6. Parkinson’s Law
Parkinson’s Law states that work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion.
This principle is based on the idea that when people have more time, they tend to take their time, whereas when they are under time constraints, they work more efficiently.
- Application
Gmail Sign in page
One effective way UX Designers can apply this law is by the progressive disclosure method.
Progressive disclosure is a design technique that reveals information to users in stages, only as needed.
This can be used to implement Parkinson’s law by limiting the amount of information available at any given time, encouraging users to complete tasks faster.
7. Aesthetic-usability effect
The Aesthetic-Usability Effect is a principle that states that more aesthetically pleasing products are perceived by users to be easier to use than less aesthetically pleasing products.
We are more likely to believe something works well if it looks good.
- Application
Duolingo
The design of Duolingo has been shown to contribute to users’ perceptions of the app’s ease of use. The app’s clean and modern interface, combined with playful animations and bright colors, makes it visually appealing and engaging, potentially contributing to a positive user experience.
8. Zeigarnik Effect
The Zeigarnik effect is a psychological principle that states that people remember uncompleted or uninterrupted tasks better than completed tasks.
As a UX designer you can take advantage of this effect by breaking down larger tasks or goals into smaller, more manageable steps and providing users with visual cues such as progress bars to give them a sense of progress.
- Application
LinkedIn is a professional networking app that encourages users to complete their profiles by utilizing the Zeigarnik effect.
The app displays a progress bar that tracks the completion of each section of the user’s profile and encourages them to complete each section.
This helps users stay motivated and engaged with the app, even when they have a long list of tasks to complete.
9. Serial Position Effect
Serial position effect is a cognitive phenomenon where people tend to remember the first (primacy) and last (recency) items in a list more easily than those in the middle
This effect is frequently used in user experience design to assist users in remembering and engaging with critical information or items.
- Application
Amazon
Amazon uses the serial position effect in their product pages.
The first and last items displayed when a user navigates to a product page are frequently the most memorable. The product image is usually the first thing that the user sees, which makes it more memorable and increases the likelihood that the user will remember the product.
Near the bottom of the page is the user reviews section, which capitalizes on the recency effect by displaying the most recent reviews first, which are more memorable to users.
10. Law of Common Region
The law of common region is a principle in Gestalt psychology that states that elements that are located within a common boundary or region are perceived as a single group or unit.
This can be used to create visual organization and hierarchy on a page or screen, allowing users to better understand the relationships between different elements and navigate the interface.
- Application
YouTube
The Related Videos section on YouTube is an excellent example of how the Law of Common Region can be applied to UX design.
Each video is enclosed within a rectangle with a thumbnail image, title, and other video information such as the number of views and length. This rectangular area indicates that these videos belong together and form a distinct group.
By applying the Law of Common Region, YouTube has made it simple for users to find and watch additional videos that are related to the one they are currently watching.
Conclusion
The laws of UX provide designers with powerful insights and principles for creating effective and engaging user experiences. By mastering these laws, UX designers produce interfaces that are not just visually appealing but also effective, simple to use, and enjoyable for users.
