A Case for Prioritizing UX
User Experience design (UX) isn't just about creating aesthetically pleasing interfaces. If you think pretty is the outcome of UX, you’ve potentially already lost the battle. Leveraging user experience is a strategic decision with tangible business benefits. Research consistently shows that companies prioritizing UX outperform their competitors in terms of customer loyalty, revenue growth, and market share.
Integrating UX into the Development Lifecycle
How might you effectively leverage UX in the software development process? Shift your mindset. Place the end-user at the center of decision-making. Consider these things:
User Research
Before even thinking about development, take the time to understand your target audience's needs, pain points, and wants. Research methods that involve interviews, surveys, and usability testing can provide reliable insights that inform design decisions.
Collaborate (and listen)
Get cross-functional and collaborate between teams. And even talk to your end-users during the process. By including stakeholders early and often, you’ll achieve product alignment with user expectations and see results from those KPIs. And yes, the sub-title was a Vanilla Ice song reference. You’re welcome.
Usability Testing
This is such an underutilized tool in the UX toolbelt. Regular testing allows you to identify and address usability issues before they impact the end-user. These could be small issues, such as buttons, form inputs, or a common one, not working on mobile. You can accomplish this through design prototypes or beta releases (if software), soliciting feedback from real users is essential for refining your software.
Iterate and then Iterate More
UX design isn’t one-and-done. It’s an investment over time. Gather feedback, analyze the information, and keep iterating.
Parting Thought
Add UX to your web or software lifecycle. It’s a game-changer and your customers (even if internal users) will love you for it. It really is a huge upside for your business.