Blogs
January 2025

Putting Users First! – Importance of User-Centric Design

Introduction

Have you ever come across websites that is so hard to figure out how to use yourself? You click around, but you can’t find what you’re looking for, and it’s so frustrating. On the other hand, there are some websites that feel like breeze to use. You are not alone, because humans prefer simplicity and don’t like complexities. This article speaks about the importance of taking User Experience in to account when designing and developing a user facing software. we will explore the significance of user perspective and user experience in software design, some principles to keep in mind to design better and benefits of being user centric, and why it should be the pivot point in every software project.

Understanding the User Perspective

One of the best ways to understand user is to put yourself in the place of users while you design an application. To develop software that align with users, developers and designers must gain a comprehensive understanding of their target audience. This understanding must extend to their pain points, and goals. Empathize with their struggles and design the solutions that address their challenges.

KISS (Keep it short & simple) principle

This principle is often used in designing modern websites and user softwares, this principle emphasizes the importance of simplicity and avoiding unnecessary complexity when developing software systems. The core idea behind the KISS principle is to keep things simple and straightforward. By doing so, developers can improve the overall quality of the software, enhance usability, and reduce the potential for errors or bugs. Some aspects include,

Simplicity: The principle advocates for simplicity in all aspects of software design, including the user interface and number of user steps on the screen to complete a functionality. Lesser navigation, lesser number of clicks, lesser keyboard interactions are preferred. Simple designs are easier to understand, implement, and maintain. They also tend to be more robust and less prone to errors.

Minimalism: The KISS principle encourages minimizing the number of components, features, and dependencies in a software system. By focusing on essential functionalities and eliminating unnecessary complexity, we can create intuitive and user-friendly software.

Usability: Keeping the end-users in mind, the KISS principle emphasizes creating software that is easy to use. Complex interfaces and elements on screen can confuse and frustrate users, leading to a negative experience. By prioritizing simplicity in the user interface design, developers can ensure that users can quickly understand and interact with the software.

What aspects of software/ websites as designer must keep in mind?

A positive user experience is characterized by usability, accessibility, efficiency, and simplicity. When users feel empowered, engaged, and delighted by the software, they are more likely to adopt it, recommend it to others, and remain satisfied with the company.

Company growth is directly proportional to Happy users and their satisfaction.

Happy users are more likely to stick with the software, recommend it to others, and build a long-term relationship with the brand.

  • Easy Adoption- If the software is easy to use and meets user specific needs, users are more likely to adopt it. When you find value in the software and can navigate it effortlessly, it becomes a part of your daily life.
  • Staying Ahead- Software that delivers an exceptional user experience sets itself apart from the competition. By focusing on creating a great experience for you, developers and designers can attract and retain users who are looking for intuitive and enjoyable solutions. It gives a competitive advantage to the company.
  • Saving Time and Money- User-friendly software reduces the need for customer support and training. When you can easily understand and use the software, you save time and developers save money on support resources.
  • Continuous Improvement- By valuing user experience, developers and designers can continuously improve the software. User feedback and usage patterns help them release updates that improves the software continuously. It earns customer trust and reliability even more.

What successful websites/ software provide in terms of user experience?

Intuitive websites have a layout that makes sense. They’re not cluttered with too much information or confusing navigation menus. Instead, they present things in a clear and logical way, so we can quickly scan and find what we need. It’s like the website knows how user’s brains work and guides users effortlessly through the pages.

But then there are those websites that just make everything complicated. They have too many things going on, and it’s overwhelming. Users end up wasting time trying to understand how to navigate or sitting through a ton of irrelevant information. It’s frustrating and makes user want to give up.

Simplicity is not just about how a website looks; it’s about how it feels to use it. When a website is simple and easy to use, it makes us feel good. We appreciate when someone respects our time and effort by creating a website that gets straight to the point.

And it’s not just about making things look nice. Good web design also involves effective communication. When a website clearly tells us what it’s all about and how it can help us, we are more likely to stick around. Nobody wants to waste time on a website that doesn’t make it clear why we should care.

It’s also important to think from mobile devices also. We use our phones for pretty much everything these days, so it’s crucial that websites work well on mobile devices. A good mobile website is simple and easy to navigate, even on a small screen. Softwares must be designed for all device with Responsive web design (RWD) principle so that no elements overlap or clutter together when looked at small screen devices.

In the end, it all comes down to simplicity. Websites that keep things simple guide us effortlessly through the pages. So, the next time you come across a website that feels like a breeze to use, take a moment to appreciate the power of simplicity in design.

Final Thoughts

Putting users first is easier said than done but it is a practical and essential approach in software design and development for a company’s success. By understanding the user needs and prioritizing user experience, developers and designers can create software that value user needs and make their life simple than making it complex. Effective user centric design is the first right step that must be taken for any software or website projects to be successful.

Disclaimer: The information, statements and opinions contained in this content are of a general nature only and do not take into account your individual circumstances including any laws, policies, procedures or practices you or your employer or businesses may have or be subject to. Although the statements of fact on this page have been obtained from and are based upon sources that L&T EduTech believes to be reliable, it does not guarantee their accuracy or completeness.

Khaleelur Rahman
Author
Khaleelur Rahman, Principal Manager - Software Architecture at L&T Construction, leads platform teams delivering innovative solutions in AI, automation, and cognitive services. With extensive experience in full-stack development and enterprise applications, he has a proven track record of driving impactful digital transformations.
An Azure Certified Cloud Practitioner with international exposure, Khaleelur is also passionate about mentoring talent as a freelance full-stack interview panellist.