Katie Sherwin is a Senior User Experience Specialist with Nielsen Norman Group. She specializes in helping organizations utilize principles of user-centered design and strategic communication to achieve their goals.
Parallax-scrolling effects add visual interest, but they often create usability issues, such as content that is slow to load or hard to read. Consider if the benefits are worth the cost.
New research with users aged 3–12 shows that children have gained substantial proficiency in using websites and apps since our last studies, though many designs are still not optimized for younger users. Designing for children requires distinct usability approaches, including targeting content narrowly for children of different ages.
When UX is new to a team, you’ll have to spend time building support for UX initiatives. Make a strong case by understanding your audience, speaking their language, and calculating potential savings wherever possible.
Analytics data are only as valuable as the insights derived from them. Some figures can stand on their own while others need further research to be interpreted. To use analytics data confidently and accurately, teams must understand the difference.
Designs that quickly convey relationships between the user input and the result often use natural mappings or have a high stimulus–response compatibility.
Images are content, and different types of images serve different purposes. Decorative images have a role in establishing tone and emotional appeal, but they must not interfere with a user’s ability to accomplish a task.
Hick's Law (or the Hick–Hyman Law) says that the more choices you present to your users, the longer it takes them to reach a decision. However, combining Hick’s Law with other design techniques can make long menus easy to use.
User experiences that bring joy through ease or delight deserve our appreciation. We extend our gratitude for some of this year’s designs. Share what you’re thankful for with #GiveUXThanks.
