Our Fireside Chat with Usman of Flutterwave
Understanding UI / UX with Usman Abiola
The contrast between User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) is often a very confusing one. In many cases, the efficiency of a Web or Mobile Application depends wholly on their ability to make you use the product/service seamlessly. Luckily, Usman Abiola of Flutterwave graced us with his deep knowledge of UI and UX at this month’s Fireside Chat at the Slatecube HQ where he helped to demystify the secrets to understanding UI and UX for effective use.
Using his not-so-formal teaching approach, he was able to pass the knowledge across such that even a person with a technical IQ the size of a peanut could completely understand the perspective of UI and UX. He explained UI simply as a product and UX as how you use the product, i.e, the process involved in putting the product in use. Usman mentioned eight key steps to better UI and UX design. He also shared websites where design tools can be easily obtained and mastered for a better performance.
Let’s have a look at the eight steps;
Make the User Journey Easier
Giving value first when building a product is the key. Everyone wants to obtain value in whatever they do. You have to ensure that the product and service you are offering is relevant and valuable to the user. Remember you have just one Chance at first impression.
Your users journey through your website shouldn’t be a bumpy ride. Make it as easy as possible. Once a user clicks on a link, they expect to land on the page that contains the information or product they seek. A good designer puts himself in his user’s shoes, he knows that Internet users are popularly known for being impatient. Plan the users journey, help them get what they want.
Create Visual Hierarchy
Portray your text to be clear and more engaging. The actual words of your message have to be visible to even a visitor who may scan quickly to decide if it’s worth his time to stay. Ensure your important content is not difficult to find or buried in irrelevant parts. Guide the user to the information they should find first.
Design in a way that they will always know what to do next. The user should be able to navigate through your site easily. Don’t get too creative in such a way that users can’t interact with your site. Remember you want to keep them coming back. Guide the use, not instruct or command them.
Set the Right Tone and Voice
No matter the niche of your site, avoid too technical or unfriendly tone. Make use of everyday language to explain to the visitors how you can solve their problems. Your tone should be interactive and engaging, not commanding. The users should feel comfortable with your tone therefore make it friendly, confident but not intimidating.
Mind your Typography
Perhaps you want to be more creative with your style, everyone surely has their own tastes, but consider your page layout and font, ensure it follows the general trend. And more importantly make it consistent across your site.
Your images should be compressed to smaller size to fasten the loading time. Don’t forget you need speed, the simpler the design, the faster your pages will load.
Start with Goals and Define Where your Users Come From
Minding your goals and incorporating it with your users need is the key to success in Web designing. Keep in mind the locations of your customers, make your site usable in all devices, especially in mobile because most users prefer the on-the-go smartphones. So define your goals and at the same time think like a user.
Emphasis your Message, Use the “White Space”
Highlight and emphasis your message to make it more vivid. Never underestimate the visibility of a colored text in a white space. Avoid using bold and flashy colours to grab Attention.
Introduce how-it-go
Set a step by step tutorial about how to use your site. It is especially beneficial to new users.
Use Contrast but not too much
Using a contrast of colours in your text can increase visibility but too much of it can make your site unattractive and unprofessional. Don’t overlie a white text on a yellow background. Make your design simple and avoid too many colours.
Always have a mindset that you are making a design for the user not for yourself. Users run away from sites with poor usability, accessibility and navigation. User Interface should never override User Experience. The goal is to make your user experience impeccable.
Websites: www.desginindex.io, www.sansfrans.com
We enjoyed ourselves (which is common place at every of our Fireside Chats).
If you’d love to attend subsequent Meetups, or learn more about our programs, please find and follow us across all social networking platforms with the handle “Slatecube”. Also visit our website and see how we can help you build a career you’d be proud of, or start a great business.
