UX: Communication cheat sheet

At a glance, the brain is processing possible answers to these questions;

  • What does it do?

  • How well does do that?

  • How hard is this to use?

  • What is the cost to me?

COMMUNICATE VALUE, MEET EXPECTATION

  • Rapidly establish the value proposition in the user's mind

  • Match the user’s expectations.

  • Provide immediate value to the user.

  • Introduce new information and enable action at the most relevant, most appropriate points in the experience adds positively to the cumulative experience over time.

  • Deliver proof that the person is moving closer to achieving their objective, leading them toward continuing the experience.

  • Reward the user for reaching their goal.

COMMUNICATION CHECKLIST

  • Focus on how your visual design choices work, not how they look.

  • Is what’s on the screen in line with what we said we were trying to accomplish strategically?

  • Does the design help the user understand the options available?

  • Does the design help the user understand how things relate to each other?

  • Does the UI provide clear guidance as to what actions can be taken?

  • Does the UI provide clear guidance as to what the user is supposed to do next?

  • Does the UI hint at what might happen after the user acts?