How to Leverage User-Centered Design Principles in a Product

The relationship between businesses and consumers is like that of a gentleman trying to woo a lady. So, the business tries everything within its power to woo the consumers because the latter is who keeps the company’s wheels running. And to do this, companies appeal to their users by incorporating their desires into the product.

This is what the concept of user-centered designs is all about.

Now, it is essential for you as a business to learn how this works and the various principles embedded in it. They would allow you to enjoy the goodies of winning the market over in the midst of overwhelming competition.

As a result, this article would focus on explaining the intricacies of user-centered design principles. And it would show you how you can leverage these principles in your product concept development process.

What is UCD?

According to Career Foundry, user-centered design is a collection of iterative concept design processes that focus on the users’ needs at each step in order to design an enjoyable solution to a problem.

While that might sound like a big combo of words, UCD is really just seeing from the eyes of the consumer as you create a product. That is, you factor in what the user might prefer in their use and interaction with the product you are making.

How To Leverage User-Centered Design Principles

• Simplicity

An important principle of a user-centered design is simplicity. Users usually do not want to feel overwhelmed by your product.

If that happens, there are higher chances that they would seek alternative options. You do not want that.

Thus, as you design the product, make it as simple as possible for the consumers. They must feel a sense of visual balance and psychological calmness as they iterate on your concept design products.

• Easy Navigation

Users prioritize ease over stress. An average user wants to check out your product, gets their problem solved as fast as they possibly can, and leave. And the ease of finding what they are looking for within the short possible period will give you an edge in the market.

The ease of navigating through your product is an essential ingredient for user retention. So, you must be keen on incorporating it into the concept design products you work on.

• Strategic Subtraction

This principle emphasizes the idea of removing unnecessary parts of the product concept design. If an aspect or element of your product is not essential to the core experience of the user with the product, consider removing it.

This subtraction makes users feel less lost when they use your product. This works especially if you engage the concept of progressive disclosure.

This concept exists to change complicated tasks and make them feel easier and not burdensome. Strategic subtraction also helps users to stay focused on the task they want to achieve with your product.

• User Interaction and Engagement

User research is an integral aspect of creating user-centered designs. And that is because understanding customer habits and concerns is what makes UCD. Thus, you must learn to consistently interact with your users before you make heavy adjustments to the product.

• Continuous User Testing

Here, you keep seeking user feedback and incorporating it into the concept design process if you engage in concept design services. This is a strategy to ensure that the user’s comfort and ease take the highest priority as you create.

Running product testing includes learning how to listen to users as well as how to ask accurate questions. This also includes presenting prototypes to users to get their feedback on the product. And once that is done, you keep testing the product to be sure it reflects the concerns raised by the users and it also retains the preferences of the target market.