How do you plan your UX?
I keep getting stumped on a certain part of my new project. It's not very complicated (think Dribbble) but I keep getting stuck at a certain part of the UX. I've redone it 4 times and while they all work, it feels clunky.
How do you all push through? or how do you plan your UX?
Hey @EvankRob 👋 I'm a UX designer so I thought I'd share a few things that help me when I get stuck!
Show your designs to people! Ideally, your target audience would be perfect. But there's still value in showing others who aren't familiar with the design - especially for uncovering usability issues! Rather than ask 'What do you think of this?', consider giving someone a task related to the problem that your design is trying to solve. For example, if the product is similar to Dribble, you may want to ask them 'Show me how you'd find inspiration for a login page design using this website'.
Move on to something else! Sometimes it's easy to obsess over the detail (it happens to me all of the time!). In cases like this, it's better to move on to something else and come back to it a few days/weeks later with fresh eyes.
Accept it isn't perfect! I try to design by the mantra 'Done is better than perfect'. Especially with side projects and startups, it's often better to get something out there, see what happens and iterate based on any learnings.
I hope that helps! If there's a particular UX problem you're stuck with, feel free to reply with a link to the design, and I will let you know my thoughts. Or if you'd prefer you can drop me an email - you can find it on my website.
Hey there, @Austerberry. I don't know if this is the place for it, nor if it's even something you'd be interested in. But, as i mentioned in my comment above, i've just done a UX course and trying to break into a new skill and find that i really don't feel confident enough and other online courses or videos don't seem to be as helpful.
I wanted to ask if you'd be open to the idea of having me shadow you on some of your projects when it comes to UX. I will of course take no. part in the project, but will ask questions and just follow you as you go about your process on zoom or google meets or facetime....
Is there something we can work out? I'm just someone desperately keen to learn more.
Hi @xaC, drop me an email if you want (you can find it on my personal site here). I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have around design, process etc.
This is good advice. Especially number three, that always is hard for me to move beyond. I want everything to be pixel-perfect.
Thanks Simon. I think I'll try 2 and 3 for a few days. I'll def. reach out.
I think the first option is really great.
You'll be able to get feedback, potentially tons of so much-needed feedback.
If it goes well, you might get a customer, two birds with one stone.
Try to build a wireframe and then test it and iterate.
Keep in mind the rule of simples stupid.
Well if it's like Dribbble, how does Dribbble do it?
Most likely you aren't the first person to attempt what you are doing so take inspiration from a bunch of different websites. Sometimes it takes something subtle, like switching from a number input to slider to make it feel clean.
If something feels clunky, a lot of the time it is one of three things:
In the wrong place. You wouldn't want to set alarms on your iPhone in the Contacts page. If it feels clunky move it.
Trying to do too much. If you give your user 3 wheels to steer, 4 different throttles, and 3 levels to control the lights, it will feel clunky. Reduce the number of options, do the hard work for your user.
Not needed at all. The best UX is no UX. You could give them buttons to expose a URL, then select the URL, then copy the URL. Or you could give them a 'copy to clipboard' button that does all 3.
Good luck!
Hey there! I just finished a UX course and i definitely agree with what @austerberry said! Definitely do some usability testing with a group of users to get their feedback on what they think and how they feel about your UX + the way forward.
If it works.... It might just be the answer. If anything, going live with it first would help you find your answers sooner becuase if there was a problem with the UX you would get complaints a lot easier than asking for feedback.
What is your potential customer feels when using it?
Other options might be
Good luck :)
I've actually wireframed it and implemented and then changed it again.
I've looked similar sites to get some ideas but I might have actually drawn inspiration from IH and how they do their postings!
It is a specific part of the process that I don't hear much about from folks.