Understanding User Experience: 12 Laws for Product Managers to Follow
- Peter Johnson
- Dec 5, 2023
- 3 min read
Product managers often manage a terrain where user behavior is directed by the fundamental rules known as the Laws of User Experience (UX). In this piece, we will look closely at the 12 essential UX laws, explaining each one and presenting practical examples from well-known products that reflect these ideas.
Fitts’s Law emphasizes the significance of having interactive components that are simple to find. Take Instagram’s heart symbol, for example. It is purposely located in an area that allows users to interact with content without difficulty.
By having a restricted selection, Apple reduces the cognitive stress of decision-making and results in a more positive experience for users. This can be observed in the company's simplified product range.
Adopting a consistent design for product pages in an e-commerce website can make it easier for users to find what they’re looking for, due to the familiarity of established norms. This helps to create a navigable environment for them.
Organizing comparable items together improves user understanding. Adobe Illustrator's toolbar is a fine illustration, as tools that share common characteristics are grouped logically, enabling a more intuitive design process.
Twitter's character limit is an embodiment of Miller's Law, pushing users to give information in easily comprehended parts. This design decision corresponds to the idea that our working memory has boundaries, and breaking down data into more manageable components helps understanding.
By emphasizing significant conversations above minor particulars, decision-making can be speeded up. When it comes to product creation meetings, concentrating on major components instead of becoming slowed down in smaller design aspects ensures speedy advancement.
Critical info placed at the start or end of a sequence aids in remembering. Video streaming sites often display popular content first or last in order to up the possibility that users will interact with it.
Google's search page follows Tesler's Law through its uncluttered design. Keeping the interface simple simplifies the process for users, allowing them to quickly and effectively complete their searches.
Visual elements are employed to draw attention to essential details. On e-commerce sites, discounts and call-to-action buttons tend to be notably different visually, capitalizing on the Von Restorff Effect to emphasize important products.
Progress bars are used in productivity apps to demonstrate task completion, taking benefit of the Zeigarnik Effect. Unfinished tasks are more probable to be engaging and remembered, thereby encouraging ongoing involvement with the product.
Instant messaging apps such as WhatsApp prioritize response times to create an optimal user experience. According to the Doherty Threshold, keeping the interaction rate under 400ms optimizes productivity and creates a more reactive interface.
Utilizing Gestalt principles such as proximity and similarity, the grid layout of Pinterest organizes a wide range of content in a cohesive way. Through gaining an understanding of how people interpret information as patterns, product managers can create products that are visually organized and appealing.
Adhering to the 12 Laws of UX is more than just a suggestion; it’s an assurance of creating a space where users feel respected, comprehended, and genuinely delighted. By analyzing the triumphs of noteworthy products that abide by these principles, product managers can move through the intricate domain of user experience with assurance and exactness. As we progress in the realm of digital products, understanding these UX laws is the secret to constructing products that users not only need, but genuinely appreciate.
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Considering Product Management, making Tech Decisions, focusing on UX Design, stabilizing User Experience, and creating a Product Strategy are all key components.
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