Takeover Tuesday: Understanding UX laws

Successful digital products require a strong understanding of UX laws - rules based on human behaviour and psychology that help website designers understand how the users perceive and interact with a product. Having a strong understanding of the user experience laws provides designers the foundation for creating intuitive and user-friendly products.

‍

Hick's Law

According to Hick's Law, the time it takes for a person to make a decision increases with the number and complexity of choices. That means the more options we present to the user, the more difficult it is going to be for him/her to make a decision. When there are multiple choices available, grouping them into different categories helps the user process the information more easily.  Displaying a ‘More options’ button or breaking the process into individual steps will also help the decision-making process become more intuitive.

‍

Fitts's Law

Fitts's Law states that the time required to move to a target area is a function of the distance to the target and the size of the target, meaning that designers must consider the size and location of the buttons or other interactive elements to increase the usability of a product.

‍

Law of Proximity

The Law of Proximity states that elements that are close to each other are perceived as related or grouped together. Designers will use white space to separate different sections and elements, making the UI intuitive and enhancing clarity of the product.

‍

Jakob's Law

Users spend a lot of time on websites, so they expect all the websites to work in the same way as other sites they have already visited. Any element that uses a new functionality or interface requires a learning curve for the user, that’s why designers should use familiar UI elements and use standard positions for the important components of a website e.g. navigation menu.

‍

Von Restorff Effect

When the user is presented multiple similar objects, the one that differs from the rest is most likely to be remembered – important information or key action buttons need to be presented differently from the rest of the elements.

The UX laws provide guidance for making informed design decisions and to help create effective, user-centred designs. By following these principles, designers can enhance usability and simplify decision-making processes, creating digital products that are not only functional, but also enjoyable to use.

Find out more about our digital and website work here.