UX Bare Minimum

As a designer and engineer, I've come to realize that there are three key concepts at the core of engineering great user experiences. These concepts are simple but can profoundly impact the usability and effectiveness of a user interface. Good designers are always thinking about what can be removed and not necessarily about what can be added, a mantra that keeps designs simple and focused.

My mental model is not meant to replace great lists like the 10 Usability Heuristics for User Interface Design, but to serve as a manageable mental list for UI engineers. These are the three key concepts that I believe are required for a UI to be able to provide a great user experience:

If we do our job well, people will not notice the design at all. They will simply be able to use the interface without friction or confusion. This is the essence of good design: making things easy and intuitive for the user.

When coding a user interface, it's easy to get caught up in implementation details and lose sight of the bigger picture. However, by keeping these three key concepts in mind, you can ensure your user interface is easy to use, intuitive, and effective.

It is assumed you and your team have already done the necessary research to understand the tasks (use cases) people need to accomplish using your interface and have agreed upon those tasks as the most important to focus on for the user experience.

1. Discoverability
   People should be able to quickly and easily discover the features they need to complete their tasks. This can be achieved through clear labeling, intuitive navigation, and prominent placement of key features. If people have to hunt for features, they may not realize those features are available, or they may become frustrated and give up.

2. Feedback
   People should receive immediate feedback when they interact with your interface. This can be as simple as changing the color of a button when it is clicked or displaying a loading spinner when data is being fetched. Feedback helps people understand what is happening and confirms that their actions are being registered.

3. Correction
   People should be able to easily correct any mistakes they make when using your interface. This can be achieved through clear error messages, undo functionality, and intuitive error handling. People will become frustrated if they make a mistake and cannot correct it.

By keeping these three key concepts in mind when designing and implementing your user interface, you can create a great user experience that is easy to use, intuitive, and effective. Remember, the best user interface is one that people don't notice at all. If people can use your interface without friction or confusion, you've done your job well.