I’m often shocked by how few UX designers have a basic grasp of design psychology. I don’t know how or why this is happening, but more and more I’m seeing people, projects and portfolios where the basics are not being followed and it’s leading to a waste of time, effort and some really ill-thought through user experiences.
As I’ve already ranted about previously, the single most important skill in UX is being able to communicate your work and your thinking — either through artifacts and documentation or in person. And as an evidence-based craft, you have two options for presenting your design solutions credibly:
- It is based on a fundamental understanding of how human brains perceive and interact with things (design best practice; the application of principles of cognitive and behavioural psychology)
- You have conducted user testing (or other research methods) and iterated to reach the best design solution for your users.
Ideally you have done both.
Why?
Because best practice will allow you to design to a baseline of usability for most humans. Whereas user testing with your own target users will allow you to design incrementally for their unique needs.
