What design considerations should you make for users with low digital literacy?

In my experience, Employ storytelling elements to enhance understanding. Implement voice interfaces to cater to varied abilities. Consider adaptive UIs that simplify complex tasks. Foster a supportive community for user assistance. Regularly involve low digital literacy users in the design process to ensure continuous improvement and inclusivity in your digital products.

Apply principles of game theory throughout the UX. As a 30-year special education teaching professional It is only through the responsiveness of gaming systems that I have observed learners with cognitive delays and learning deficits engage so deeply and regulate their emotions to earn a badge, top the leaderboard, powerup, etc. It's magical to behold.

100% be concise and direct with your language. I have had conversations with other UX designers and I could swear we were from different planets from the amount of jargon tossed around. Keep it simple!

Use simple and everyday language when creating interfaces for users with limited digital knowledge. It's important to avoid specialized language and opt for terms that are easily understandable, which makes users feel more comfortable and secure, thereby improving their user experience.

Playing into the expected and inherited navigation legacy of past UX/UI design is an easy way gain near immediate understanding of how to navigate your UI without intentional action. Unless it provides real benefit or function, put feature buttons and links where you expect them. Emoji reactions are above or below the text field. Voting ????buttons sit below and to the right of content.The play button for media is in the bottom left-hand corner of the media preview window. Sometimes copying what has come before is the best design decision you can make. ??

Simple, universally recognized icons, like a magnifying glass for search, play an important role in guiding these users. It's beneficial to complement icons with labels or tooltips on hover, providing additional context. Colour usage is equally important; distinct colours for primary actions or alerts help in distinguishing functionalities, making the interface more navigable. However, it's important to avoid overcomplicating the design with excessive colours or intricate graphics, as this can lead to confusion. The focus should be on clarity, ensuring users with varying levels of digital proficiency can interact effectively. By thoughtfully implementing these visual cues, we can make digital platforms more accessible and inclusive.

Use HTMLs contextual tags instead of just <div> tags everywhere. The screen readers can better interpret the context of the content that way, and make it easier to traverse via alternative inputs. For example, <article> tags.

This is the best approach to take to provide a high-touch feel to your UX / Brand. Floating help ? buttons have become popular on web pages and apps recently, and offer an easy and consistent way to get guidance on any page of your UI.

Guidance can be provided through step-by-step instructions or contextual help. For instance, when filling out a form, tooltips or inline instructions can clarify what is required in each field, reducing uncertainty. Similarly, guided tours for first-time users can help demystify complex interfaces, making the technology more approachable. Feedback is equally important. It reassures users that they are on the right track or helps them quickly understand and rectify mistakes. For example, confirmation messages after successful actions, such as form submissions, provide positive reinforcement. Conversely, clear error messages can guide users to correct mistakes, ideally highlighting the error and offering a solution.

Reflecting on my parents' digital experiences, their frustration and tendency to refresh or close an app when encountering errors is common among less tech-savvy users. To address this, we can incorporate visible 'undo' or 'edit' buttons, like in email applications where 'undo send' allows retracting a sent email. This not only empowers users by giving them control over their actions but also alleviates anxiety, making digital interfaces more approachable and user-friendly.

Testing is key, as designers we become "blind" to some pain points because we are so used to seeing them and using them. Something as simple as testing around the office with someone older or with your parents or grandparents if you're building your portfolio can be really helpful to help you understand what is not clear and - bonus points - sometimes they give some out of the box ideas you can explore!

An idea/approach I don't see in the world enough for this problem - human help. Empower your support team to see the Users screen, highlight things, click buttons, edit fields, give guidance. Adaptability is just another Persona(s) to test your UI against and measure it's success by.

Designing for users with low digital literacy involves prioritizing simplicity, clarity, and accessibility. Create a simplified interface with intuitive navigation, consistent design patterns, and large, clear typography. Ensure high contrast for readability, use supportive feedback, and adopt progressive disclosure to prevent overwhelming users. Design accessible forms, incorporate visual cues, and offer multimodal interaction. Provide user education through help sections and tutorials, and conduct user testing with the target audience for valuable feedback. Implement responsive design for various devices, and establish feedback loops to continuously improve the user interface based on real user experiences.