Picture this love story: You meet somebody new and within the first thirty seconds, they’ve already confused you on where you should sit, got you painfully trying to understand what they’re trying to say and found a way to make you feel like deciphering the way to the bathroom is a highly advanced thing that resembles getting a PhD in advanced navigation theory.

At the two-minute mark, you’ve already strategized escape and are considering whether your goldfish having an emergency is a valid way of getting out of this debacle before it gets too bad.

Now, replace “awkward date” with “UX design visit” and “confused person” with your UX design and congratulations, you just experienced what most users find when they go on a poorly designed digital experience.

Welcome to the fascinating world of websites that apparently learned user experience design from instruction manuals written by people who’ve never actually used websites.

The Great Digital Disaster

Most websites are made by developers who understand the inner workings of their site thoroughly, and delivered to non-experienced users who have no clue what they’re doing. It’s like asking someone to find his or her way around your house while blindfolded, then being shocked that they can’t tell where the kitchen is, the bathroom, or even how to get out.

The result? Online experiences that seem to be the work of a committee of well-meaning robots, who did an internship at a telecommuniques in the early 90s and only learned about human behavior based on technical literature and corporate mission statements.

You know the type: websites where the “Contact Us” button is hidden somewhere between the footer links and the privacy policy, mobile apps where every action requires seventeen taps and a minor in computer science, and e-commerce sites where finding the shopping cart apparently requires the same skills needed to solve a Rubik’s cube underwater.

When Good Intentions Meet Bad Execution

The tragedy of poor UX design is that it’s usually created by smart, talented people who genuinely want to help users accomplish their goals. It’s gotten to the point where they’re so invested in their own creations that they just can’t see the forest through the trees, or in this case, the user confusion through the well-implemented features.

It’s like a chef providing a fantastic seventeen-course meal but failing to provide dishware, cutlery or an idea regarding the order in which the meal should be consumed. The food can be excellent, but the meal itself is frustrating and somewhat demoralising.

It’s especially sad in our instant-gratification digital age where users have to make a split-second decision whether your website or app is worth their time. If they can’t figure out how to accomplish their goal within the first few moments, they’ll abandon your carefully crafted digital experience faster than people leave a movie theater when the fire alarm goes off.

The Psychology of Digital Delight

Similar to having a great host at a party, professional UX design may feel effortless and intuitive even though there’s actually a lot of strategic thinking that occurs behind the scenes to make sure everyone has a good time.

The finest UX design is one that users don’t see. They don’t say “Wow… the information architecture of this site is very good and the navigation patterns are well thought!!” Their thoughts are “This is just what I was looking for, and it’s so simple to locate.”

That’s the power of user-centered design: it recognizes what users will desire to do and makes such action desirable and intuitive. You get this sense that there’s someone there who’s familiar with whatever you’re trying to express, even when you’re not even quite sure yourself.

The Art of Invisible Excellence

A good UX is similar to good hospitality: when executed, the user’s made to feel welcome, understood and given the smoothest traffic-free path towards achieving their objective. All the interactions are intentional and enjoyable, including the micro-interactions they’re not aware of.

Proficient UX designers know that on a page every item is either supporting a user achieve his/her objectives or is hindering him/her. There is no neutral ground in the field of user experience: anything either helps or creates friction.

It involves pondering extensively about even the most noticeable (such as where to place the navigation menu) and the least noticeable (how long should the animations last, what should happen when users hover over buttons). It’s about building a comprehensive experience where everything works in place in terms of creating an impression of ease and satisfaction.

The Competitive Experience Advantage

In a market characterized by apps that act like a maze built by a twisted mind keen on how to frustrate human beings, you have the opportunity to thrill viewers with interfaces capable of anticipating their needs and surpassing their perceptions.

Outstanding UX design doesn’t merely stop users leaving, but encourages them to remain at the site, engage and eventually purchase and promote. It converts ordinary interactions into good experiences that people will remember about in a positive context.

The Business Impact of Better Experiences

One of the nice things about investing in professional UX design is that it’s the sort of rare business enhancement that not only makes the users happier but also expands your bottom line. An improved UX means increased conversions, customer delight, lower support and maintenance expenses and better brand advocacy.

The easier the objectives are achieved by your users via your site or application, the more likely these users will make purchases, subscribe to services and refer your business to others. It’s as though you have a sales workforce that works 24 hours a day and never has a bad day or caffeine crashes.

The Transformation Promise

Professional UX design can move your digital properties beyond being technically functional to being genuinely delightful. That’s the difference between a service that people consume because they must and a service that people want to consume.

The user frustration is not the aim, as it would be to produce favorable emotions and memorable interactions that distinguish your brand in the competitive environment.

Ready to transform your digital experience from awkward first date to memorable encounter? Check out Workvix.com and discover what happens when your website or app finally learns how to make users feel welcome, understood, and genuinely delighted. Your conversion rates (and your user reviews) will thank you.