Despite the art and craft labels, design is a process that should be carried out with a clear purpose. Design starts with product research and ends with usability testing. In the end, it should serve people. If you’re not willing to apply the same principles to your design, you shouldn’t call yourself a designer. Jonathan Ive believes in ‘intuitive design’ – design that is easy to use without too much fuss or thought.
Design is a process, not an art
Ultimately, design is about the end result. Whether it’s an architectural structure, a piece of software, or any other piece of art, the end result must meet the expectations of its intended users. While the designer may not be the target audience for a piece of design, they must always keep their ego in check and put themselves in the user’s shoes. Even though each designer will have their own personal signature, this should never conflict with the intended end result.
It starts with product research
Whether you are looking for a niche product or a brand-new service, it all starts with product research. You must do some shopping around and evaluate what others are buying and selling, and this includes online and offline research. This way, you’ll know whether there is a market for your product. Once you have a clear idea of what’s selling and what’s not, you’ll be well-positioned to sell it to customers.
It ends with usability testing
The purpose of usability testing is to identify usability issues with a product and make adjustments to improve the overall user experience. By testing your product with real users, you will discover potential usability issues and determine whether it’s usable. Testing early on will save you time and money, as developers will not have to rewrite the code for a poor-designed product. In addition, usability testing increases the chances of a product release on time, which is key for a company.
It uses color
When used in the right way, color can improve wayfinding and usability. For example, red medical waste bags are an essential tool in ensuring proper disposal of infectious materials. Digital interfaces also benefit from the use of color, as it can alert the user of the most important areas and functions of the screen. For example, the large green button in Thesis WordPress theme is accompanied by unusual text. If you’re not sure how to make your website stand out from the rest, check out the color wheels below.
It uses movement
Design that includes the use of motion, whether implied or explicit, can help move an audience’s attention. The positioning of a subject can suggest that it has been moving in an external force before reaching its final position. Anima Graff’s “How a car works” is a good example of this kind of movement. The movement leads the viewer to a specific call to action. The design elements must be consistent to create a sense of authenticity in the piece.
It uses usability heuristics
The ultimate goal of web design is consistency, and good usability can be achieved with great microcopy and other enhancements. For example, a poorly designed form may produce error messages when the user tries to fill it out. This is an example of user control and freedom, which focuses on catching errors before they happen. Similarly, a well-designed menu system will prevent users from making the same mistake repeatedly.