We are seeing a significant advance in software development technologies. There are cutting-edge tools and tech stacks for each phase. As a result, we witness a massive change in the development process of websites and web applications. You will see millions of custom apps and websites in the market. Each with functionalities and features that can attract users. However, a website’s success still depends on the way a user perceives it. They are ready to interact with the product only if it meets their demands. So, how can we attract our users? Yes, it is through the UI/UX designs. Read on to find out more about user experience, its benefits, types and process.
User Experience or UX in software development is a strategy to give a positive experience to the users when they connect with the app. It is all about how an app works and feels when a person uses it. Besides, it is part of the software design process that makes the design more intuitive and easier to understand. As a result, the designer ensures to keep a proper balance between the different aspects of the app. In other words, they take into account the app’s performance, navigability and readability to give a better user experience.
So, in this blog, we will discuss the following:
- Why is UX significant for software development?
- UX Design Process
- Techniques of UX designers
- Types of UX Designs
- Types of UX Designers
Why is UX Significant for Software Development?
UX has gained popularity since it offers a competitive advantage for firms in today’s business world. It helps to fulfil the users’ needs and demands. Besides, it provides a positive experience for your users, keeping them loyal to your brand. Now, let us break down the importance of UX in software development by pointing out its benefits. They are as follows:
- Improves Usability: A website with easy navigation and responsive features can attract users to your app. UX will help your application satisfy your clients. As a result, you can gain and retain loyal customers for your product. It will help raise your user base and increase the ROI of your brands.
- Understand Audience: Developing a poor web application makes you lose your customers. Therefore, you must know your users’ needs and requirements before building an app. It will help you design a user-centric app that gives the user an impression. Besides, UX guides you in segmenting your audience to understand their wants.
- Save cost and time: If your application has an effective UX architecture, there is less need for consistent updation. As a result, it will help save you time and money for the development process.
- Brand positioning: When you invest in effective UX in software development, you can make your customer happy with an engaging app. As a result, it will increase your brand reputation and customer base. Moreover, you will get much value for your business.
What are the Steps in UX Design Process?
The ultimate purpose of UX design is to build web applications that are user-friendly and engaging to use. Therefore, the software developer to UX designer must understand the needs and wants of users. It helps them to create an application that has intuitive user interfaces. So they must execute an effective UX design process for developing apps. Given below is the typical UX design process:
- Research: A thorough research guides you in understanding the needs and requirements of the users. A business analyst performs this step through tools like interviews and surveys. They assess market trends and applications of competitors to gain insights on UX in software development.
- Planning: The next step is to plan the overall structure of the application. You can decide the features and functionalities required for the app.
- Designing: Here, you can create the user interfaces for your app. You can decide on the colour scheme, layouts and typography. Besides, building wireframes and prototypes helps the designer give a mock-up of their vision to others.
- Testing: Testing ensures the quality of the user experience software development. It helps to identify errors in the design that have the potential to damage the software.
- Deploy: After testing the design, it is ready to get launched to the end-users.
- Maintenance: With the help of user feedback, you can maintain and support the software. It will keep your product on the market for the long term.
Depending on the software development methodology, the UX in software development may also shift. Software development approaches like Agile/DevOps require designers to make modifications in between.
What are the Techniques for UX Used by Designers?
UX designs keep the applications readable and engaging for the users. They help define the brand standard and increase customer satisfaction. As a result, it is essential to follow tasks and methods that improve the quality of user experience in software development. Given below are some techniques used by UX designers:
- Consistent Analysis of Current System: Most UX professionals evaluate their existing software to identify problems. After that, based on their analysis, they will prepare a report explaining the issue and ways to fix it.
- A/B testing: A/B testing or Split testing involves the designers building two variants of the UX design. It will help them analyze which design performs better. As a result, they can move on with the one that is more effective and engaging.
- Wireframes and Prototypes: UX professionals build wireframes and prototypes based on their findings on UX in software development. Creating wireframes and prototypes helps the designers to give their design concept to others involved in the development process.
- User Surveys: As the name suggests, this technique involves taking feedback from potential users. It guides the designers to gain insights into the design format. The designers can interact with the users and gather valuable information. Besides, it is the best way to improve the UX of the software.
- User Flows: User flows involve designing the user interface for better navigation. It helps the designers to determine the best way for the users to move around the system.
- Design Patterns: The designers decide on the custom design patterns based on the software requirement. It will keep the layout of the application consistent and uniform. As a result, it gives a better UX in software development.
What are the Types of UX designs?
There are three types of UX designs. They are as follows:
- Interaction Design: It focuses on how a user interacts with different features given in the app. It emphasizes UI elements like menus, buttons, page transitions, etc.
- Information Architecture: It involves organizing content on the app or website. It helps the developer build the user flows and navigation of the app.
- Visual Design: As the name suggests, this UX design focus on the look and feel of the app delivered to the users. It highlights the colour scheme, images and typography.
What are the Types of UX Designers?
Designers need to work hand-in-hand for a positive UX in software development. Given below are the types of user experience designers:
- Graphic Designer: They focus on the visual look of the software application.
- UX Researchers: They research to understand the needs and wants of users.
- UX Program Manager: They are the team leader in UX projects who ensure smooth communication and collaboration between designers in a team.
- UX Writers: They create copies or interface texts to help users to navigate the website for products.
- Product Designers: They monitor the entire design process to ensure initial and final designs are the same.
Conclusion
We can conclude by saying that UX is a significant building unit of software development services. It helps to keep the software application engaging and responsive for the users. If the software development only focuses on the user interfaces and not the user experience, it will badly impact the application. Users often look for apps that give them a positive experience. Therefore, one must keep the UX in software development enthralling and user-friendly.