddenly, many different factors need to be carefully balanced. Balancing Competing Factors For example, for the longest time, I ..read more

AB testing is simple to run, but comes with some challenges. What tool should you use, when should you use it and how should you organize yourself? Hi all. A much-requested topic you have all asked me to write about is AB testing and how to get started. I have avoided it for a while now because it is something I wrote about back in 2018, and the article is generally as relevant today as it was back then. In fact, I would encourage you to read it if this topic interests you. That said, I have finally decided to give in and cover it here for two reasons. First, Google Optimize was the obvio ..read more

Let's discuss the often-overlooked topic of offboarding and why it's crucial for a positive user experience. Plus, learn how to provide a better offboarding experience. Hello again, and Happy New Year! I hope you managed to have some time off over the holiday season and have returned to work with a new enthusiasm. Okay, so that might be asking for too much. But I hope at least you still want to make the web a better place. One of the consequences of caring about the user experience is that you end up seeing bad experiences everywhere, which happened to be over my time off. I tried to do a bit ..read more

In this issue, I discuss the importance of UX writing and how it impacts the experience. Learn why it's crucial to improve your UX writing skills. Hello again. Before I break for the holidays, I wanted to briefly look ahead to 2024 and suggest one area where you might want to invest more of your energies. I want to encourage you to improve your UX writing skills. What is UX Writing To clarify what I mean by UX writing, I am referring to the practice of crafting the text that appears throughout a user interface, such as button labels, error messages, and onboarding instructions. However, I beli ..read more

Cookie legislation's attempt to stop intrusive advertising has damaged browsing the web. Let's explore how we can reduce the damage and improve the user experience. Hi all. How does the saying go? “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” The European Commission’s attempt to curb intrusive advertising with its cookie legislation is the perfect example, yet years have passed, and we have done nothing to fix the problem. So buckle in because this will be one hell of a rant. Control over intrusive advertising matters Don’t get me wrong, I believe passionately that users should have the op ..read more

I know it can be frustrating when you are stopped from implementing user experience best practices, but we can make real progress with a shift in approach and mindset. Hi all. Sometimes, it can feel like we are doing our job with one hand tied behind our backs. We learn all about best practices online, at conferences, and in books, but it feels like we never get to do half of it. There is always a pressing deadline, an unconvinced boss, or some other constraints that force us into cutting corners. We don’t get to do the user research we so desperately want to do, and our designs are never as w ..read more