The Role of User Research in Successful UX Design

What is User Experience?

Generally speaking, user experience is simply the way people feel when they use a product or service. In most cases, this product is a website or some kind of application. Every instance of human-object interaction has an associated user experience, but generally, UX professionals are interested in the relationship between human users and computers, and computer-based products; be it websites, applications, systems, etc. that interest them.

 What is a UX Designer?

A UX designer is someone who studies and analyzes how users feel about the products they offer. UX designers apply this knowledge to product development to ensure that users have the best possible experience with the product. UX designers conduct research, analyze the results, communicate their findings to other development team members, monitor development projects to ensure their findings are implemented, and much more.

Why is UX important?

Product design used to be simple: designers built what they thought was cool and hoped customers would like. Unfortunately, there are two problems with this approach:

First, there was much less competition for people’s attention online back then.

Second, this approach didn’t take the users of the product into account at all.

The success or failure of a development project depended as much on luck as it did on the judgment of the design team. Focusing on UX puts the design at the center of the user, which increases the chances of the project being successful when it is eventually brought to market, especially since it doesn’t rely on users’ trust to adopt the product just because it’s a brand name.

 Where can you find UX design?

 UX design is currently used in a variety of project environments, including Complex projects – the more complex the project, the more important UX design is. Too many mishandled features can dislike users like no other.  Startups – startups may not have a dedicated UX team, but UX is always part of the target. High-tech startups developing innovative projects need to understand user emotions better than established companies.  Projects with a proper budget – UX is often omitted in low-value projects, but development project teams with a proper budget tend to spend a portion of their finances on it.  Put resources into UX to ensure a return on investment within your budget. Long-term projects – the longer a project lasts, the more resources it consumes. Therefore, UX is always more important to get a return on your investment.

What are the main techniques in UX?

The main method used to ensure user experience in most projects is user-centered design. Simply put, user-centered design is about meeting needs and expectations User behavior should be taken into account when designing. As a UX designer, it is important to remember that user-centered design is a means to a good UX, not the only method or tool you can use to achieve the best UX in one surefire project.

What are User Needs?

User needs refer to users’ desires, goals, preferences and expectations when they interact with a product or service. These can encompass a wide range of factors such as:

1. Useful
2. Usable
3. Findable
4. Credible
5. Desirable
6. Accessible
7. Valuable

Let’s take a look at each factor in turn and what it means for the overall user experience:

1. Useful:

If a product is not useful to anyone, why put it on the market? Without a purpose, it cannot compete for attention in a market full of purposeful and useful products. Note that “useful” is in the eye of the beholder, and anything that offers a non-practical benefit, such as fun or beauty, is considered “useful”. For example, a computer game or a sculpture can both be considered useful even if the user does not achieve a goal that others would consider useful. In the first case, a teenager can use the game to release fear after a difficult exam at university. In the latter case, a visitor to a museum can “use” the sculpture to learn about the artist’s technique and traditions, while at the same time experiencing spiritual pleasure by admiring it.

2. Usable:

Usability is about enabling users to achieve the end goal of a product effectively and efficiently. At least for now, most people only have two hands, so a computer game that requires three control pads is probably unusable. A product can still be successful if it’s unusable, but it’s less likely to be successful. Poor usability is often associated with the first generation of a product. Think of the first-generation MP3 player, which has since lost market share to the more user-friendly iPod. The iPod wasn’t the first MP3 player, but it was the first truly usable MP3 player, at least in a UX sense.

3. Findable:

Findable refers to the idea that a product should be easy to find. In the case of digital and information products, the content should also be easy to find. The reason is simple:  if we can’t find the content we want on a website, we stop browsing the website. If you pick up a newspaper and the articles are not organized into sections like sports, entertainment, business, etc., but are randomly placed all over the page, you will probably find it very frustrating to read the newspaper. The same is true when looking for an LP in a vintage music store. While some people consider it part of the fun and ritual to browse through shelves filled with random items from different artists, many of us would rather look at an alphabetized section, buy what we want, and go out. And go on with our day. For most of us, time is a precious commodity, but it is mainly due to a small factor called “finite lifespan.” Discoverability is therefore crucial to the user experience of many products.

4. Credible:

The 21st century user will not give you a second chance to be fooled. In almost every field, there are plenty of options to choose from reliable product providers. If you don’t give them a reason to stay, they can and will leave in a few seconds and a few clicks. Reliability refers to the user’s ability to trust the product you offer. It means not only that the product will achieve its intended purpose, but also that it will last for a reasonable period of time and that the information provided is accurate and useful. It is nearly impossible to deliver a good user experience if the user thinks the product manufacturer is a lying clown with evil intentions. Instead, the user will quickly shop elsewhere, with the impression left by the manufacturer very vividly in mind. By the way, they may also tell others in passing, or more specifically in the form of feedback, to warn them when considering potential customers or “victims”.

5.  Desirable:

Desirability in design is driven by branding, image, identity, aesthetics and emotion.
 Design communicates. The more desirable a product is, the more likely users who own it will brag about it and generate desire among others.

6.  Accessible:

Unfortunately, accessibility is often lost when creating user experiences. Accessibility is about providing an experience that is accessible to users of all abilities, including people with disabilities such as: hearing impairments, visual impairments, mobility impairments, learning disabilities, etc. Companies often consider developing accessible products a waste of money. This is due to the continuing misconception that people with disabilities are only a small percentage of the population. When building accessible products, it is also important to keep in mind that you are often creating products that are easy to use for everyone, not just people with disabilities. Don’t ignore accessibility in your user experience. It’s not just about showing courtesy and courtesy, it’s also about using common sense.

7.  Valuable:

Ultimately, a product must provide added value: to the company that produces it, and to the users who buy or use it. Without added value, the initial success of a product may eventually fade as the realities of natural economics begin to undermine it.  As designers, we need to remember that value is one of the most important factors influencing purchasing decisions.

Why User Needs are the Backbone of UX Design?

To design with user needs in mind comes with its own set of challenges. User experience (UX) designers face obstacles as they try to identify, prioritize and address user needs effectively from these users’ problems—and more.

 

Conclusion:

User experience design allows organizations to become user-centric, which is very important in today’s business world. Research with users helps in the interaction between the company and the user, allowing designers to test the created concepts and come up with innovative ideas that have not been thought of before. Research is expensive, but it is worth carrying out, as it brings countless benefits. It is also worth emphasizing that if the product does not meet the needs of the users by providing unsatisfactory interactions, the costs incurred by the organization in connection with the failure of the project will be incomparably higher than the costs of performing the provided service. For research.  Thanks to the analysis of literature and internet sources, we can conclude that research with users is very important in user experience design. Although the research process consists of many activities and takes a long time, it is still worth using in organizations. In addition to satisfying the needs of users, the company also improves the atmosphere in the team, and employees have the opportunity to grow while implementing the project. It is also worth mentioning that in user experience design, choosing the right research method is very important. The choice should be based on many factors, such as: B. the type of product or service, the budget, the time allotted for the research, and knowledge of research methods. However, it should be emphasized that knowledge of research methods should not be the main factor in the choice. Using previously unused research methods within an organization can yield many beneficial results and improve employee skills. A careful research phase in user experience design can help businesses launch their products and services successfully.

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At DevRaulic, we believe that understanding your users is key to exceptional design. Our web design and development experts leverage in-depth user research to create intuitive and engaging experiences. Partner with us to ensure your UX design is not only successful but also truly user-centered. Contact us today to take your digital experience to the next level.