The Costly Mistakes I Made in My UX Design Journey
Hello guys,
Long time no see,
I am back on Medium to write quality articles in the hopes that we can all grow together as designers. I have created a YouTube account where I share helpful videos that guide people on performing user research, ideation in Figma, prototyping, and user testing. I also share some of the basic things that I learned throughout my journey. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn and grow. Please make sure to SUBSCRIBE to my channel.
In today’s article, I reveal some critical mistakes that I made, that often negatively impacted my career.
Without further details let’s dive right into it.
If you prefer the video:
1. Skipping User Research
Skipping user research is a significant mistake I’ve made several times. I often neglected this crucial step and relied on my suppositions rather than conducting thorough user research. This oversight can result in designs that fail to address user needs adequately, as it limits our understanding of the people we are designing for.
I had the feeling that with or without research, the output will be the same.
I thought that observing and listening to potential users would not have a significant impact on making design decisions. I thought that this was a scheme that companies charge people to generate extra money, but I was ignoring the elephant in the room.
Picture this
You have to go to your doctor because you encounter certain symptoms. It can be dangerous if he gives you the same prescription that he gave to every patient with similar symptoms, without taking the time to review your unique medical tests. While this approach may occasionally work, more often than not, it fails to address your distinct needs as a patient.
In the realm of UX design, the parallel is clear — understanding your users is not a fancy skill to add to your CV but a pivotal factor in creating effective, user-centric designs.
2. Not Addressing Empty States
It's important to consider the experience of new users who have just created an account and have not yet provided enough data. While you may have taken care of the use case for existing users in your web application, an empty page displayed to new users can be discouraging. Therefore, it's crucial to ensure that such users have a positive experience by providing them with a helpful and informative page.
I used to present my work with perfect pixel scenarios, showcasing large typography and spectacular charts.
As you can see they’re offering us visual hints on what to do next and how to solve our needs. This powerful tool seamlessly integrates helper texts and icon buttons, making it easier than ever for users to create stunning projects using popular templates. With its intuitive design, you'll be guided every step of the way to create a polished result that's sure to impress.
3. No UX Case Studies in My Portfolio.
UX case studies play a vital role in a UX Designer’s portfolio. They are in-depth presentations that showcase the designer’s thought process, research methods, design decisions, and the outcomes of their work. They provide a detailed look at how the designer approaches a problem and how they go about solving it.
Free Download Portfolio Template
I have been facing constant rejection from recruiters while applying for jobs, especially after providing them with my portfolio. The problem is that I didn’t have any case studies to showcase my skills, process, and decision-making abilities. So, how can I present myself effectively without any case studies?
Make sure you create your own case study if you don’t have client work at all. Just start by identifying a problem that you are passionate about and then going through the process of solving it. This could include conducting user research, creating wireframes and prototypes, and testing your designs with real users.
Another option is to volunteer for nonprofit organizations or offer their services to small businesses. This will allow them to work on real-world projects and build case studies that showcase their skills and abilities.
4. I did Not Take Into Account Corner Cases
The term "corner cases," also known as "edge cases," refers to specific design scenarios that arise under exceptional circumstances. These scenarios pose challenges that are not present in typical situations, and as such, they require special attention in the design process.
For instance, when a shopping cart contains multiple products, or when a table needs to display a vast amount of data with a large number of columns, a designer must consider the unique requirements of such corner cases. By addressing these scenarios, designers can ensure that their products remain functional and efficient, even under challenging conditions.
5. Not Doing User Testing
Probably one of the best methods by which you can test out what’s working and what's not. Qualitative user testing is the best way to meet user’s needs, but I haven’t used it much in my early career.
Many companies nowadays once they’re making a profit out of their digital product, seem to ignore user testing. I heard phrases like:
- We will do it in the future!
- We are a technical company, so this probably will not work.
- Our PMs collaborate with some of the most important clients so we are already considering their feedback.
It was challenging to convince my team to use tools like HotJar or VWO to improve user experience. This is why UX is so dang hard. You are not only doing UX design, but also sales.
For example, session recordings are one of the most powerful tools for seeing how your users interact with your product. You can note down what are the most important problems they face and things like:
- Where do they look?
- What captures their attention?
- Where do they hesitate?
- What are the most used features?
- What are the most underestimated ones?
Another powerful tool is A/B testing which allows you to compare two versions of your product to determine which one performs better. By randomly showing different versions to different users, you can gather data on which version leads to higher engagement, conversions, or other key metrics. This data can help you make informed decisions about how to optimize your product for maximum effectiveness.
Overall, a combination of A/B testing and session recordings can help you optimize your product for maximum effectiveness, ensuring that it meets the needs of your users and delivers tangible results.
Bottom Line
Ok guys, these mistakes, while sometimes challenging and humbling, have shaped my growth and expertise. Many designers are so afraid to make mistakes, but this is how you grow.
They have underscored the significance of comprehensive user research, meticulous attention to empty states, and thinking in advance to address existing clients and new users. If you find this article useful, please feel free to comment and share it with other designers who might need it.
If you want to find out more mistakes you can read my article here.
Stay creative,
Dorin
