User experience is the most important aspect of a functional website. It can turn a raw idea into a working product, bringing in leads and customers and increasing market reputation. This increases functionality and value and makes a website pleasant to use. There are five main elements of user experience: strategy, scope, structure, skeleton, and surface. Read this in-depth article to understand all these in detail.
Strategy
Strategy can help satisfy business objectives and user needs at this initial stage. Before executing any idea, you must have a sound strategy. At this initial stage, it is important to answer some questions: Why would a customer buy your product? What product features can help their needs? This helps clarify the persona of your targeted audience and helps you make changes to the product. Market research, asking users for data, and understanding pain points are helpful. These can help create a UX with value and useful features for your audience.
Scope
This is the second element in user experience and determines the functional and content requirements. Functional requirements are the various features available on a website or app. These features should be interrelated as they help users reach their goals. Content requirements refer to all the image, video, and audio content available to users. This needs to be relatable so users can interact more attentively. All these requirements are laid down in specific and thorough form to establish a future action plan. This can significantly improve the user experience by making it smooth.
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Structure
This stage decides the priorities and how the user will interact with the final product. It involves two main factors: interaction design and information architecture. A good interaction design aims to establish a positive relationship with the user and states how the system can behave. Simple workflow, communication, information, and error prevention are important factors.
Another important aspect is information architecture, which signifies the arrangement of the content for easy understanding. It involves prioritization, organization, and categorizing the available information to suit the user. This helps them navigate and display content that is relevant to the user. It signifies the flow of the app as per the user intent.
Skeleton
This is the most presentable form of the website that interacts with the user. It includes arranging all parts and functionality and understanding the app’s appearance. At this stage, outlook drafts and drawings are made to finalize the website’s look. Wireframing is done at this stage of user experience, determining what designs the app will be based on. There three main components of the skeleton which are:
- Interface Design
- Navigation Design
- Information Design
Surface
This stage involves all a user’s sensory experiences, including font styles, colors, texture, and design elements. It is the top concrete plan concerned with creating the final pages of the product. Factors like carefully drawing the audience’s attention to key information are considered, and content should have a smooth, visible flow. There should be consistency in the visual appeal when defining your brand’s visual identity.
Final Words
All five of these elements are not independent and must be closely coordinated for an unbeatable user experience. Careful consideration should be given to rectifying errors and spotting minute details. This can set you apart from competitors and help provide a cohesive, responsive, and functional user experience.