Building User-Centric Experiences: 10 Foundational UX Laws for Exceptional Design

📚 10 Fundamental UX Laws for Exceptional Product Design

When it comes to designing great products, following key principles can significantly enhance the user experience (UX). These principles, often referred to as UX laws, are fundamental guidelines that designers should adhere to for creating products that are intuitive, engaging, and user-friendly.

Image by : Duane Levi Smith

Hick’s Law: Keep It Simple for Better User Experience (UX)

Hick’s Law states that the more choices a person has, the longer it will take for them to make a decision. To improve UX, simplify your design and minimize the number of options presented to users.

Fitts’s Law: Design for Ease of Use (UX)

Fitts’s Law states that the time required to move to a target area is a function of the distance to the target and the size of the target. Design interfaces with larger clickable areas and prioritize frequently used elements for easier navigation.

Miller’s Law: Manage Cognitive Load (UX)

Miller’s Law suggests that the average person can only keep seven (plus or minus two) items in their working memory at once. Design interfaces that present information in digestible chunks and avoid overwhelming users with too much information at once.

Jakob’s Law: Align with User Expectations (UX)

Jakob’s Law states that users prefer your site to work the same way as all the other sites they already know. Align your design with familiar patterns and conventions to reduce the learning curve for users.

Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule): Focus on What Matters Most (UX)

The Pareto Principle suggests that 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. Focus on the most critical features and functionality that will provide the most value to users.

Zeigarnik Effect: Use the Power of Incomplete Tasks (UX)

The Zeigarnik Effect states that people remember uncompleted or interrupted tasks better than completed tasks. Use this to your advantage by designing interfaces that encourage users to take action and complete tasks.

Gestalt Principles: Design for Perception (UX)

Gestalt Principles describe how people perceive visual elements as a whole rather than individual parts. Use principles such as proximity, similarity, closure, and continuity to create visually cohesive and meaningful designs.

Parkinson’s Law of Triviality (Bike-Shedding): Focus on What’s Important (UX)

Parkinson’s Law of Triviality suggests that people tend to give disproportionate weight to trivial issues. Focus on solving critical problems and avoid getting bogged down by minor details.

Occam’s Razor: Keep It Simple and Elegant (UX)

Occam’s Razor states that the simplest solution is often the best. When designing interfaces, strive for simplicity and avoid adding unnecessary complexity.

Tesler’s Law (Law of Conservation of Complexity): Maintain a Balance (UX)

Tesler’s Law suggests that every application has an inherent amount of complexity that cannot be eliminated. Instead, it is shifted from one place to another. Maintain a balance of complexity throughout your design to ensure a seamless user experience.

By following these fundamental UX laws, designers can create products that are not only visually appealing but also intuitive, engaging, and user-friendly.

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Authored by: [Niamh]

This collaborative research-driven exploration required [1] day of dedication and [2 to 3] hours of meticulous crafting.

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