<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Department Six: Design]]></title><description><![CDATA[Exploring All Things UX/UI Related]]></description><link>https://departmentsix.substack.com/s/uxui-in-90-seconds</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wwkG!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc8d9226e-fb11-4e8d-862f-9876077a00ce_256x256.png</url><title>Department Six: Design</title><link>https://departmentsix.substack.com/s/uxui-in-90-seconds</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:19:33 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://departmentsix.substack.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Department Six]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[departmentsix@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[departmentsix@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Ash Hewitson]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Ash Hewitson]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[departmentsix@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[departmentsix@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Ash Hewitson]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[Simplifying Navigation (Don't Make Me Think)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Explore UX/UI in 90 Seconds, Because Who's Got the Time?]]></description><link>https://departmentsix.substack.com/p/uxui-in-90-seconds-simplifying-navigation</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://departmentsix.substack.com/p/uxui-in-90-seconds-simplifying-navigation</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ash Hewitson]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 18 Nov 2024 16:51:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aOpw!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb1b4ace0-d278-4d7f-ab67-49695c4ef410_2912x1632.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aOpw!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb1b4ace0-d278-4d7f-ab67-49695c4ef410_2912x1632.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aOpw!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb1b4ace0-d278-4d7f-ab67-49695c4ef410_2912x1632.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aOpw!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb1b4ace0-d278-4d7f-ab67-49695c4ef410_2912x1632.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aOpw!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb1b4ace0-d278-4d7f-ab67-49695c4ef410_2912x1632.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aOpw!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb1b4ace0-d278-4d7f-ab67-49695c4ef410_2912x1632.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aOpw!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb1b4ace0-d278-4d7f-ab67-49695c4ef410_2912x1632.png" width="1456" height="816" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/b1b4ace0-d278-4d7f-ab67-49695c4ef410_2912x1632.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:816,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:6627470,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aOpw!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb1b4ace0-d278-4d7f-ab67-49695c4ef410_2912x1632.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aOpw!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb1b4ace0-d278-4d7f-ab67-49695c4ef410_2912x1632.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aOpw!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb1b4ace0-d278-4d7f-ab67-49695c4ef410_2912x1632.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aOpw!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb1b4ace0-d278-4d7f-ab67-49695c4ef410_2912x1632.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>In UX/UI, navigation is your user&#8217;s guide to conversion, engagement, and eternal happiness&#8211;okay maybe not quite the last one, but definitely a functioning checkout page. Good navigation should feel effortless and intuitive. If your users are clicking aimlessly and running into dead ends, congratulations&#8212;you&#8217;ve built a digital escape room.</p><p>Let&#8217;s simplify navigation to make your user experience friction-free.</p><div><hr></div><h3>Users Are Lazy, and That&#8217;s Okay</h3><p>Alright, they&#8217;re not lazy; they&#8217;re efficiency experts, and they didn&#8217;t come to your site for an intellectual workout&#8212;they came to solve a problem, click a button, or buy a questionable gadget at 2 a.m. The harder you make it to find things, the faster they&#8217;ll bounce (rate) off.</p><p>Simple navigation = happy users = fewer drop-offs. Win-win.</p><p><strong>Stop Giving Users a Headache</strong></p><ol><li><p><strong>Use Clear Labels (Be Obvious, Not Clever)</strong><br>Creative labels are cool&#8212;for <em>you</em>. But if &#8220;The Tea&#8221; is your blog or &#8220;Haul Core&#8221; is your checkout, users will rage-quit faster than you can say &#8220;ChatGPT Gen Z terms.&#8221; Stick with the classics: &#8220;Home,&#8221; &#8220;Shop,&#8221; &#8220;Contact&#8221; &#8211;and if you really want to be fancy, &#8220;Get in Touch&#8221;.</p></li><li><p><strong>Keep It Consistent and Reliable</strong><br>Changing your menu style or link placement on different pages is like driving from the suburbs straight onto Fury Road. Chaos and rage. Consistency in navigation builds trust and helps users feel in control. </p></li><li><p><strong>Minimise Clicks, It&#8217;s Not a Scavenger Hunt</strong><br>If it takes more than three clicks to find essential info, users are going to bail. The &#8220;Three-Click Rule&#8221; isn&#8217;t a law, but it&#8217;s a good guideline. We&#8217;ll all go down the rabbit hole if we perceive value, but essential tasks/pages/goals, shouldn&#8217;t be more than a couple taps away.&nbsp;</p></li><li><p><strong>Don&#8217;t Bury Key Actions </strong><br>&#8220;Sign Up,&#8221; &#8220;Buy Now,&#8221; &#8220;Adopt a Pet Rock&#8221;&#8212;whatever it is, make it OBVIOUS. Use size, contrast, and positioning to say, &#8220;Click me!&#8221; without actually screaming it. </p></li></ol><p><strong>Amazon&#8217;s Simple Checkout Process</strong></p><p>You know how Amazon&#8217;s &#8220;Buy Now&#8221; button is always there, staring into your soul? That&#8217;s the gold standard. They&#8217;ve turned a one-click checkout into a weapon of mass wallet destruction. Fewer clicks, less friction, and before you know it, you&#8217;ve bought seven things you didn&#8217;t need.</p><p>Reduce the mental effort: Keep labels clear, minimise clicks, and make your key actions obvious. The smoother the experience, the happier your users will be. Happy users are loyal users&#8212;and loyal users bring friends.</p><div><hr></div><p>If you found this article insightful, subscribe to our newsletter for more discussions on design and business strategy!</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://departmentsix.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://departmentsix.substack.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[UX/UI In 90 Seconds: The New $300 Million Button]]></title><description><![CDATA[Exploring UX/UI in 90 Seconds, Because Who's Got the Time?]]></description><link>https://departmentsix.substack.com/p/uxui-in-90-seconds-the-new-300-million</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://departmentsix.substack.com/p/uxui-in-90-seconds-the-new-300-million</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ash Hewitson]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 06 Nov 2024 08:31:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ooE5!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe749bb60-c2e9-46e1-9866-79a5c7b8d5c0_2912x1632.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ooE5!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe749bb60-c2e9-46e1-9866-79a5c7b8d5c0_2912x1632.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ooE5!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe749bb60-c2e9-46e1-9866-79a5c7b8d5c0_2912x1632.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ooE5!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe749bb60-c2e9-46e1-9866-79a5c7b8d5c0_2912x1632.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ooE5!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe749bb60-c2e9-46e1-9866-79a5c7b8d5c0_2912x1632.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ooE5!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe749bb60-c2e9-46e1-9866-79a5c7b8d5c0_2912x1632.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ooE5!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe749bb60-c2e9-46e1-9866-79a5c7b8d5c0_2912x1632.png" width="728" height="408" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e749bb60-c2e9-46e1-9866-79a5c7b8d5c0_2912x1632.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:false,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:816,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:728,&quot;bytes&quot;:8258698,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ooE5!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe749bb60-c2e9-46e1-9866-79a5c7b8d5c0_2912x1632.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ooE5!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe749bb60-c2e9-46e1-9866-79a5c7b8d5c0_2912x1632.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ooE5!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe749bb60-c2e9-46e1-9866-79a5c7b8d5c0_2912x1632.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ooE5!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe749bb60-c2e9-46e1-9866-79a5c7b8d5c0_2912x1632.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Remember the $300 million button? Back in the late 2000s, a simple tweak to a button within an e-commerce checkout journey boosted revenue by $300 million within a year&#8212;and set a precedent for unrealistic client expectations on quick fixes with massive payoffs.</p><p>Now, there's a new MVP in town: the <em>Skip Intro</em> button. Netflix introduced it, YouTube likely inspired it, and Disney Plus enhanced it with auto-skipping. This humble button is a perfect case study of empathy-driven design in action, showing how designing for people can deliver massive ROI. But what makes these seemingly simple designs so effective? Let&#8217;s break it down.</p><div><hr></div><h3>The Original $300 Million Button</h3><p>Your goal: <em>Checkout</em>. Your options: &#8216;<em>Log In&#8217;,</em> &#8216;<em>Register&#8217;,</em> or &#8216;<em>Forgot Password&#8217;</em>. </p><p>Unsurprisingly, the checkout process led to high cart abandonment.</p><p>While intentional friction can be a necessary evil, here it resulted in 160,000 daily "Forgot Password" clicks and zero conversions. </p><p>But instead jumping to design for designs sake, their team empathised with their customers to identify the point of friction. </p><p>What was eventually seen as a small change by customers - replacing &#8216;Register&#8217; to &#8216;Continue&#8217; for guest checkout - was actually the culmination of deep levels of insight and empathy. This adjustment not only enhanced the user experience but resulted in boosting sales by 45%, generating $300 million in additional revenue in the first year alone - without throwing design at it for designs sake.</p><h3>A Hero for the Digital Age</h3><p>Now, fast (or skip) forward to Netflix&#8217;s <em>Skip Intro</em> button. It&#8217;s hard to imagine binge watching a series without it but up until 2017, such was life. The inclusion of that tiny button has given users control over their viewing experience and  saved millions of collective hours of intro fatigue. It&#8217;s a simple single click with enormous improvement in user satisfaction, giving viewers instant access to what they really care about&#8212;<em>the content, or backtrack to their doom scrolling</em>.</p><h3>Keeping it Frictionless</h3><p>At the end of the day, both buttons aimed to eliminate friction by empathising with the human on the other side of the screen.</p><ul><li><p><strong>$300 Million Button</strong> removed unnecessary steps in the checkout process, making it about the customers need to efficiently complete their purchase goal, while the</p></li><li><p><strong>Skip Intro Button</strong> removed the repetitive annoyance of watching the same intro every 20 minutes, enhancing the viewing pleasure of the user. </p></li></ul><h3>These Buttons Work Because&#8230;</h3><p>Users want simplicity. The less hassle they face, the more likely they are to complete a desired action&#8212;whether it&#8217;s buying a product or diving into the next episode of their favourite show.</p><p>The buttons effectively </p><ul><li><p><strong>Tackled user frustrations head-on</strong> by removing barriers to engagement and provided users with exactly what they wanted&#8212;speed and ease.</p></li><li><p><strong>Created a smoother, more efficient experience</strong>, perfectly aligning with users' expectations for convenience.</p></li></ul><p>And resulted in </p><ul><li><p><strong>Boosted engagement</strong>, which for Netflix meant more people finishing episodes resulting in higher platform engagement, while the e-commerce site experienced fewer abandoned carts and higher sales and conversions.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><h3>Small Button, Big Human Impact</h3><p>Both the <em>$300 million button</em> and Netflix&#8217;s <em>Skip Intro</em> button highlight the power of empathy-driven design and showcase that by addressing user frustrations and removing unnecessary friction, seemingly minor changes delivered massive results.</p><p>The key takeaway? While we all value simplicity and speed, our users are real people who want to feel accommodated for within your product or service. Designing with empathy, catering to their needs, and creating smoother experiences can drive both engagement and business growth&#8212;without overcomplicating the solution. Sometimes, less truly is more.</p><p>Want more tips on effectively designing tech for people? Check out <a href="https://departmentsix.substack.com/p/the-nuances-of-being-human-in-a-digital">Designing for Humans in a Digital Landscape.</a></p><div><hr></div><p>If you found this article insightful, subscribe to our newsletter for more discussions on design and business strategy!</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Transforming User Experience into Measurable Business Success]]></title><description><![CDATA[Unlocking the True Value of UX With Tangible ROI and Stakeholder Buy-In.]]></description><link>https://departmentsix.substack.com/p/unlock-the-true-value-of-ux-design</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://departmentsix.substack.com/p/unlock-the-true-value-of-ux-design</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ash Hewitson]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 06 Nov 2024 08:14:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9a-B!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffb639735-c0b9-4efa-8dc3-b13b8c332c7c_2912x1632.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9a-B!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffb639735-c0b9-4efa-8dc3-b13b8c332c7c_2912x1632.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9a-B!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffb639735-c0b9-4efa-8dc3-b13b8c332c7c_2912x1632.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9a-B!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffb639735-c0b9-4efa-8dc3-b13b8c332c7c_2912x1632.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9a-B!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffb639735-c0b9-4efa-8dc3-b13b8c332c7c_2912x1632.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9a-B!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffb639735-c0b9-4efa-8dc3-b13b8c332c7c_2912x1632.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9a-B!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffb639735-c0b9-4efa-8dc3-b13b8c332c7c_2912x1632.png" width="728" height="408" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/fb639735-c0b9-4efa-8dc3-b13b8c332c7c_2912x1632.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:false,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:816,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:728,&quot;bytes&quot;:6019586,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9a-B!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffb639735-c0b9-4efa-8dc3-b13b8c332c7c_2912x1632.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9a-B!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffb639735-c0b9-4efa-8dc3-b13b8c332c7c_2912x1632.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9a-B!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffb639735-c0b9-4efa-8dc3-b13b8c332c7c_2912x1632.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9a-B!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffb639735-c0b9-4efa-8dc3-b13b8c332c7c_2912x1632.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>If I had a dollar for every time a suit discredited the importance of UX design to deliver on KPI&#8217;s and boost profits, this article would be equal parts sandy and informative as I write to you from my villa in Bora Bora.&nbsp;</p><p>But since most people only want to part with their money for actual services rendered, and I am not in fact, beach side, let&#8217;s take a deep dive into one area that often goes unnoticed when measuring return on investment (ROI): User experience design.&nbsp;</p><p>While the advantages of UX are well-recognised among fellow design professionals, translating these benefits into tangible business metrics can be tricky&#8212;especially when persuading stakeholders who prioritise numbers and KPIs&#8212;and explaining the <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/departmentsix/p/uxui-in-90-seconds-the-new-300-million?r=4ieaud&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;showWelcomeOnShare=true">&#8216;million dollar button&#8217;</a> only gets you so far.&nbsp;</p><p>Fret not, this comprehensive step-by-step guide will help you quantify the impact of UX design and showcase its true value to your stakeholders. So, grab your coffee, let&#8217;s get comfortable.</p><div><hr></div><h2><strong>Step One: Understanding Why Measuring UX ROI Essential</strong></h2><p>You might be asking yourself, isn&#8217;t UX a standard requirement for digital products and therefore reporting on its importance a &#8216;Moo&#8217; point (iykyk)? Yes, and no.&nbsp;And it&#8217;s this confusion that underscores why <strong>understanding the importance of measuring UX ROI</strong> is the first step toward demonstrating its value:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Justify Investment</strong>: Show that funds allocated to UX design generate positive returns.</p></li><li><p><strong>Improve Decision-Making</strong>: Use data-driven insights to refine design strategies.</p></li><li><p><strong>Enhance Stakeholder Confidence</strong>: Build trust and support for ongoing and future UX initiatives.</p></li><li><p><strong>Align UX with Business Goals</strong>: Ensure that design efforts contribute to overarching business objectives.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><h2><strong>Step Two: Determining KPIs for Measuring UX ROI</strong></h2><p>At the end of the day, the most effective UX KPIs will be related to your digital product, but these three are pretty essential to success:</p><h4><strong>Conversion Rates</strong></h4><p>The percentage of users who complete a desired action, such as making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or downloading a resource.</p><p><strong>Why it&#8217;s important</strong>: No one is looking to launch a product that deters engagement and conversion. Developing a seamless and intuitive user experience can significantly boost conversion rates by reducing friction and drop-off points throughout the journey.</p><p><strong>Measurement methods</strong>:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Before and After Comparisons</strong>: Track conversion rates before and after implementing UX changes.</p></li><li><p><strong>A/B Testing</strong>: Compare different design versions to determine which performs better.</p></li><li><p><strong>Funnel Analysis</strong>: Identify stages where users drop off and optimise those specific touch points.</p></li></ul><div class="pullquote"><p><em>&#8220;A client of ours spent hours in meetings trying to understand how to boost their sales percentage, but they weren&#8217;t exactly </em><strong>doing</strong><em> anything about it. So, we suggested performing a funnel analysis on their customer journey to understand where they were experiencing the most drop-offs. Once we had those down, we were able to optimise their sales journey and A/B test at key points, which saw their sales grow by 800% over a six month period.&#8221;&nbsp;</em></p></div><h4><strong>User Satisfaction Scores</strong></h4><p>Metrics that gauge just how satisfied users are with their experience, typically measured through surveys and feedback forms.</p><p><strong>Why it&#8217;s important</strong>: High user satisfaction often translates to increased loyalty, repeat business, and positive word-of-mouth referrals.</p><p><strong>Measurement Methods</strong>:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Net Promoter Score (NPS)</strong>: Measures the likelihood of users recommending your product to others.</p></li><li><p><strong>Customer Satisfaction (CSAT)</strong>: Collects direct feedback on user satisfaction with specific aspects of the product.</p></li><li><p><strong>System Usability Scale (SUS)</strong>: A standardised questionnaire to evaluate the usability of a system.</p><p></p></li></ul><h4><strong>Task Completion Rates</strong></h4><p>The percentage of users who successfully complete a specific task within your product, such as finding information, completing a form, or navigating to a particular section.</p><p><strong>Why it&#8217;s important</strong>: High task completion rates indicate that users can effectively interact with your product, leading to better overall user experiences and reduced frustration.</p><p><strong>Measurement Methods</strong>:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Usability Testing</strong>: Observe users as they attempt to complete tasks and record success rates.</p></li><li><p><strong>Analytics Tools</strong>: Use tools like<a href="https://analytics.google.com/"> Google Analytics</a> to track user behaviour and task completion.</p></li><li><p><strong>Heatmaps</strong>: Visual representations of where users click, scroll, and spend time can highlight areas needing improvement.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><h2><strong>Step Three: Don&#8217;t Throw Everything AND The Kitchen Sink At It&nbsp;</strong></h2><p>As important as determining your KPIs are, going at your UX with every methodology under the sun is a sure fire way to overpromise, under deliver and prove to a boardroom of suits why listening to product designers is a hindrance to profit. Let&#8217;s take look at some methodologies for quantifying UX impact:</p><h4><strong>Usability Testing</strong></h4><p>Conduct sessions where real users interact with your product while observers note any issues or successes.</p><p><strong>Why it works</strong>:</p><ul><li><p>Identifies specific pain points and areas for improvement.</p></li><li><p>Provides qualitative data that complements quantitative metrics.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Tips</strong>:</p><ul><li><p>Use a mix of remote and in-person testing to gather diverse insights.</p></li><li><p>Focus on key tasks that align with business goals.</p><p></p></li></ul><h4><strong>A/B Testing</strong></h4><p>Compare two or more versions of a design to see which performs better in terms of predefined KPIs.</p><p><strong>Why it works</strong>:</p><ul><li><p>Directly measures the impact of specific design changes.</p></li><li><p>Minimises guesswork by relying on actual user behaviour data.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Tips</strong>:</p><ul><li><p>Test one variable at a time to isolate its effect.</p></li><li><p>Ensure a sufficient sample size for statistically significant results.</p><p></p></li></ul><h4><strong>Analytics and Tracking</strong></h4><p>Utilise web and app analytics tools to monitor user behaviour and interactions.</p><p><strong>Why it works</strong>:</p><ul><li><p>Provides real-time data on user engagement and performance.</p></li><li><p>Helps identify trends and patterns over time.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Tips</strong>:</p><ul><li><p>Set up specific goals and events in your analytics tool to track relevant KPIs.</p></li><li><p>Regularly review and analyse data to inform design decisions.</p><p></p></li></ul><h4><strong>User Feedback and Surveys</strong></h4><p>Collect direct feedback from users through surveys, interviews, and feedback forms.</p><p><strong>Why it works</strong>:</p><ul><li><p>Offers insights into user perceptions and experiences.</p></li><li><p>Can uncover hidden issues that aren't apparent through other methods.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Tips</strong>:</p><ul><li><p>Keep surveys short and focused to encourage participation.</p></li><li><p>Ask open-ended questions to gather detailed feedback.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><h2><strong>Step Four: Present WHY + HOW Metrics to Stakeholders</strong></h2><p>As a junior I was told that when presenting to stakeholders, particularly Exco, &#8220;&#8216;<em>be bold, be brief, be gone&#8217;</em>, they have more important things to do than listen to you waffle&#8221;. Since then my presenting has become smoother and my dad jokes stronger - Only once referring to a &#8216;patriotic budgie smuggler&#8217; *shrugs in designer*. But other than the latest beach attire trends, what exactly do they want to know?</p><h4><strong>How The UX Metrics Align with Business Goals</strong></h4><p>Demonstrating how UX improvements directly support key business objectives, such as increasing revenue, reducing costs, or enhancing customer loyalty gets eyes off cellphones and ears prickling.</p><p>Consider highlighting how <em>by updating A, we can expect to see a 25% increase in conversion rates based off of B, which has a direct impact on the revenue targets for C.</em></p><h4><strong>Use Visual Aids</strong></h4><p>As visual people, we know how difficult a wall of text can be to absorb&#8211;the irony is not lost on me&#8211;but by drawing on data through the use of charts, graphs, and infographics we can make complex information simple and digestible.</p><h4><strong>Tell a Story</strong></h4><p>Craft a narrative that connects UX metrics to real-world outcomes, making the data more relatable and impactful and emphasising the human element behind the numbers.</p><h4><strong>Highlight Cost Savings</strong></h4><p>There&#8217;s money to be saved? Why didn&#8217;t you say so! Illustrating how effective UX design reduces costs by minimising support requests, decreasing user errors, or lowering bounce rates will definitely buy you a few more minutes to deliver your pitch. Consider highlights such as how improved usability led to a 30% reduction in customer support inquiries, saving the company significant resources.</p><h4><strong>Provide Actionable Insights</strong></h4><p>&#8220;That&#8217;s great and all but what exactly are you proposing we do?&#8221; is the last thing you want to hear. Communicating clear recommendations based on the data and demonstrating how ongoing UX efforts can continue to drive positive results is a key part of securing buy-in. Never leave your audience asking &#8220;<em>But, how?</em>&#8221;</p><div><hr></div><h2><strong>Step Five: Secure Buy-In for UX Initiatives</strong></h2><p>When it comes to gaining stakeholder support for UX initiatives there are numerous pitfalls to avoid. Let&#8217;s explore what to do when approaching decision makers:&nbsp;</p><h4><strong>Start Small</strong></h4><p>Begin with small, manageable projects that can quickly demonstrate the value of UX design. Consider redesigning a single key page or feature and track the immediate impact on user engagement and conversions. Businesses exist to make a profit, by quickly showcasing the impact a UX overhaul could have, the more likely you are to succeed.&nbsp;</p><h4><strong>Foster Collaboration</strong></h4><p>By involving stakeholders in the UX process, you encourage them to build ownership and support. Think workshops, brainstorming sessions, ideation days&#8230; your options are endless.&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p><em>&#8220;Our clients typically sit in C-Suite, far removed from their target audience and the execution of their products. By giving them the opportunity to get their hands dirty and be involved in the process - it&#8217;s honestly magical. There&#8217;s this sense of ownership that develops almost immediately. We&#8217;ve seen people go from disjointed and uninterested to waving the UX flag just because someone thought to include them in a workshop that brought the voice of the consumer into the room.&#8221;</em></p></blockquote><h4><strong>Communicate Regularly</strong></h4><p>There&#8217;s no such thing as over communication. By keeping stakeholders informed with regular updates on progress, metrics, and outcomes, they&#8217;re able to get excited about the real-time impact it&#8217;s having on their business goals - and if it&#8217;s not? Well, they can see WHY instead of just kicking the life-support switch off at the wall.</p><h4><strong>Educate Stakeholders</strong></h4><p>We all don&#8217;t know what we don&#8217;t know. Help stakeholders to understand the principles and benefits of UX design through training sessions or informative content. By creating open communication and fostering a culture of collaboration, buy-in becomes easier and easier, even with failure.&nbsp;</p><div><hr></div><h2><strong>Turning UX Investment into Business Growth</strong></h2><p>Measuring the ROI of UX design goes beyond proving its value&#8212;it leverages data-driven insights to drive continuous improvement and business growth. By focusing on key KPIs such as conversion rates, user satisfaction scores, and task completion rates, and by presenting these metrics effectively to stakeholders, you can secure the necessary buy-in to prioritise UX design as a strategic investment.</p><div><hr></div><p><em>Interested in learning more about digital product design, UX and dev? Join our community of professionals and stay updated with the latest trends and best practices. Subscribe now and never miss an update!</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Opportunity of "Can You Make It Look Like [Insert App/Website]?"]]></title><description><![CDATA[Exploring Some Common and Not So Common Questions We Get From Clients]]></description><link>https://departmentsix.substack.com/p/can-you-make-it-look-like</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://departmentsix.substack.com/p/can-you-make-it-look-like</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ash Hewitson]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 01 Nov 2024 09:35:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!F1fc!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb6fe562c-25ae-4995-b056-bb049c74a974_2912x1632.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" 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y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>During a recent ideation session, a client asked us: <em>&#8220;Can you make the our website look like Apple?&#8221;</em> </p><p>The short answer was, <em>yes, yes we can</em>. Who doesn&#8217;t love the sleek, modern feel of Apple? Or the success its design has garnered? </p><p>The long answer was actually a question: <em>But should we?</em></p><div><hr></div><h2>The Inspiration vs. Imitation Dilemma</h2><p>When clients ask for their digital solution to look like another popular app/website it&#8217;s important to understand the motivation behind the request. </p><blockquote><p>Do they admire the simplicity of <em>Airbnb&#8217;s</em> interface, the bold visuals of <em>Spotify</em>, or the seamless experience of <em>Amazon</em>? More often than not, they&#8217;re drawn by specific features or aesthetics that enhance the user experience.</p></blockquote><p>But here&#8217;s the catch: Copying a a design without understanding the underlying principles, whether it suits your client's brand or even adheres to their CI, can lead to a website that looks great but misses the point. </p><div><hr></div><h2>What to Consider When Clients Want to Recreate Popular Designs</h2><div class="pullquote"><p>&#8220;Every new idea is just a mashup or a remix of one or more previous ideas.&#8221;<br>&#8213; <strong>Austin Kleon, Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative</strong></p></div><h4>1. <strong>Understand What They Like About the Design</strong></h4><p>If a client says, <em>&#8220;Can you make it look like Instagram?&#8221;</em> ask what specific elements they like: Is it the <strong>layout</strong>? The <strong>use of imagery</strong>? The <strong>colour scheme</strong>? The <strong><a href="https://departmentsix.substack.com/p/micro-interactions-big-improvement?r=4ieaud">micro-interactions</a></strong>?</p><p>Understanding the elements that appeal to them helps you to focus on the key aspects that are driving their request.</p><p>If they love Instagram&#8217;s emphasis on visuals, you might explore ways to incorporate <strong>high-quality imagery</strong> into their design. If they&#8217;re drawn to a website like Amazon because of its <strong>user journey</strong>, focus on simplifying their navigation or checkout process.</p><h4>2. <strong>Tailor It to the Client&#8217;s Brand and Audience</strong></h4><p>This may seem obvious but, what works for Facebook or Netflix may not work for you. Every design choice should reflect the <strong>brand identity</strong> and the needs of the <strong>target audience</strong>.</p><p>For example, a law firm&#8217;s website shouldn&#8217;t look like TikTok&#8217;s. Even though both need to be user-friendly, the tone, aesthetic, and overall user experience must align with the service provided. TikTok&#8217;s fun, fast-paced design would undermine the credibility of a professional services website - no matter how many lawyers have TikTok.</p><p>When adapting popular design elements, always ask: <em>Does this fit with the brand&#8217;s personality? Will the audience find this design appealing and functional?</em></p><h4>3. <strong>Focus on the User Experience, Not Just the Aesthetics</strong></h4><p>While it&#8217;s tempting to focus on aesthetics, popular apps and websites are more than just good-looking&#8212;they&#8217;re effective because they provide <strong>great user experiences</strong>.</p><p>For example, Airbnb&#8217;s clean design isn&#8217;t just about looking minimalist; it&#8217;s built to help users quickly find and book accommodations. The goal is to <strong>balance form and function</strong>&#8212;to be visually appealing, but it also easy to navigate, fast to load, and intuitive to use.</p><p>When faced with the request to emulate a well-known design, think about the <strong>usability</strong> principles behind that design:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Clear call-to-actions</strong> (CTAs) to guide users.</p></li><li><p><strong>Responsive design</strong> to ensure it looks good on all devices.</p></li><li><p><strong>Fast load times</strong> and optimisation for performance.</p></li></ul><p>We need to focus on <strong>why</strong> the popular design works and translate that into a custom solution that works for the target audience.</p><h4>4. <strong>Adapt, Don&#8217;t Copy</strong></h4><p>While clients may want their solution to look like an existing app, it&#8217;s important to explain the risks of copying a design outright. <strong>Imitation not only toes the line of theft, but can dilute their brand identity</strong>.</p><p>Instead, suggest adapting features or design choices. If a client likes the look and feel of Pinterest, explore how the use of <strong>grid layouts</strong> and <strong>infinite scrolling</strong> could work in their favour, but within the framework of their brand and goals.</p><p>Explain that <strong>adaptation</strong> often leads to better results, as it ensures their website remains unique while still benefiting from the elements they admire in popular designs.</p><h4>5. <strong>Highlight the Importance of Differentiation</strong></h4><p>One of the reasons businesses succeed is because they stand out from the competition. While it&#8217;s normal to draw inspiration from popular apps, remind clients that their brand needs to carve its own path. <strong>Differentiation is key</strong> in today&#8217;s crowded digital space.</p><p>Showcase how you can incorporate the essence of what they like from popular sites but in a way that makes their brand unique and memorable. For example, incorporating <strong>custom illustrations</strong> or <strong>bespoke iconography</strong> could make their website feel fresh while maintaining a familiar structure that users enjoy.</p><div><hr></div><h2>How We Explain This to Clients</h2><p>Clients may not always understand why copying a popular app isn&#8217;t the best route for their business, especially when we&#8217;re walking through our desktop research with them and they have a visual artefact to get excited about. </p><p>We often get &#8220;<em>That&#8217;s great! Just do that.</em>&#8221; Um, no, but:</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;While [insert app name here] is great, it&#8217;s designed to meet the specific needs of their users. Our goal is to create something just as powerful for <strong>your</strong> audience. We can draw inspiration from what makes [app] successful, but we&#8217;ll adapt it to align with your brand and user needs, ensuring your app delivers the best user experience.&#8221;</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><h2>Turning Inspiration into Innovation</h2><p>The next time someone asks, <em>&#8220;Can you make it look like [insert app name here]?&#8221;</em> remember it&#8217;s an opportunity to explore what they value in the design and to create a solution that&#8217;s tailored to their brand. </p><p>By breaking down what works in popular designs and translating those elements into a custom approach, you&#8217;ll build something that not only satisfies their vision but also provides a unique and effective user experience.</p><pre><code><code>Interested in learning more about digital product design, UX and dev? Join our community of professionals and stay updated with the latest trends and best practices. Subscribe now and never miss an update!</code></code></pre>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Micro-Interactions, Big Improvement ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Exploring UX/UI in Under 90 Seconds, Because Who's Got the Time?]]></description><link>https://departmentsix.substack.com/p/micro-interactions-big-improvement</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://departmentsix.substack.com/p/micro-interactions-big-improvement</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ash Hewitson]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 28 Oct 2024 13:24:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5JhK!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75835a7c-1e90-411e-8892-1ad4b81fcddb_2912x1632.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5JhK!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75835a7c-1e90-411e-8892-1ad4b81fcddb_2912x1632.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5JhK!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75835a7c-1e90-411e-8892-1ad4b81fcddb_2912x1632.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5JhK!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75835a7c-1e90-411e-8892-1ad4b81fcddb_2912x1632.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5JhK!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75835a7c-1e90-411e-8892-1ad4b81fcddb_2912x1632.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5JhK!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75835a7c-1e90-411e-8892-1ad4b81fcddb_2912x1632.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5JhK!,w_2400,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75835a7c-1e90-411e-8892-1ad4b81fcddb_2912x1632.png" width="1200" height="672.5274725274726" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/75835a7c-1e90-411e-8892-1ad4b81fcddb_2912x1632.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:false,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;large&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:816,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:1200,&quot;bytes&quot;:7828077,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-large" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5JhK!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75835a7c-1e90-411e-8892-1ad4b81fcddb_2912x1632.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5JhK!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75835a7c-1e90-411e-8892-1ad4b81fcddb_2912x1632.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5JhK!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75835a7c-1e90-411e-8892-1ad4b81fcddb_2912x1632.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5JhK!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75835a7c-1e90-411e-8892-1ad4b81fcddb_2912x1632.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Micro-interactions are the tiny details in design that you probably don&#8217;t notice&#8212;unless they&#8217;re broken. Think of them like the traffic lights: when they work, you cruise along. When they don't, cue chaos. So, let&#8217;s dive into how to level up your micro-interactions before your users rage tap and quit.</p><h3>What Are Micro-Interactions?</h3><p>Imagine clicking a button, and&#8230;nothing. No feedback, no spinny thing, no clue if your click even worked. Micro-interactions are the visual or tactile signals that say, &#8220;Hey, I got your click, we&#8217;re on it!&#8221; They guide users, give feedback, and make the whole digital experience feel less like waiting in a never-ending queue at Home Affairs.</p><h3>Why They Matter (Spoiler: They&#8217;re Everything)</h3><ul><li><p><strong>Boost User Engagement</strong>: Like that one friend who always gives a thumbs-up to your bad jokes, micro-interactions reassure users that they&#8217;re being heard.</p></li><li><p><strong>Enhance Usability</strong>: Imagine tapping an elevator button and it doesn&#8217;t light up. Do you press it 15 more times? I would. Good micro-interactions save your users from this kind of madness.</p></li><li><p><strong>Create Brand Personality</strong>: Whether you&#8217;re more of a &#8220;straight-laced investor&#8221; or a &#8220;laid-back surf shop,&#8221; micro-interactions let your brand&#8217;s vibe shine through.</p></li></ul><h3>Best Practices for Optimising Micro-Interactions</h3><ol><li><p><strong>Keep It Simple</strong><br>Your micro-interactions should be simple and effective. A smooth button hover effect says, &#8220;Yes, we&#8217;re on it!&#8221;&#8212;no frills required.</p></li><li><p><strong>Prioritise User Feedback</strong><br>Whether it&#8217;s a progress bar or a &#8220;Sent!&#8221; message, users need reassurance that their actions are making magic happen behind the scenes.</p></li><li><p><strong>Consider Speed </strong><br>Micro-interactions need to be as quick as your wit&#8212;no lagging, no unnecessary drama. Keep it snappy so users don&#8217;t feel like they&#8217;re watching paint dry. And if you add sound, think ding not symphony.</p></li><li><p><strong>Design for Accessibility </strong><br>Use clear colour contrast, subtle movements, and make sure screen readers can interpret them. And if you&#8217;re using animations, think lightweight, not  feature-length film.</p></li></ol><h3>Instagram&#8217;s &#8220;Heart&#8221; Button</h3><p>Instagram nailed micro-interactions with their heart icon. It gives you that little pop of joy when you double-tap a picture&#8212;like a digital high-five for liking someone&#8217;s brunch pic - or feedback that you accidentally liked an ex&#8217;s photo from 2 years back. You don&#8217;t need it, but admit it, you love it.</p><div><hr></div><h3>Start Small, Think Big (Like Houseplants)</h3><p>Micro-interactions are like the succulents of UX&#8212;small, unassuming, but when cared for, they make your whole design bloom. So, keep them simple, snappy, and accessible, and watch your user experience thrive.</p><pre><code>Need more tips on growing your UX/UI garden? Check out more tips and tricks on our Substack. Or just stay tuned for more 90-second reads&#8212;we promise we&#8217;ll keep it fun!</code></pre>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Designing For Humans in a Digital Landscape]]></title><description><![CDATA[What it takes to bridge the gap between the tech we create and the people we design for.]]></description><link>https://departmentsix.substack.com/p/the-nuances-of-being-human-in-a-digital</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://departmentsix.substack.com/p/the-nuances-of-being-human-in-a-digital</guid><pubDate>Tue, 01 Oct 2024 11:26:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-hJ1!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F841034bd-57a8-4e37-bfcd-1305fe9a8f83_2912x1632.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-hJ1!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F841034bd-57a8-4e37-bfcd-1305fe9a8f83_2912x1632.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-hJ1!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F841034bd-57a8-4e37-bfcd-1305fe9a8f83_2912x1632.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-hJ1!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F841034bd-57a8-4e37-bfcd-1305fe9a8f83_2912x1632.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-hJ1!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F841034bd-57a8-4e37-bfcd-1305fe9a8f83_2912x1632.png 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stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><em>"Why did the designer bring a ladder to work? Because they heard the user experience needed some elevation!"</em></p><p>Alright, that might not be the last punny dad joke you&#8217;ll hear from me&#8212;see what I did there&#8212;but it gets to the heart of the matter: In our digital-driven lives, it&#8217;s all too easy to overlook the simple, human elements that make technology truly meaningful.</p><p>Imagine this&#8212;you&#8217;ve downloaded a brand new app. You tap on its icon, and bam, it&#8217;s about as user-friendly as assembling flat-pack furniture. All it does is generate more questions than answers, like, &#8220;Why is there always a leftover screw, and should the leg really be leaning like that?&#8221; Moments like these highlight a crucial truth: </p><blockquote><p>Behind every pixel and line of code are real people with real needs and emotions, who are often the last thought in the product design chain.</p></blockquote><p>In a world where swipes and clicks are quick to replace handshakes and conversations, it&#8217;s easy to lose sight of the human elements that breathe life into our digital interactions, leaving the question: <strong>Are we forgetting what makes us truly human?</strong> </p><div><hr></div><h2><strong>Why It Matters</strong></h2><p>Design that prioritises human experience over mere functionality has the power to transform user engagement into genuine connection. By integrating emotional intelligence and human psychology, we enhance user satisfaction and loyalty.</p><h3>Turning Feels into Figures&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3><p>Keeping the spark alive in our digital designs isn&#8217;t just a nice-to-have&#8212;it&#8217;s absolutely essential for creating experiences that resonate and delight.</p><p>Sure, AI can process data at lightning speed, but can it truly understand your frustration when the Wi-Fi&#8217;s acting up? No. No, it can&#8217;t, but it is sorry to hear that you&#8217;re feeling frustrated and hopes you have a nice day further.</p><p>Emotions and empathy are at the heart of human interactions, making it crucial to design digital experiences that tap into these feelings. Designing for the human on the other side of our screens can be the difference between a user who&#8217;s just getting by and one who&#8217;s genuinely engaged and delighted.</p><p>Remember the last time a website made you feel engaged or even smile? <strong>That&#8217;s the magic of empathy in design.</strong> I once lost three days to a 3D portfolio site that had visitors manoeuvre a little car around instead of a mouse - hello, 192 unread mails later.&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p>We&#8217;re wired to dream, imagine, and create and it&#8217;s this ability to think outside the box that leads to innovation and progress - albeit now enhanced by AI. Which is why for digital solutions to even hint at success, they need to harness this creativity, providing platforms that not only solve problems but also inspire and delight users.</p></blockquote><p>And since we&#8217;re inherently social creatures, our digital interactions need to reflect our need for community and collaboration in order to foster genuine connections and deliver an enhanced user experience.</p><div><hr></div><h3>People Over Functions</h3><p>At the end of the day, digital solutions exist to serve people. It&#8217;s easy to go down the features and functionalities rabbit hole, especially when we as creators spend most of our waking hours staring at a screen, interacting with our local barista as our primary source of connection. </p><p>However, without a clear understanding of the people we&#8217;re designing for, even the most feature-rich platforms can fall flat, leaving the higher-ups asking the question, &#8220;Why aren&#8217;t we meeting our KPIs?&#8221;</p><p>When digital products resonate on a human level, users are more likely to return and recommend them to others. </p><blockquote><pre><code>Engaged users are not just passive consumers; they&#8217;re active participants in your digital ecosystem. By centring your designs around human motivations and behaviours, we encourage deeper interaction and long-term engagement.</code></pre></blockquote><div><hr></div><h3>So, How Do We Make Digital Designs More Human?</h3><h4><strong>1. Swipe Right for User Research</strong></h4><p>We may be swiping right based on looks these days, but the most effective first dates start with getting to know whether or not they still live with their mom or if they eat pineapple on pizza, before we put time in.&nbsp;</p><p>Understanding your users, their likes, needs, pain points and desires, is the first step towards creating human-centric designs. By uncovering their  unarticulated needs, we&#8217;re able to create meaningful connection and engagement, rather than just slapping a good filter on and hoping for the best.&nbsp;</p><h4><strong>2. Lean into Story Time&nbsp;</strong></h4><p>By bringing the voice of the customer into the room, decision makers can merge business goals with their users, creating a symbiotic relationship, and going to market with a desirable and engaging product.</p><p>Plus, when we look at making feature updates, such as implementing dark mode, we look at the impact on the person rather than a cold metric&#8211;&#8216;30% of users prefer dark mode,&#8217; <em>versus</em> &#8216;Sarah, loves dark mode because it helps her unwind before bed.&#8217;</p><h4><strong>3. Personalisation like a Pro, Not Just a Name Dropper&nbsp;</strong></h4><p>&#8220;Hi, {First Name}&#8221;, it&#8217;s time to go beyond addressing users by their first name before shoving your goals into their inbox. We need to lean into creating experiences that adapt to unique preferences and behaviours, make it personable, make it <strong>human</strong>.&nbsp;</p><p>Sure, your needs and ROIs are important to your success, but the magic happens when we bring users into the fold and treat them as extensions of our own success. The more we can make users feel like individuals rather than just another metric, the more likely we are to hit our targets. After all, happy users mean happy businesses.</p><h4><strong>4. Add a Touch of Nostalgia&nbsp;</strong></h4><p>If Gen Z&#8217;s have taught us anything, it&#8217;s that nostalgia drives engagement. While it resonates differently across generations, incorporating elements that feel familiar to users can create a sense of comfort and connection.&nbsp;</p><p>Think retro colour schemes, throwback fonts, or even nods to classic games &#8211; these nostalgic elements don&#8217;t just evoke fond memories; they tap into universal emotions, making digital solutions feel more human and relatable.</p><p>But don&#8217;t go overboard and turn your sleek, modern interface into a retro arcade (unless that&#8217;s your vibe, of course). </p><blockquote><p>By blending a sense of nostalgia into digital products, we&#8217;re able to create a unique, memorable and engaging experience that stands out in the overly crowded digital marketplace.&nbsp;</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><h3>Embracing Human-Centric Technology</h3><h4><strong>AI with a Heart</strong></h4><p>AI doesn&#8217;t have to be cold and impersonal. In fact, by focusing on understanding human emotions, we create more empathetic and effective digital interactions. When we design with people at the centre, we use AI as an enabler, not the solution.</p><h4><strong>Creating Immersive Human Experiences</strong></h4><p>Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) unlock unprecedented opportunities to create immersive experiences and foster meaningful connections that resonate deeply with users. Think virtual family dinners with loved ones scattered across the globe, or using AR apps to enrich your everyday interactions. It&#8217;s about making technology feel less like sci-fi and  and more like a natural extension of our routine world.</p><h4><strong>Doing Right by Users and the Planet</strong></h4><p>Human-centric design also means considering the ethical and environmental impact of our digital solutions. Creating sustainable UX and ethical products ensure that we&#8217;re not just serving people today but also safeguarding their future. </p><p>This global perspective not only broadens the appeal of our designs but ensures that they&#8217;re adaptable to various cultural contexts. It&#8217;s about building digital solutions that leave the world a better place. After all, what&#8217;s the point of a brilliant app if it&#8217;s costing the Earth something?</p><div><hr></div><h3>The Bottom Line</h3><p>By trying to keep up with digital advancements, it&#8217;s easy to lose sight of what truly matters&#8212;people. At the core of successful digital products lies a deep understanding of human psychology. By merging technology with human-centric principles, we create digital experiences that are not only functional but truly delightful.</p><p>At Department Six, we believe that technology should serve people, not the other way around. So, the next time you embark on a digital project, ask yourself: Are you designing for humans, or just for functionality? Let&#8217;s keep the human touch alive in our digital designs and make the digital world a more empathetic, engaging, and enjoyable place for everyone.</p><div><hr></div><p><em>Interested in learning more about digital product design, UX and dev? Join our community of professionals and stay updated with the latest trends and best practices. Subscribe now and never miss an update!</em></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://departmentsix.substack.com/p/the-nuances-of-being-human-in-a-digital/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://departmentsix.substack.com/p/the-nuances-of-being-human-in-a-digital/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>