Why Good UX/UI Is Essential

Having shoddy UX/UI in today's world is inexcusable as far as I'm concerned. That may sound harsh especially given how difficult it can be to get a project or a company off the ground, but let me explain why.

As someone who's been in the tech space for a few decades now, I've seen a slurry of products come and go – some great, some awful, and a lot in between. The purpose of nearly all technology innovations is to make my life easier or better in some way. So when I find myself frustrated by my inability to navigate through a platform or find a specific feature, it goes against this very notion.

The Medium Is the Message?

Some innovations have promised to revolutionize the way I work only to replicate a digital Rube Goldberg machine where you have to set off a series of dominos, blow up a balloon, and strike a match which then burns a piece of yarn attached to a pitcher – all just to pour a glass of water. I may be thirsty, but in the future I'll take any other viable option over this complicated circus-like experience.

For better or worse, when it comes to software, and pretty much any product, looks matter. That’s why the packaging industry is set to top $1 trillion in a few years. When you picture any software or product in your head, do you envision the lines of code or algorithm that's behind it? My guess would be no. More likely, you picture the interface because that’s the medium through which you consume it. Your level of satisfaction with the UX/UI plays an incredibly large part in your overall perception of that product.?

Good UX/UI Benefits Everyone?

Say I'm going on a long trip. I plan on driving, but you tell me that I can use your plane to get there in a fraction of the time. I understand that flying a plane would be a more efficient way to accomplish the task, but if I don't know how to operate any of the controls, the thing's not going to magically fly. This doesn't necessarily mean that your plane is a bad product. But to me, its value is only as good as my ability to use it.

Creating an appealing interface that is easy to navigate conveys the message that the company cares about me. They didn't just create something new, but they created it with customers like me in mind – and it's that sort of care and attention that can make all the difference. You never get a second chance at a first impression.

From a competitive standpoint, you should not (and frankly cannot) ever assume that you're the only person trying to solve for X problem – meaning that if your product and Janice's product solve the same problem, but your UX/UI is annoying to use and hers is immaculate, which do you think I'm going to buy? Even if you get there first, if every time I use your product I become instantly frustrated, the second Janice's registers on my radar, I'm jumping ship. Good UX/UI can make a loyal customer out of anyone, and bad UX/UI can turn a potential customer away forever.

The Complete Package

Like most things, it's about continuous improvement. The reason so many of the big brands have such staying power in the market isn't just because they got their first with an idea that no one else had. Many of the biggest names weren't the first entrant, but they were the most relentlessly innovative. For some companies like Google and Facebook, how the user interacts with their platforms is essentially the product itself. They are constantly iterating on how their users engage with their product and vice versa.

At the same time, it's not enough to just have something that looks good. From the surface level down to its core, it's never been more important to have a consistently strong product. People are smart. If you give them something that looks nice but doesn't function all that well, they'll be able to sniff it out pretty quick.?

?In the case of technology, though, far too often I see people spend all their time and energy on the engine, and only worry about how it looks and feels to the customer when it may already be too late.?