UX.Spotlight - UX Design and Research

When people seek UI/UX services... ----- They often come with specific expectations: "We just need someone to make beautiful screens" or "Help us decide where to place buttons." While aesthetic design is indeed part of our expertise - dedicating time, attention, creativity, and market awareness to create the most efficient, beautiful, and user-friendly interfaces that represent your business perfectly - UX design offers far more substantial business value. UX is a powerful business tool for product improvement, revenue growth, operational cost reduction, better market segmentation, and increased efficiency. While people know exactly when they need a plumber, dentist, mechanic, or electrician, they're not always aware of the various situations where a UX professional can provide significant value. Here are some key scenarios where UX expertise becomes crucial: ----- ⚠️ Your product works perfectly from a technical standpoint, but users still complain, and you can't pinpoint why. Or you understand the issue but spend too much energy, time, and money addressing it. Customers still call during off-hours, holidays, or in the middle of the night. ⚠️ You've invested heavily in a new feature that nobody uses, despite it being "exactly what customers requested" and despite their promises to use it. Even though there's clear business logic behind the product (which is crucial, by the way). ⚠️ You're losing customers to competitors despite having a technically superior product. Perhaps a key benefit, primary need, macro view, micro perspective, or preferred solution method has been overlooked. ⚠️ Users get "stuck" at certain stages of the product journey and abandon it. ⚠️ Different parts of the flow still require support. Something in the process still demands focused attention from you or your team, instead of allowing time for strategic planning and development. ⚠️ You're uncertain which customer segments provide the most value when prioritizing product version support (impacting time, money, workforce, and customer management). ⚠️ There's a gap between your product vision and its market perception, and you're unsure how to bridge it. Professional UX services can not only resolve these issues but also save time, money, and frustration in the long run. It's not about "cosmetics" - it's about deeply understanding your customers and creating products that truly meet their needs. Are any of these scenarios familiar? ----- 👾 Contact us for a consultation. * Sometimes a fresh perspective and brainstorming session can provide valuable insights. * UX.Spotlight specializes in transforming these challenges into opportunities for growth and improved user satisfaction. * In the worst case, we'll let you know if we're not the right fit (yes, this happens too). (Image credit: Dale)

Why can the older generation be the big winner of the digital revolution? --------------------- 📌🔥 Save this post for later - Link to the Article at the end of the post 🔥 When designing interfaces, we often neglect people aged 65 and up. But this group is growing online consistently since 2016 and offers exciting business opportunities. Why focus on older adults? Economic opportunities ➥ Remote work can provide extra income and business innovation, combining deep business understanding with new technologies. Free time: ➥ Many older adults have more free time after retirement, allowing them to explore new technologies in depth. Independent living in the modern world: ➥ Technology can help manage health, maintain social connections, get professional advice remotely, and more. Continuous learning and personal growth: ➥ Online learning, new skills, and better brain health are merely some benefits of easy access to technology. Bridging generational gaps ➥ Technology enables better communication with younger family members. Contributing to society by sharing knowledge and experience: ➥ Senior adults can share their knowledge and experience more widely through digital platforms. We're often blind to experiences we haven't had ourselves or don't see others dealing with. It's the "dark side of the moon" - we lack this experience in our common knowledge to use our empathy. So you don't have to search, I've gathered the main points in an article! In the full article you'll find: ------------------------- ✅ Relevant data. ✅ Tips for designing user-friendly interfaces for older adults. ✅ Examples of successful interface design. ✅ Bibliography for further reading. 📌 Read, save for future use, and share. Full Article (on Medium): https://lnkd.in/dU2KtC24

** Designing for humans ** In February 2020, Turkish Airlines Flight 2193 crashed during landing. The plane slid off the runway, breaking apart uncontrollably. Three passengers were killed and 170 were injured. The investigation revealed a critical design flaw: the new aircraft model required manual brake activation, unlike the previous automatic system. Pilots, familiar with other planes, didn't activate it in time.  This shows the importance of proper interface design. As product designers, we're responsible for users, especially in systems where mistakes can be fatal. Let's examine some types of errors that stem from "automation" of the human brain, and how to prevent them: 1. Scheme-based errors Relying on irrelevant previous knowledge. 🔍 Example: Pilots expecting automatic braking. 💡 Solution: Consistent interface design, clear alerts for changes. 2. Habit-based errors Actions performed "on autopilot". 🔍 Example: "Next-Next-Next-confirm". A user who has gotten used to pressing "Next" many times in a row, the chance of accidentally confirming something they didn't intend to increases significantly when it sits on the brain's "automation". Don't do this. 💡 Solution: Avoid repetitive sequences, add verification steps. 3. Short-term memory errors Our brain has a limited working memory capacity. 🔍 Example: a user might forget details mentioned earlier if they're not in front of their eyes, especially if several pages have passed since then. 💡 Solution: Keep vital info visible, use visual reminders. 4. Confusion between similar elements Mistaking items that look alike. 🔍 Example: Throwing clothes in trash instead of laundry. 💡 Solution: Differentiate critical actions, use distinct designs. Use colors, shapes, and positioning to create clear differentiation. 📌 In summary, as product designers, we must always remember: Anticipate human errors and design systems that prevent them, understand the context and usage habits of our users, and communicate changes clearly and prominently. 📌 Thank you for reading. If you got until here, there's a quick question - Have you ever made a mistake that fell on a cognitive failure of the user without intending to? How have you figured it out? Curious :) (Screenshot: CNN)

From time to time, I meet people with an idea and after a short conversation, it appears that they haven’t done a #uxresearch and neither they are willing to pay for one. ***This is a critical mistake***. Research in the early stages of the idea is no less than vital. Without it, entrepreneurs: ----- ⚠️ Don't understand their market deeply and accurately enough . ⚠️ Miss key points in differentiation from competitors. ⚠️ Miss a powerful tool for refining the need and the product - exactly what will determine whether the product will live or die. Although research takes time and resources, it can be the smartest investment that will accompany you far ahead. Let’s take the case of Juicero, a real life example of the price of skipping preliminary research:
 ----- Juicero developed a "smart" juice machine at an initial price of $699 (later reduced to $399), which worked with dedicated juice packs and was connected to the internet. Despite raising $120 million from leading investors early on, **the company closed within less than two years**. The problems discovered: ----- ❌ Large and noisy machine. ❌ WiFi connection and barcode scanning that didn't add value. ❌ Expensive juice packs, with no option to use fresh fruits.
Later on It was discovered that the packs could be squeezed by hand, making the expensive machine unnecessary. ❌ Price too high compared to alternatives in the market.
 The implications of the failure
 ----- Juicero became a symbol of Silicon Valley's disconnect from reality. Its failure led to job losses, damaged reputations, and industry-wide scrutiny of startup valuations and business models. Investors became more cautious about future investments. Early UX research could have revealed: ----- 👍 Whether there's really a need for an internet-connected juice machine that worth that money 👍 Who the real competitors are and what their prices are 👍 Problems with the machine's usability and the possibility of squeezing the packs by hand ** Combined with marketing research, it would have shown how much consumers are willing to pay for homemade juice. in the picture: Juicero. #startup #ProductStrategy #uxresearch #learnfrommistakes

Why should I join from the earliest stages? In my conversations with early-stage entrepreneurs, I often inquire about the depth of user research and market analysis conducted prior to seeking funding. While entrepreneurs typically perform some checks, they often fall short in adequately covering the breadth and depth required to determine market fit and develop a solid product strategy. Although my expertise lies in user experience and product design rather than business coaching, I always emphasize the importance of validating Product Market Fit. Why is this critical? ------------------------- ➥ Different research methods focus on varied aspects and needs. This is why involving a UX professional from the outset is crucial. ➥ Precision: Thorough research is essential for developing an accurate MVP and understanding market needs. ➥ Cost-efficiency: Whether it's your own capital or investors' money, there's real financial stake involved. ➥ Distinguishing genuine interest from politeness: People often express enthusiasm out of courtesy, but this doesn't necessarily translate to product usage or investment. This is precisely why I offer user research and guidance from the initial research stage: ------------------------- ➥ Providing an objective, professional perspective Focusing on user experience, needs, and usage flow. ➥ Saving significant time, reducing the need for additional research, and cutting costs in the long run. ➥ My early involvement allows us to move directly into strategic planning and product creation. Uncertain about your concept? Let's discuss. ------------------------- I'm offering a brief, no-obligation Zoom call to explore your idea and demonstrate how user interviews can propel it forward. Get in touch: ------------------------- ** Mail: contact@uxspotlight.com ** WhatsApp: https://lnkd.in/dfEgj_rh (Link to graph - https://lnkd.in/dyCheNs7 ) #startup #Founders #stealth #uxresearch #userresearch #uxui