What Every Designers should know about User Interface and User Experience

Even Though User Interface and User Experience are used in same context by many designers it is not exactly the same. It is true that both User Experience and User Interface are related to each other in many ways but there are several differences between these. To be a successful designer one must know about the difference between User Interface and User Experience.

User Interface is the elements that makes the interaction between humans and machines possible. Through an effective user interface it is easy to operate and control the machine by the user. The user interface consists of both hardware and software related things which are used for giving data as well as getting feedbacks.

The major factors that makes a successful user interface is by providing a easy, efficient and enjoyable way to operate the machine with minimum effort. There are different kind of user Interface and Graphical user Interface is one of the most important among all categories. There are What Every Designers should know about User Interface and User Experience web based user interfaces which can be operated either via the keyboard and mouse or through touch screens.

User Interface Design involves the creation of a uniform and enjoyable way to make the interaction between machine and humans possible. For this it is essential to observe the human behavior through the interactive elements on the screen. there are several tools available for the creation of User Interface but the actual creation required broad experience.

User Experience usually involves studying about the behavior attitude and emotions a user experience during the operation of a product. How effective is the practical aspects that facilitates the interaction between the user and the computer is defined by the user experience. It also explains the extent upto which the operation of the machine is easy for the user. User experience is depended on various persons and it is difficult to determine upto what extend the user interface is creating a unique experience.  

Website Homepage Design Checklist

When the first time a user visits a web page the thing that will catch the eye are elements of design attractiveness and navigation. If the first impression they are going to get is bad then chances are that the visitors will go back to the search result or close the web page. There are many elements on the home page that can have impact on the customer and design is one of the first element which creates the first impression. There might be several reasons for putting up a website home page and like attracting visitors, educating visitors, converting the website browsers into customers etc.

Establishing the Identity
It is through the home page that the visitor comes to know about what the company is about and who are the key people in the organization and what are the main services and products of the company. While doing the design for home page it should be taken care that the website should be able to introduce the visitors to the details of the company and at the same time provide an idea about the brand. Creating a unique logo and design that are matching will have tremendous impact on the visitor.

Simplicity
Complexly designed website home page will make the visitors confused and this will lead them to abandon the web page. Multiple widgets and Multiple Call to Action usually will overwhelm the first time visitors. It is also be taken care of the factor associated with fonts and the fonts used in the website should be easy to read. Labelling different sections on the home page is also essential in creating a smooth flow to the eyes of the visitor.

Above the Fold
While doing the design of the home page another factor that should be taken care of is keeping relevant information above the fold. Without scrolling the web page the visitor should be able to see the major features of products or major services. The home page also need to be tested to make sure that the home page design loads the necessary parts above the fold in multiple browsers.

Use of Color
As far as possible keeping the color theme of the website aligned with the official logo is good. Using colors that are not matching with the overall theme of the website will have negative effect on users. While choosing colors it should be taken care of that the visual impact on users is emphasised with appropriate distribution of colors. Color contrast also should be checked for creating appealing designs. 

Why User Experience is Important for your Website

Internet Users who come to your website have high expectations about the content they are looking for. Most of the time they might be looking for a valuable experience and expect the website to be easy to navigate, aesthetically pleasing and emotionally satisfying. For retaining the existing customers and to gain news customers the user experience must be compelling in every way.

It is a well known fact that poor user experience can lead to reduced conversion rates, low retention of existing customers, increased redesign cost. A well designed web page with improved user experience will have low bounce rate and less chance of abandoning by users.

The three main advantage of improved user experience are as follows.

• Customers like to purchase more from a website offering improved user experience.
• Customers will do less business with the competitors if the user experience is better. 
• Customers will recommend your business if th user experience is compelling. 

The three factors that are contribution to the user experience are Usefulness, Usability and Desirability. The major reason why users visit a website is to achieve a goal. Up to what extend a website is useful will be the primary criteria for a website user. The next thing a user will will value will be the usability which involves the minimum effort to do a task on the website. The third thing a user looking for will be the desirability which is the extend to which the user enjoy the browsing experience.

The first step in creating a great user experience will be to know about the real users. Most of the time assuming that the developers know about the users creates problem. Creating online persona matching the profile of the customer should be the first step in the user experience excel. The requirement of the stakeholders might be different from that of the customer and aligning both through asking and listening is required in good user experience creation.

While creating design the primary importance should be given to user experience. Ignoring about what the users search and come to your website is also important while designing the website. It is also essential to test the designs for improving the usability factors. How much reliable is the information on the website and how much secure is the data is also have significance in design parameters.