Our UX principles are broad rules of best practice formed by industry standard conventions and design best practice.
The principles are categorised into 4 areas:
- content & language
- form & data
- navigation & flow
- overall look & feel
Key UX Principles
Navigation
- Keep it simple, only show links to other pages if they are relevant
- Avoid hiding helpful text, tell the user what they need to know in the context of where it is needed.
Content
- Refine the copy and keep it short but self-explanatory, in plain English
- Be transparent by communicating why we need to capture the data
- Guide the user through the the site encouraging the behaviour we want users to follow.
Forms and data
- Only ask for information absolutely necessary, and when we do, make sure we know why we need it
- Keep simple tasks simple, if a user finds it difficult entering their name & address, then the full task becomes too daunting to try
- If jargon must be used for legislative reasons, give a plain English summary
- Less content per page allows for better understanding and acceptance before moving on to the next step
- Provide instructional text upfront to inform users of what key information they may need to complete their task.
How do we use these principles?
UX principles can be applied throughout the entire design process.
Example 1: Be inclusive of all gender identities.
Things to consider:
- individuals whose gender is unknown
- individuals who do not identify with either the masculine or the feminine
- a diverse group of people
| USE | AVOID |
|---|---|
| Charlie E. Smith | Mrs Charlie E. Smith |
| they or them | he/she |
| different sex | opposite sex |
| spouse or partner | husband and wife |
| parent | mother and father |
| Dear Homeowner | Dear Sir/Madam |
Example 2: Tone of voice
Be concise, direct and conversational, but not too colloquial. Use an active voice to make content easier to read and understand as well as making it clear who is doing what.
| USE | AVOID | REASON TO AVOID |
|---|---|---|
| Please call us | Give us a ring | Too friendly |
| Save the reference number. You will need it for future inquiries | The reference number should be saved in your records | Lacks clear direction and justification |
| You must submit the form to the approving official | The form must be submitted to the approving official | Does not identify the subject |
Benefits of following best practice
- Opportunities to design practical solutions that will improve the users experience
- Get it right upfront to improve effectiveness and first-time success rate
- Provide the best value from everyone’s time and experience
- Greater user satisfaction, with less frustration, stress or fatigue to users
- Improved efficiency and task completion time
- Ease of use and improved learnability
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