UX 101

UX is the abbreviation for user experience.

I will give you the basics of UX, which apply to anyone who may build a website. web app, mobile app.

But it can also apply if you're designing a magazine or even writing to copy.

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Before I start, I just want to let you know that UX is far more complex than can be explained in a twitter thread.

There are UX engineers out there that do this all day. To claim you'll learn all of UX from this thread would be an insult to them.

Let's begin.

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At the very essence, UX is about making it as easy for the user as possible.

1. Make it easy for the user to understand what the site is about.

The less information you present on the screen, the better. The more specific that information, the better.

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I always say this, but people really have short attention spans.

A new visitor should be able to understand what your website is about within 5 seconds.

If he has to spend time figuring things out, he's probably gone.

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2. Make it easy for visitors to use the site & figure out what's the next step.

Let's say you've done the first step right in that the user quickly figures out what your website provides & decides to stick around because he's interested.

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But now he doesn't see the next logical step, so he leaves.

A next step could be some "start here" articles, maybe a contact form, a trial button, or a "Buy Now" button.

Whatever it is, make sure it's easy to see and it makes 'chronological' sense.

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Example: you probably don't want much more happening after the "buy now" button.

The main things I want you to take away from this thread:
1. Simplicity over complexity.
2. Specificity over vagueness.
3. Everything has to flow from one logical step to another.