Five Key Principles of UX Design

Posted on August 18, 2023August 24, 2023 by GraffersID

What is essential for the survival of designers in the ever-evolving scenario of UX and UI? If you take a look at the digital world, everything is transient owing to the new trends that sprout every day from both the user and competitor’s end. Designers need to stay relevant to the latest trends, be it minimalism, dark mode, 3D elements, voice user interface, bold fonts, or combined graphics along with real images. Later on, these trends form the basis of core principles and psychology UX and UI designs.

In this blog, we will discuss a few psychological principles of UX/UI designs that will help you create a stunning user experience through amazing UX/UI designs. It will make your brand identity stand out from the rest. But, before moving to the basic principles, let’s move ahead with the aesthetic-usability effect on the UX/UI of your website.

So, let’s begin!

Aesthetic-Usability Effect

Have you been to a website that lacks direction?

Feels frustrating, right?

Now, compare a website where you know what to do exactly after having just a glimpse of it. The key lies in the intuitive design of the website, where the user can focus on the task at hand without having to compromise on functionality and aesthetics. This is what makes the user interface easy, comprehensive, and functional that eventually enhances the user experience.

Designers need to create a balance between the functionality and aesthetics of the website design. And, this is where social, behavioral, and cognitive psychology comes to play. All these factors influence a user’s decision, where aesthetics comes secondary and an intuitive design is what users look for.

If you don’t want users to abandon your website, then consider the aesthetic-usability effect. Other than this, a few psychological principles are affecting the UX/UI that you must consider for a better ROI.

So, let’s quickly jump onto it.

5 Psychological Principles that You Need to Consider for Design

Psychology of Choice

PSYCHOLOGY OF CHOICE

We make countless choices each day, some are easy and some are tough. The more choices we deal with the more it takes longer for us to make a decision. Moreover, we feel more fatigued when it comes to making choices. This specific system of more choices is called Hick’s Law that states the more options you are offered, the more it is challenging to arrive at a decision.

When you are trying to create an intuitive design to help your users achieve their goals, speed is important. Here Hick’s Law helps you achieve that speed by providing fewer options so that the end-user doesn’t get frustrated and waste time selecting from a pile of options.

Prioritize the key elements of the design and keep the choices limited. Also, make sure that you break down the complex process into simple steps. Create menus for common in-app actions and group them in one. This grouping of common functions will help eliminate unnecessary elements and keep them simple. It will reduce the time to arrive at a decision helping the users to achieve their goal faster.

Keep All Interactable Elements in Reach

KEEP ALL INTERACTABLE ELEMENTS IN REACH

You might have seen that the farther your thumb is from the mouse, the longer it takes for you to interact with the element you want. This specific concept relates to Fitts’ Law which focuses on distance and emphasizes keeping the important elements of the website in close reach of the users. And, yes it’s a fundamental principle of comprehensive and intuitive UI design, which all users prefer.

Make sure that every interactable element that you have on your website should be big enough so users can easily spot it and select it without wasting time. If we talk about the ideal size of the elements then they should be between 42 and 72 pixels wide. It will help you hit the target because it is easy to spot which will catch the user’s attention and they will click on it even if the cursor is slightly away.

Fitts’ Law advocates the use of reachability heatmaps in the super-sized screen era, which is essential for an intuitive UI/UX design. It ensures that the crucial elements of the website are in easy reach of the users and that common actions can be taken instantly. This ease of reachability will help users to arrive at an informed decision much faster.

Right Positioning of the Items

RIGHT POSITIONING OF THE ITEMS

If you have ever been to a store, you will observe that important and popular items are kept on display; so the users can easily spot them. Likewise, a brick-and-mortar store, places crucial items on the website with impactful words. It will help your users easily recognize and memorize those powerful words.

Here are a few examples of power words that you must incorporate into your website:

Massive
Discount
Big Billion
Soaring
Save
Monetize
Fast
Hurry
Giveaway
Limited
Skyrocket
Sale Ends Soon
Quick
Reduce
Profit
Jackpot
Free
Last Chance
Ultimate
More
Special
Surge
Six-Figure

When you use these words, people have an easy time recalling these words and they are encouraged to act. Use these words throughout your website content working from the top towards the end. Why are we emphasizing the position or order of the power words being used? As we discussed in the example mentioned at the beginning of this point the position where the items are placed also impacts the user’s decision.

Putting crucial items with impactful words in a significant position helps users to remember the words. Thus, it makes your website more intuitive and users more comfortable.

Selective Disregard to Pinpoint Crucial Aspects

SELECTIVE DISREGARD TO PINPOINT CRUCIAL ASPECTS

We all are experienced users of products and websites and thus we learn to recognize crucial items on a website. An average user gradually understands a website and instinctively ignores irrelevant items. This specific behavior is called selective disregard, where a user stops paying attention to irrelevant items or elements and focuses on things that give it a mental stimulus.

Thus, designers must use this behavior to their advantage and get the users to hit like on important aspects at a lightning-fast speed. We recommend you to use every element keeping the user’s expectation in the mind. Think what could be the most necessary thing for a user because until and unless anything is not necessary the user’s mind will automatically filter irrelevant information. Thus, always design with selective disregard.

Stop Tricking Users

STOP TRICKING USERS

If you browse through websites, you will discover some websites employ dark patterns by crafting a user interface aimed to trick users into doing something they don’t want. You will find it in either ad or a call to action that pops in brightly colored buttons with positive affirmations on specific websites such as insurance. The ultimate goal is to increase the traffic and trick users into signing up for recurring subscriptions.

In this technique, designers often focus on the built-in expectations of customers and play around with people’s fears. But, we recommend you not prioritize your business over your users. Instead, pinpoint opportunities for people through your design to gain people’s trust. By pinpointing opportunities, we mean delivering value to users.

When users find value in your products they will automatically rush to your website and it will intersect with your business goal of traffic, engagement, and conversion.

What are the fundamental principles of UX design?

User Experience (UX) design plays a pivotal role in creating digital products and services that are not only visually appealing but also intuitive and user-friendly. The core principles of UX design serve as guiding beacons for designers and developers to craft experiences that resonate with users. Let’s delve into the fundamental principles of UX design that form the bedrock of exceptional user experiences.

1. User-Centered Design:

At the heart of UX design lies the concept of user-centeredness. As Steve Jobs once said, “You’ve got to start with the customer experience and work back toward the technology, not the other way around.” Placing the user’s needs, preferences, and behaviors at the forefront of the design process ensures that the final product aligns seamlessly with user expectations.

2. Simplicity and Clarity:

The words of Leonardo da Vinci, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” hold true in UX design. Keeping interfaces simple and uncluttered enhances usability. Clear navigation and intuitive layouts make it easier for users to interact with the product without feeling overwhelmed.

3. Consistency:

As Maya Angelou expressed, “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” Consistency in design elements such as colors, typography, and icons fosters familiarity and builds trust. Consistent experiences across different sections of a product contribute to a cohesive and harmonious user journey.

4. Accessibility for All:

Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, emphasized, “The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.” Inclusive design ensures that people with disabilities can also engage with digital products effortlessly. Prioritizing accessibility from the outset widens the reach and impact of the design.

5. Feedback and Flexibility:

Bill Gates once remarked, “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” User feedback is a cornerstone of UX design. By actively seeking and incorporating user opinions, designers can refine and optimize the user experience. Additionally, designing for flexibility accommodates diverse user behaviors and needs.

6. Visual Hierarchy:

As per Paul Rand, “Design is the silent ambassador of your brand.” Visual hierarchy guides users’ attention to the most important elements on a page. Through strategic use of size, color, and contrast, designers direct users’ focus and ensure essential information is readily noticeable.

7. Fast and Responsive Performance:

A quote from Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo, resonates: “Performance with purpose.” In UX design, this translates to delivering fast-loading and responsive experiences. Slow-loading websites or apps can lead to frustration and abandonment. Prioritizing performance enhances user satisfaction and engagement.

8. Emotional Resonance:

Design legend Don Norman remarked, “Emotion comes from experiencing the product, from using the product.” Beyond functionality, UX design should evoke emotions that resonate with users. Positive emotions associated with a product lead to increased loyalty and advocacy.

9. Continual Iteration:

As Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, said, “If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.” UX design is an iterative process. Regularly gathering data, analyzing user behavior, and making improvements based on insights ensure that the design remains effective and relevant.

In the words of Dieter Rams, “Good design is making something intelligible and memorable.” The fundamental principles of UX design underscore the importance of creating experiences that are user-centric, elegant, and impactful.

Why are UX design principles important in product development?

In today’s highly competitive digital landscape, creating products that resonate with users and provide exceptional experiences is crucial for the success of any business. This is where User Experience (UX) design principles come into play. UX design focuses on enhancing user satisfaction by improving the usability, accessibility, and overall interaction between users and products. Let’s delve into the significance of incorporating UX design principles in product development:

1. Enhanced User Satisfaction

As the renowned Steve Jobs once said, “You‘ve got to start with the customer experience and work back toward the technology, not the other way around.” This quote highlights the essence of prioritizing user satisfaction. By adhering to UX design principles, products are tailored to meet users’ needs, preferences, and pain points. This results in products that are not only functional but also enjoyable to use, leading to higher user satisfaction and long-term loyalty.

2. Reduced Bounce Rates

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works,” eloquently stated by Steve Jobs. When products are thoughtfully designed with UX principles in mind, they are intuitive and easy to navigate. This reduces the likelihood of users leaving the product prematurely, also known as a “bounce.” A seamless and enjoyable user experience encourages users to explore the product fully, increasing engagement and conversions.

3. Optimized Accessibility

The words of Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, resonate here: “We believe that a beautiful design can also be accessible to everyone.” UX design principles emphasize inclusivity and accessibility. By considering various user abilities and providing user-friendly interfaces, products become accessible to a wider audience, including individuals with disabilities. This not only expands the user base but also demonstrates a commitment to social responsibility.

4. Iterative Improvement

“Design is not for philosophy—it’s for life,” said Issey Miyake, a renowned designer. In product development, continuous improvement is key. UX design principles encourage an iterative approach, where products are refined based on user feedback and changing market trends. This leads to products that evolve with the users’ needs, staying relevant and maintaining a competitive edge.

5. Competitive Advantage

Elon Musk once stated, “The first step is to establish that something is possible; then probability will occur.” Incorporating UX design principles sets a strong foundation for creating innovative and user-centric products. Such products stand out in the market, attracting more users and gaining a competitive advantage. Businesses that prioritize UX design differentiate themselves by offering exceptional value through superior user experiences.

6. Cost and Time Efficiency

The words of Thomas Edison underscore the significance of efficiency: “There’s a way to do it better—find it.” UX design principles involve thorough user research and prototyping before the actual product development begins. This reduces the chances of costly redesigns and rework later in the process. By identifying and addressing usability issues early on, businesses save both time and resources.

7. Customer-Centric Approach

“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning,” remarked Bill Gates. UX design principles advocate for understanding users deeply and empathizing with their needs. This customer-centric approach fosters a strong connection between the product and its users. By prioritizing user feedback and preferences, businesses can build products that resonate and create lasting relationships.

In conclusion, incorporating UX design principles into product development is not just a trend; it’s a necessity. From enhancing user satisfaction and engagement to gaining a competitive advantage and optimizing accessibility, UX design principles empower businesses to create products that truly make a difference in users’ lives. As the great minds mentioned above have emphasized, putting the user at the center of design thinking is the key to success in today’s dynamic and user-driven market.

Final Word

When it comes to UX/UI in designing, understanding your audience’s expectations is the best way to begin. And, for gaining a better understanding you can co-relate the psychological principles of UX mentioned above. They will help you to keep the right mindset while designing and thus achieve the needed practicality.

If you are also struggling to build amazing UX/UI designs, consider checking Graffersid- Top UI/UX design company, based in Indore. Here you will find an experienced team of designers who create stunning designs keeping your business goals and customers’ expectations in mind. You can contact us here to get a quote or for a quick inquiry. We will be happy to assist you!

Points to keep in mind while designing client’s idea (UI/UX)?

Posted on June 27, 2023August 18, 2023 by GraffersID

Many people don’t understand the work of UI/UX designers. For them, it’s just designing that needs to look good. At the start of a project, it is important for designers to understand what to ask graphic design clients to gather as much information as possible.

This needs to take place before you have someone to handle the job, as it is obvious to have a meeting to determine the cost and timeframe of the project. To get the accurate estimate in your proposal you should ask some or all of the research questions below. It will help you provide the right information to your UI/UX designer.

Who Is Your Target Audience?

Research what the design is for. This will have a great impact on the style, content, and message of the project. For example, a person in Vietnam has a different UI preference than someone in the US. And so on for different factors mentioned below.

Now, some factors that can impact its design:

Internal (i.e. employees of the company) or external customers
Age
Geographic location
Gender
Depending on the project, factors like economic status and religion may also come into play.

What Is The Message?

What message you want to deliver to the target audience needs to be clear. The overall message can be something as simple as showing gratitude to customers or announcing a new product. Once that is established, go beyond it to find out the “mood” of the message. Is it exciting? Thoughtful? Compassionate?

Gather some keywords that will aid the overall style of your design. If you are in a meeting, consider asking each person to come up with a few words and ideas that they think describe the mood of the message, and brainstorm from there.

What Is The Perspective Of The Project?

You may already have a VISION of specifications for a design, thinking of the feature after hiring a UI/UX designer can add a lot of cost to the project. This is where we would suggest you hire a Project Manager(like us) who can suggest the best features for your project.

The UI/UX designers are not very good at suggesting new features or the most useful ones, however, they are the starts when it comes to the representation from the users’ point of view.

The amount of content to present, budget, and final use of the design may all depend on these decisions:

Number of web pages/screens
Number of clicks on a page
Clarity of scope
Timeline

Here are 7 ways on how UI design could increase your sales!!

What Is The Budget?

In many cases, clients are afraid to disclose their budget for a project. They may either have no idea about – what a design should cost, or they just want you to say a number first in order to get it done for cheaper.

Generally, the cost of the UI/UX designer is fixed. The standard rates differ as per the number of pages. If you try to negotiate too much on price the UI/UX designer may just ask to alter some parameters (such as timeframe or the amount of design you provide) to fit within the budget.

It is ok to say you need to review the project whether they reveal a budget or not. You will get back to them with your preferable quote. Sometimes, the UI/UX designer’s budget will be higher than you expect, now just ask the UI/UX designer for a whole project cost rather than per page cost.

Is There A Specific Deadline?

If the project needs to be delivered on a specific date, then make it a point to give a deadline at least 2 weeks ahead. It may coincide with a product launch, or another important milestone, for your UI/UX designer. If there is no deadline, you have to create a timeframe for completing the project.

The designer may claim that the timeline is insufficient and you feel it is not considerable. Let your UI/UX designer win this race while mentioning that you would need a daily progress report and review calls.

Are You Looking To Hire UI UX Designer? Consult Us Now

Can The Client Provide Creative Direction?

It is an absolute necessity to get a little creative direction from the client. Of course, the designer will be creating something new and unique for you, but some ideas from your side will help the designer to meet your expectations.

For designers, it is important to understand your preferences of the below points hence you should consider keeping the references websites ready, for each element respectively.

Colors
Fonts
Works of art
Other designs
Websites

A good designer will always take your pre-decided color scheme, typefaces, logos, or other elements that need to be incorporated. You can even give your own style sheet.

Delve into this information while working on your ideas with your designer, it will help the working relationship and design process to run smoothly. Be sure to have detailed notes when asking these questions, and include as much information as possible in your proposal.

Differences Between Product Design and UX Design

Posted on August 22, 2022December 15, 2022 by GraffersID

The two most confusing jobs in this preset era are that of a product designer and UX designer. It is not easy to understand the difference because of the myriad of similarities both have. In many industries, the terms are interchangeable, leading to more bafflement and confusion.

This is why most people choose the wrong career and repent in the future. They don’t have clarity about these subjects concerning the roles and responsibilities, salaries, and future job prospects. Keeping this in mind, we have discussed some major differences everyone should know about a product and UX designer.

This article will clarify and help you choose the best product or UI/UX design company from an employer’s perspective. After all, ending up with the wrong choice will lead to not only a waste of time and money but may jeopardize the user experience or product.

What are product design And UX design?

As the name suggests, product design is the process through which a new product is designed from scratch to meet customer requirements and market expectations. The design process involves multiple steps, from brainstorming ideas to testing prototypes and deploying the same for production. For example, when a company decides to launch a new mobile, the first phase is the design process.

UX defines the user experience, i.e., how the user will feel using the product. It can be satisfactory, impressive, worst, and so on. Therefore, UX is concerned with the users’ psychology and behaviors. It is very important for the UX design company you have hired to carefully study the consumer market and understand what they are expecting.

Failure to gather knowledge on this matter can lead to further problems as they won’t be able to understand how several notches can take up the UX. In addition, it may lead to product failure post-release into production and the market. For this reason, companies must pay close attention to the UX design process.

How the product or UX design is carried out?

Product Design or UX Design

A product or UX design process is divided into six steps, which are:

Idea generation: In this phase, designers gather and study different documents on requirements or expectations. They share ideas and opinions through brainstorming. These ideas are then filtered, and only one is chosen that sounds to be the closest to the requirement.
Product definition: In the next step, the designers define different attributes of the product or UX attributes. If it is software, the designer will define its UI elements, the number of pages it will have, layouts, color configurations, and so on.
Prototype formation: The most important step of product and UI design is prototyping, where the professionals convert the design into a real-time prototype.
Initial design phase: The prototype is approved and sent for production. Most companies start with small batches to reduce the losses later on if the product or UX fails to draw in the expected revenues.
Testing and validation: Once the samples are ready to be released into the market, different testing processes are initiated, like performance testing, load testing, and so on.
Commercialization and marketing: The samples are released into the market for users in this step. Marketing strategies are implemented to commercialize the product.

Know the Difference between UI and UX Design

What are the roles and responsibilities of a product designer?

A product designer supervises and carries out the entire product design phase. Therefore, as an employer, you should ensure the person you hire is proficient enough. Following are the responsibilities of a product designer, which you should be aware of:

Product designers conduct an array of market research. It helps them to understand the most important areas where there is a gap.
They are also concerned with transforming the knowledge they gained from the research into ideas and opinions.
Product designers gather ideas from others, like marketers, analysts, etc. They are concerned with brainstorming the gathered opinions to reach a specific conclusion.
They also work on defining the attributes of the product and several other restrictions to be followed for product designs.
The product designers work closely with the design team and offer their inputs and feedback to ensure the final prototype is up to the mark.
They use different types of 3D modeling software like CAD and CAM to come up with the best design for the sample. This design is then sent to the production factory to create the first batch.
Gathering the produced samples and running different kinds of testing is also one of the major responsibilities of the product designers.
A product designer needs to know more about design techniques, research tools, materials, etc.

What are the roles and responsibilities of a UX designer?

Following are the major roles and responsibilities of the UX designer:

UX designers are concerned with transforming designs into prototypes, mockups, flowcharts, and wireframes.
They understand the client’s requirements and facilitate the same in the form of sketches and designs to ensure they can get the green signal in one go.
The UX designers are also concerned with providing feedback and deeper insight into the user stories and experiences.
They analyze the designs and check the areas where the error is present. Accordingly, they work closely with the product design team to form a perfect solution for the problem.
UX designers solely focus on the design aspects that will help elevate the user experience and satisfy the user post-launch of the product. It can be the UI of the software, the performance of a car’s engine, and so on.
They are responsible for planning new ideas and taking risks to ensure the prototypes are innovative and different from the competitors.

How to hire the best product or UX design company for your business?

UX Design for business

Regardless of whether you need the product of UI/UX design services, you need to select the best company that can live up to your expectations. Here, we have explained a few tips to help you easily select a professional.

First of all, you need to look into the experience earned by the professional. A product of UX designer needs to be proficient enough in work and should have hands-on knowledge about the field for at least two to three years.
Go for a reputed UX design company or the product design company. This will help you avoid most of the challenges once the product is released into the market.
Consider the project budget. No matter how good and lucrative the claims sound, you cannot exceed the budget.
Ensure to check the skillset of the product and UX designers. They need to be creative and have proper market knowledge about consumer behavior.
They must know how to analyze different datasets and utilize the same information to create the most innovative solution.

Conclusion

Now that you know the differences between a product designer and the UX designer choose the best web and mobile app development company to get the world completed. Also, ensure the UX or the product meets the market expectations perfectly so that you don’t suffer from reduced online reputation and popularity.

How Does Website Design Impact Your Search Rankings?

Posted on June 28, 2021October 5, 2021 by GraffersID

By now, most business owners understand the importance of digital marketing and they have started investing on it. And undoubtedly, SEO (or search engine optimization) plays a major role in brand perception, traffic, and overall sales. Having the ability to appear prominently in Google search results holds a lot of power, which is why investing in SEO makes a lot of sense.

When you hire an agency that works with a white label SEO company, you may be focused on creating valuable content and showing how relevant your site is to both internet users and Google bots.

But if you want to rank well in search engine results pages (SERPs), you need to do more than write stellar blog posts or pick the right keywords to target.

The truth is that the experience your website provides matters a lot. In fact, it won’t really matter how perfectly optimized your content is if web visitors become frustrated or confused when they arrive on your site.

And in most cases, this frustration and confusion can be traced back to bad website design.

To improve your website UI UX design prototyping, you can consult GraffersID: a web and mobile app development company.

Consequences of Bad Web Design

The internet is always evolving, which means that search engines have to constantly play catch-up in order to provide the best results to users. In the early days of the web, site design wasn’t nearly as sophisticated as it is today. (We all remember those garish websites that look like they were created in Microsoft Paint!)

But now, web users expect that the sites they visit – and the brands they support – will provide an impeccable experience from start to finish. If these expectations aren’t met, your business could struggle as a result.

Simply put, customers will abandon your site if your user experience (UX) is poor. Amazon Web Services reports that 88% of online shoppers won’t return to a website after having a bad user experience. Other data shows that around 70% of online businesses that fail do so because of subpar usability.

What’s more, around half of all consumers say that poor mobile optimization annoys them and that they’re less likely to engage with companies who fail to optimize for mobile accessibility. Considering that approximately 50% of all web traffic now comes from mobile users, you’ll end up driving away a significant portion of potential customers if you don’t provide a great website experience across all devices.

Read Also: 7 reason use good UI design

Customers will decide whether they like your website within just a few short seconds. That means you have very limited time to capture a user’s attention and make a positive impression. And if you don’t impress human users, you’ll have a tough time convincing search engines to like your site.

When visitors depart your website en masse, that’s a red flag to Google. Typically, a website that features poor design will have a higher bounce rate, slower loading speeds, interactivity delays, a lack of site security, intrusive interstitials (like full-page pop-ups), and accessibility issues for mobile users.

Since all of these elements are also among Google’s ranking signals, that means that poor web design can have a huge impact on your site’s ability to rank well in search results.

In the end, poor web design can hurt your ability to connect with customers and adhere to Google’s best practices. Both issues can keep you from achieving your ranking goals. And while there are certainly other important aspects to SEO, your other efforts won’t pay off if you don’t have a solid website to start with.

Good Design Can Translate to Great Rankings

Of course, the reverse is also true: having good web design will make it more likely for your site to rank well in SERPs. That doesn’t mean you won’t have to worry about the thousands of other ranking signals, but providing a great user experience is something that Google and web users find extremely valuable. UI UX design prototyping will make it much easier for you to make ranking progress.

Generally speaking, good web design is both visually appealing and user-friendly. It should be both attractive and functional. Assuming all other factors are relatively equal, Google will usually reward sites that are speedy, accessible, and easy to navigate.

That’s especially true with one of Google’s latest algorithm changes. After about six months’ notice, the Page Experience update launched in early June 2021. This update involves, among other things, Google’s new Core Web Vitals; these measure specific criteria that determine the quality of the user experience on a given page.

Whether you’re doing a major website overhaul or you just want to make a few impactful changes, you’ll want to keep the Core Web Vitals in mind and make sure your site adheres to current design best practices. But what exactly should you change to improve your chances of ranking well in search?

Web Design Improvements to Make For Better SEO

While most web users will want to visit sites that load quickly, are easy to navigate, and that are attractive to the eye, nailing down exactly what that means for your design can be tough.

In order to make the changes that can boost your rankings, you’ll need to understand the essential elements of UX – or what makes a great user experience – and what Google wants to see.

With that in mind, here are some web design improvements you can make for better SEO.

1. Keep Things Simple:

When it comes to website navigation, you should err on the side of simplicity. Although you might be tempted to prioritize how your website looks, your design choices shouldn’t come at the expense of user experience.

If you force website visitors to hunt for the information they need, they’ll probably give up.

Your website menus should be easy to access and understand, while your URLs should be as straightforward as possible. Adding a search bar on all pages is also recommended!

2. Speed Up Loading Time:

No one wants to deal with a sluggish website. If a page doesn’t load within two or three seconds, it’s game over. When working with a web designer, discuss the ways in which you might be able to speed up your site’s loading time.

This might include compressing or eliminating large images and video content, using browser caching, getting rid of outdated plugins and scripts, improving server responsiveness, or keeping page redirects to a minimum.

Even the tiniest of delays can have adverse effects on your site conversion rate, so make site speed a priority.

3. Appeal to Mobile Users:

As we hinted earlier, a site without responsive design is essentially useless to around half of all web users.

Your site needs to be easy to read and navigate on mobile devices while providing a consistent overall experience for all users, no matter what they’re using to view your pages.

Since Google actually indexes the mobile version of websites first, your rankings will depend on your ability to meet the needs of smartphone users. If your site is virtually inaccessible on anything but a PC or desktop, you need to revamp it right away.

4. Eliminate Errors:

Navigation errors (like 404 pages) are common, but that doesn’t mean they’re acceptable. These errors tend to occur when a page has been deleted or there’s an issue with a page’s URL.

Ideally, you’d want to eliminate any and all 404 errors that exist on your site – but that’s a tall order. In some cases, they can pop up purely due to user error.

Still, you should try to fix any broken pages on your website, set up some redirects, and create a 404 error page that’s unique and that easily allows visitors to find what they’re actually looking for.

Want to Develop and Design your Website? Consult US Now

5. Rethink Your Pop-Ups:

In years past, pop-up ads were villainized (and rightfully so, in most cases). But while you should completely steer clear of those spammy pop-ups, there are certain kinds of pop-up windows that can be effective for your site’s lead generation strategy.

You probably encounter websites every day that use pop-ups, but it really comes down to the frequency, the timing, and the type of window.

Keep your site’s pop-ups to a minimum, delay their appearance for at least the first 10 seconds, and make sure that your pop-ups offer some kind of value to the customer (like a discount or an exclusive offer).

6. Follow Visual Design Principles:

Functionality should be your chief concern, but that doesn’t mean that aesthetics should be thrown out the window. One of the factors of UI design is that you should eliminate unnecessary clutter.

A clean-looking website with ample white space and contrasting colors will go a long way. Make sure that you choose a font and font size that are easy to read across all devices.

In many cases, it’s best to utilize an F-shaped layout, as this can guide the reader through the visitor experience on a given page. It’s also a good idea to ensure your website is ADA-compliant, as this will ensure visitors of all abilities can get the information they need.

We know that your site’s web design can often make or break your ability to rank in search results. But if you know which mistakes to avoid – and how to fix the issues you might currently have – you’ll be in a much better position to achieve your SEO goals.

Give your Business A Boost with Graphic Design

Posted on July 19, 2019November 8, 2022 by GraffersID

“Graphic Design”

Graphic design is the process of visual communication and problem-solving through the use of typography, photography, and illustration. The field is considered a subset of visual communication and communication design. But, sometimes the term “graphic design” is used synonymously.

The graphic designer is a professional within the graphic design and graphic arts industry who assembles together images, typography, or motion graphics to create a piece of design. A graphic designer creates the graphics primarily for published, printed or electronic media, such as brochures (sometimes) and advertising.

“Design is a funny word. Some people think design means how it ‘looks,’ but of course, if you dig deeper, it’s really how it ‘works.”

-Steve Jobs

What is the first thing that you see when you’re browsing through companies or businesses? Their logo! The more attractive the logo and more interesting the logo will be, the more people get attracted to your business and more and more people will come to you then you keep thinking, how do they come up with such an interesting, attractive logo?

That’s where the Graphic designers come into the picture.

Okay, let’s imagine, there are two scenarios. First, you bought a $30 logo online, and second where you hired a graphic designer to get a customized logo related to your company. What do you think about which scenario you will get more clients?

Obviously, the second one!

Graphic Designing is crucially important to businesses and our everyday lives in many ways. We come across logos, brochures, websites, and a host of other design products daily.
Packaging, branding, signage, books, magazines, etc are glaring examples of the use of a variety of graphic design. The designers work professionally in business and representing a company is great. The marketing depends upon the designer and hence the logo of the company should be attractive and eye-catching. This will lead people to once visit your company.

5 Reasons You Should Hire a Graphic Designer?

1. The design speaks louder than words.

Image courtesy: Image1

You must have heard the phrase, “Actions speak louder than words.” Similarly, the logo speaks for the company and the logo should be so attractive that people keep coming closer to the company. If you don’t look good, neither do they. A graphic designer knows that it takes only a few moments to make a good visual first impression. Good design should be consistent and have continuity that flows. It has to be aesthetically pleasing to the observer or it can run the risk of being passed over. The design is everything on which the result depends, it’s just like judging a book by looking at its cover.

2. A Graphic Designer will help you in saving time and money.

Save-Time-and-Money

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You have enough on your plate already. Do you really have to spend time trying to come up with designs for your logo, brochures, or PowerPoint templates? A graphic designer can come up with a design or format a marketing document in a quarter of the time it will take you to do it yourself. they should know every way to make the design attractive and amazing.

A graphic designer will know the most cost-effective ways to design your materials to keep your printing costs to a minimum. By the time you’ve been able to create a layout using Microsoft Publisher (program printers hate, and will charge you an arm and a leg to print from). A designer would be able to design a proper file in their graphic design suite of software, that printers will not have an issue with. If the printer has an issue with the design then it will be effective for the one and also it will be time-consuming.

3. A Graphic Designer will make your business look professional.

professional graphic designer

Image courtesy: Image3

A Graphic Designer does more than just create logos, fiddle with fonts, and match Pantone chips. If you’re in business, then you are most likely concerned about all you’re marketing pieces working together. This could be your website, newsletter, annual reports, sales sheets, product spec pages, brochures, and business cards. A good designer will make these look consistent, professional, and well-suited to your company and its market. It’s amazing how these little things like font sizes, justification of the text, text wrapping, text spacing, color, and image placement can make a huge difference in the business world.

A professional graphic designer takes time to learn about your business rivals, and your target audience and carries out thorough research concerning your business before he or she starts to work. From the findings then the designer prepares expert files for your company to achieve its expected professionalism.

4. A Graphic Designer will help to keep your look consistent.

businessman-cellphones-cellular-telephone

Image courtesy: Image4

If you use different logos, different fonts, and different messages everywhere. It’s going to be hard to look professional- never mind stand out in a potential customer’s mind. Designers know how to watch those little details and ensure that every piece of marketing communications fits with everything else. Sure, your customers may not notice if you used “Times New Roman” in one ad and “Calibri” In another. But, the subconscious mind picks up details and uses them to form an overall opinion of your business. You look and seem more put together if everything does, in fact, fit together.

If you’ve gone through the effort of hiring a designer. But then try and mimic their work on your own, your look and feel may lose their edge by being inconsistent. A designer will know which fonts to use that will keep font sizes and colors consistent and ensure the overall look and feel of all your materials will consistently capture your brand.

5. A Graphic Designer will help you stand out from the rest.

Stand-Out-from-the-Crowd

Image courtesy: Image5

Having a template logo or look and feel you bought cheap online is not going to help you stand out from your competition. The only way people are going to remember you and your business is if your materials stand out compared to the rest and if able to take a position among all. Having a distinct brand is what is going to raise your business above your competition.

Now, not every small business needs to stand out. If you’re a locksmith in a small community, for example, it may be enough to just show up in internet searches and be in the phone book. But if you’re in a market with a dozen other locksmiths, you want to stand out. You don’t do that with a clip art logo or canned flier that looks the same as 10 of those 12 competitors. Using marketing materials that are unique and stand out is a way for people to remember you. And if they think they’ve seen you before and they are more likely to choose to contact you for your products or services.

Image courtesy: Image0

reference:

wp.style

Wikipedia/Graphic design

Wikipedia/Graphic_designer

How to Create a Website in WordPress?

Posted on July 12, 2019November 8, 2022 by GraffersID

“How to Create a Website”

There are different ways to create a website it is because it depends on where you are creating a website as well as let us look at the common procedure to create a website.

The following points will help you out to create a website–

1. You have to register your domain which will help you out getting your products to the people.

2. You have to get a company to get web hosting. Godaddy and Bluehost are the companies that will get you web hosting done.

3. Now you have to prepare your content because its the time you are going to upload it.

4. Now you can build your website.

In this way, you can create a website that will help you further.

Choosing WordPress over others-

There are many websites but why only WordPress is the question, so the answer is because WordPress website is an online website that is the easiest blogging and content management website. The website has different features that make this website the most popular among all.

Everyone can take the work to the height, and all welcomed here. WordPress website is a platform that provides many websites. Like music, business, etc. WordPress website has a very effective feature that one can choose a WordPress website over others. Percentage criteria that how many people use WordPress website then 52% uses WordPress website which is free, 4% uses Joomla which is free, 7% uses Wix which is paid,4% uses Program site interface which is free, 4% uses super case which is free, 29% uses other and those are paid.

Now the question arises that what one has to do to create a website in WordPress?

“How To Create a website in WordPress”

The following points give the proper instruction to create a website in WordPress –

1. getting a web hosting and registering a domain.
2. Setting up the website with web hosting.
3. Design the website.
4. End it by adding the content.

Now we will discuss the points in detail to make it easier:

1. Get Web hosting and Domain name-

Here the question arises that what a web hosting and domain name are?
so, WEB HOSTING is a kind of service that connects your website to the internet. without the web hosting the website is not linked to the internet. Web hosting is to store content, images, web files, etc. Whereas,
DOMAIN NAME is the web address where one can find out the content, it gives an identity to your content and helps in the identification.

A question now arises is where to register a domain name and get a web hosting?
so, WordPress suggests a website which helps you out in registering and getting a web hosting and that is “Bluehost”. It is very much helpful in creating a website as it will make things easy for you by getting you the registration of domain done, help you with web hosting and also help you to install WordPress with a click.

bluehost-domain-and-hosting

–> How to use Bluehost –

1. Go to the website.
2. Choose the hosting plan-
(a). Basic plan
(b). Plus plan
(c). Choice plus plan
3. Choosing the domain name.
4. Filling up the account details.
5. Checking the information and end.
6. Creating a password and login to Bluehost.

2. Setting up the website with web hosting-

Setting up a website is not a big task. If you are using or setting up the domain name from the Bluehost then you are only a click away to create a website. You have to just download the WordPress website and after a few steps, you get started.

3. Design the website-

The one who is working wants the website to look good and attractive and this is because
WordPress provides many themes that make the website look amazing. one can anytime install any theme to change the look of the website and to make it eye-catching.
There are 1500+ themes on the WordPress website and most of them are free. Designing will be quite expensive if you will hire a designer but if you do the designing on your own then it will be good. Designing shows your creativity as well as show how much you are aware of your business and about your website.

–>How to find the theme-

1. Login to the WordPress dashboard.
2. Access Free themes.
3. Install new themes.
This is how one can make the website look amazing.

4. Adding Content-

After installing the theme you can start writing the content. After the completion of the theme designing, you are ready to go and now your content is on the website.
In the dashboard in the sidebar, there are pages shows add new.
There is also a screen that helps you out with additional text, images, and to build the pages. You can also edit the text if you want to modify it. The website will tell you how your content is and what your content needs, What are the points you have to recover and also where you need improvement.

How to use WordPress website-

This website is used by simply downloading and installing it for free. It also has some amazing features which make this website most popular among all. After creating a website we can add the content and after that, the customization is needed. Customization includes the modification to suit a particular task. we can here create a static and dynamic page under the setting present in the admin page. Where the static one can be looked as you are the owner and dynamic one will be like you are a blogger it is all about the modifications required. After the process of customization what all you need is to install the WordPress website and use it. It has so many features that will help you in making your website amazing and these all features are user-friendly so that everyone including beginner can also use it with ease.

The following points will help you to use the WordPress website-

1. You have to choose a WordPress plan.
2. Setting up the domain name and the hosting provider.
3. Installing the WordPress website.
4. Choosing the theme.
5. Add up posts and pages.
6. Customize the website.
7. Installing Plugins.

Now we will look at the above points in detail-

1. Choosing a WordPress plan-

wordpress-package-information

Firstly you have to choose a plan, a plan is free for you but it will make you buy your domain, web hosting, plugins, themes, etc.
There are four plans provided by WordPress to create a website and they are-

a. Free plan.
b. Personal plan.
c. Premium plan.
d. Business plan.

The difference between these plans is of features, the more features you want you to have to switch to a different plan. The different plan has different characteristics so that one can choose the plan according to their business. It depends on the user only that which plan he wants to choose because his satisfaction is important.

2. Setting up the domain name and the hosting-

domain-and-hosting

You have to set up your domain name and also have to get the web hosting done after choosing your plan. Now the question is how to get this done, so there are so many websites that will help you out with this. Websites like Godaddy and Bluehost are the popular websites used, so you can get that done here. we can understand this web hosting and domain in simple words like web hosting is your office and domain is your office address. So you need both if you want that people will come to you. Both things are linked with each other if you have an office then the office address should also be there and vice-versa.

3. Installing the WordPress website-

To install the website you can get a direct link on the websites where you had your hosting and domain done. so then from there, you can install the website. The website can be download for free as it is a free application and it can be installed also but for the domain registration and the hosting you have to get a company that will help you with this.

4. Choosing the theme-

wrodpres-themes

Now you have to choose a theme to make your website look different from others. There on the website many themes are present so you can choose any of them and put it on your website. The theme will enhance the beauty of the website and make it eye-catching so that many people will go through it and because of so many themes it becomes amazing.
The special feature is that many themes are free so its a benefit for those who are using the WordPress website.

5. Add up pages and posts-

bluehost-dashboard

Now just after selecting themes and setting them on the website, you can add content to the website, in fact, you can add new posts, and pages, and also you can edit them. There on the dashboard of the website every option is given and that will help you to make changes to your website. The dashboard is designed in such a way that it will be easier to use so that beginners also don’t have to face any problems.

6. Customize the website-

You have to customize the website which means you have to modify it. It is necessary to modify the website which will help one out in many ways. The customization of the website is a necessary thing that will be beneficial for the website. In this, under the admin page, one can make static and dynamic pages.

7. Installing Plugins-

Pulings are the way that how to select the themes and the options on the website. The plugins help to provide special features of different fields. you have to download the plugins based on your business. You can get the option on the top of the admin page. The most popular plugins in the WordPress website are Yoast CEO, Table Press, The SEO Framework, Pixel Caffeine, etc.

Image courtesy- Image0

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7 Ways on How UI Design Could Increase Your Sales in 2023

Posted on May 23, 2018December 12, 2022 by GraffersID

Before we dive in let’s take a moment to introspect. Now think back and ask yourself “WHAT MAKES YOU TRY SOMETHING NEW ?”. Like a new YouTube video or a new dress in a mall or a new eatery around the corner ask yourself.

For me the reason has often been “THE LOOK” could be the image of the video, could be the text/tagline on a post, or could be some innovative interior. Well, it’s a fact it happens, sight is a very important sense of the human body and we tend to use it to the fullest.

Hence similarly to a website as well the UI plays a very important role. A beautiful website can easily grab the attention for a few seconds. But what if your website is tough to understand or doesn’t communicate clearly? Just good looks but no useful feature can grab your attention but won’t be able to hold your interest for long. Exactly the reason why UI and UX go hand-in-hand. UX is the way the user perceives the information you present, it is the way someone interacts with your website. Placement of information, buttons, icons everything falls under UX.

Designing is like cooking!!

You don’t wanna rush, it takes it’s own sweet time to be prepared properly and needs a lot of precession. But once it is completed you can never have enough of it and there are praises from all the corners.

It is pretty much the case with designing. Designing takes time because there needs to be a lot of research about the target audience. There needs to be a clear understanding of age, sex, profession, domain, and taste of the group only then the designer would be able to create something which is easy to understand and yet beautiful as hell to look at.

Hence, Designing is like cooking, it will take time but once it is done you will be the most satisfied person.

Most well-dressed person is considered to be the most successful one!!

Almost all businesses are now coming online in one way or the other. We are so used to the digital world that often the first thing we do is check the company’s website to see the authenticity of the business.

Now imagine you are to do a $100,000 business with a vendor and their website looks like a complete disaster, would you still be equally confident to do the transaction? Obviously not, and this is when you already know about the vendor. Imagine what it would be like if you discovered someone randomly while surfing, you wouldn’t spend a second more and put that company on your never-to-do-business-with list.

On the other side, if there is a very well designed and beautifully built website, wouldn’t you be driven to strike a communication?. Pretty sure it’s a YES. Well designed websites give a perception of success and assurance of quality which significantly improves the chances of striking a deal.

You perceive what you see !!

Apple is probably the best real-life example you can have. Apple has minimal features, restrictive usage, battery and storage issues. And yet, at the time I write this article, Apple is #1 company by market value leaving behind companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. It also captures 51% of the smartphone market by revenue worldwide.

The main reason why people love Apple products so much is the UX of the product. Everything is super simple, easy to find and very convenient to use. Moreover, it has beautiful UI, Apple design is now the trendsetters and defines the standards.

When people see Apple products they perceive quality, assurance, value for money. So much that, arguably, customers are ready to pay double the money to Apple for the same products offered by the competitors.

Colours speaks a ton!!

Each color speak and helps in placing the brand appropriately with its target audience. It is important because colors will make your visitors feel like they belong here. If they don’t feel related they will never buy from you.

Kids websites will be in with bright vibrant colors like yellow, red, orange etc. Websites with serious content will generally be on black theme. Girls website will be in pink and designer website will be with multicolor.

Color also exhibits the moto and culture of the company. Hence this psychological phenomena helps your customers relate and understand your company and it’s ideologies. It helps in creating a brand loyalty

A well presented dish can taste and cost better!!

Yes it is true, scientifically saying. A well-presented dish has an effect on your taste, moreover, the customers are willing to pay higher. This holds true even in the WWW industry. The companies whose websites look better are able to charge a higher price for their services and customers are willing to pay it.

The presentation in question is your UI and the dish here is your content. The words that define what you do, who you are, and why you matter? The tone of the text should also be in synergy with the design and color scheme of the website in whole.

No decoration can cover up for food which tastes absurd, hence the content on your website plays a very crucial role. What will a visitor do if he cannot understand what the website is saying, or if the terminology is too complex to understand? Hence choose your words wisely keeping your target audiences in mind.

You get second chance only if you are able to impress in the first !!

Your company first impression is your home page. For the same reason designing your homepage needs the most time and costs almost the double in comparison to your other pages

Even on your homepage, it is your Banner, the first topmost segment of the page that appears on the screen, which holds utmost importance in designing a website. Your Banner should very clearly communicate, in minimum possible words, what the website is about.

The reason to make is bold is the sheer magnitude of importance that this line holds. Make a list of all the things you want your visitors to know about your business now place them in the sequential order of their importance. Design your website around this structure to make sure that you cover all the points and in the same sequence as you have marked them.

Designs are like stunt man, never visible but very important !!

A good design is one which is not too catchy to the eye and emphasizes more on the content and functions of the website. Too often founders start to love the work and want more an more till the website is filled with beautiful stuff all over it. Times too much, excessive design can distract your visitors and can overshadow some of the features of the website.

Make sure your design is built as a base to support your features and make users easily find the next actions and move easily throughout the website. The more time people spend on your website or the more quickly the visitors reach the payment screen, the much better since it will make a business for you.

Hope this will help you in your startup journey. Feel free to drop in emails I personally read and respond to each one of them. Would be happy to help you make a difference.