Why User Design Matters
As someone who loves being creative, an area of web development that has always interested me is user design. It’s one of those things that can go unnoticed when done right, but when done wrong, it stands out immediately… When a design is intuitive and user-friendly, people stay, engage, and return. But when it’s confusing or frustrating to use, most users won’t hesitate to click away, and fast. In a world full of websites offering similar content, good design can be the reason someone chooses yours over the rest.
The Frustration of Bad Design
Bad user design often shows up in subtle but powerful ways. Nested menus that take more than a few clicks to get where you want to go, colour schemes that are either too bright, too muted, or too similar to each other, and layouts that try too hard to be unique can all make a site difficult to navigate. Add to that, images placed just for decoration (with no real purpose) and too many quirky design elements, and you’ve got a recipe for a frustrating user experience.
The Risk of Being “Too Different”
It’s important to stand out, but there’s a fine line between being unique and being unusable. If a layout is too unfamiliar, users might not want to spend the time figuring it out, especially if they’re just trying to find a piece of information quickly. While creativity is important, users still expect a certain level of familiarity when it comes to navigation, layout, and flow. When a design deviates too far from what feels “normal,” it can cause confusion and discourage people from staying.
What Makes Good User Design
Great design should feel effortless. It should be easy to navigate without needing instructions, and visually clear without overwhelming the user. Good use of colour supports the branding of the site but also maintains readability. Images should support the content, not distract from it. The best websites strike a balance between looking polished and being practical, they should guide the user naturally through the experience.
My Approach as a Developer
As I build my skills in web development, user design is always top of mind. I aim to create websites that are welcoming, simple to use, and aligned with what users expect (without being boring). I believe that when design is thoughtfully done, users shouldn’t even notice it. They just enjoy using the site. And that’s exactly the kind of experience I want to create.