| Consistency |
Design elements should be uniform across the platform |
Navigation menus are the same on all pages |
Style guides, component libraries |
Figma, Adobe XD |
Web Development |
1995.0 |
| Feedback |
Users should receive feedback after actions |
A notification after form submission |
Loading spinners, success messages |
Google Analytics, Hotjar |
E-Commerce |
2001.0 |
| Accessibility |
Design should be usable for people with disabilities |
Text alternatives for images |
Screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation |
WAVE, axe-core |
Digital Marketing |
1996.0 |
| Error Prevention |
Prevent errors from occurring in the first place |
Disabling invalid options in forms |
Input validation, confirmation dialogs |
JQuery Validate, Formik |
Software Development |
2003.0 |
| Simplicity |
Complexity should be minimized in design |
Avoiding unnecessary elements on the screen |
Simplified navigation, flat design |
Balsamiq, Sketch |
User Experience |
2009.0 |
| Hierarchy |
Information should be organized with a clear structure |
Titles, subheadings, bullet points |
Content strategy, visual hierarchy |
SEO tools, Google Analytics |
Content Creation |
2005.0 |
| Learnability |
New users should find the interface easy to learn |
Onboarding processes, tutorials |
Guided tours, user manuals |
UserGuiding, WalkMe |
E-Learning |
2010.0 |
| Efficiency |
Users should be able to perform tasks quickly |
Keyboard shortcuts to improve navigation |
Task flows, A/B testing |
Google Optimize, Optimizely |
Software Development |
2004.0 |
| Flexibility |
Users should have options in how they interact |
Customizable interfaces and shortcuts |
User preferences, responsive design |
Bootstrap, Tailwind CSS |
Web Development |
2000.0 |
| Error Recovery |
Users should be able to recover from errors easily |
Undo options or error correction prompts |
Error messages, help dialogues |
Zendesk, Freshdesk |
Customer Support |
2002.0 |
| Readability |
Content should be easy to read and understand |
Avoiding jargon and using clear language |
Content standards, white space |
Grammarly, Hemingway |
Content Creation |
1997.0 |
| Visual Design |
Aesthetic usability helps improve user experience |
Color schemes and typography that are appealing |
Branding guides, visual audits |
Canva, Adobe Creative Suite |
Brand Management |
2008.0 |
| Cross-Platform Compatibility |
Applications should work on various devices |
Web apps function on desktops and mobile |
Responsive design, adaptive layouts |
Bootstrap, Flexbox |
Mobile Development |
2015.0 |
| User Control |
Users should feel a sense of control over their actions |
Undo and redo buttons in an editor |
Customization options, settings menus |
Microsoft Office, Google Docs |
Software Development |
1999.0 |
| Clarity |
Content should be free from ambiguity |
Clear call-to-action buttons |
Content testing, user feedback |
Hotjar, Crazy Egg |
Digital Marketing |
2013.0 |
| Task Orientation |
Design should support users in completing tasks |
User flows focused on common goals |
Task analysis, journey mapping |
Lucidchart, FlowMapp |
Product Management |
2011.0 |
| User-Centered Design |
Design processes revolve around user needs |
User feedback during design phases |
Usability testing, focus groups |
UserTesting, Lookback |
User Experience |
2007.0 |
| Responsive Design |
Websites should adapt to various screen sizes |
Mobile-first design approach |
Media queries, flexible grids |
Foundation, Bootstrap |
Front-End Development |
2014.0 |
| Interactivity |
Web pages should respond to user actions instantaneously |
Hover effects on buttons |
JavaScript, AJAX |
React, Angular |
Web Development |
2006.0 |
| Navigation |
Users should find navigation intuitive |
Dropdown menus, breadcrumb trails |
Card sorting, user testing |
Axure, InVision |
Information Architecture |
2004.0 |
| Content-Knowledge Matching |
Content should match user expectations and knowledge |
Using industry terminology users recognize |
User personas, content strategy |
UserTesting, Crazy Egg |
Content Management |
2012.0 |
| Mobile Usability |
Interfaces should be optimized for mobile devices |
Touch-friendly buttons and layouts |
Mobile usability testing |
BrowserStack, DeviceSimulator |
Mobile Development |
2011.0 |
| Visual Accessibility |
Design should be usable for those with visual impairments |
High-contrast colors and resizable text |
Color contrast checkers, text scaling |
ColorSafe, Accessibility Checker |
Web Design |
2018.0 |
| Content Discoverability |
Users should easily find what they need |
Search functions on websites |
SEO, tagging systems |
Google Search Console, SEMrush |
Search Marketing |
2015.0 |
| Dropdown Menus |
Use of dropdowns to save space in navigation |
Menus that expand on hover/click |
Hover effects, clear labeling |
CSS, JavaScript |
Web Development |
2005.0 |
| User Engagement |
Design should captivate user interest |
Animations and interactive content |
Gamification, rewards systems |
Unity, Gamify |
Digital Marketing |
2017.0 |
| Help & Support |
Provide resources for users needing assistance |
FAQs, live chat support |
Knowledge bases, chatbots |
Zendesk, Tawk.to |
Customer Support |
2016.0 |
| Progressive Disclosure |
Show only necessary information to avoid overwhelm |
Advanced options hidden until needed |
Settings menus, modal dialogs |
Design Systems, UserTesting |
Software Development |
2010.0 |
| Speed |
Loading times should be minimized |
Optimizing image sizes and scripts |
Speed tests, CDNs |
GTmetrix, Cloudflare |
Web Development |
2013.0 |
| User Satisfaction |
Aim for high user satisfaction via design |
NPS and user surveys to gauge happiness |
Survey forms, analytics |
Hotjar, Google Forms |
User Experience |
2004.0 |
| Data Privacy |
Users should feel their data is secure |
Clear privacy policies and data handling |
GDPR compliance, secure connections |
OneTrust, TrustArc |
Legal Compliance |
2018.0 |
| Search Functionality |
Users should be able to search for content easily |
Search bars with autocomplete |
Search algorithms, filtering |
Algolia, Elasticsearch |
Software Development |
2009.0 |
| Visual Consistency |
All visual elements should align with brand identity |
Uniform color usage across the website |
Brand guidelines, templates |
Adobe Illustrator, Canva |
Brand Management |
2015.0 |
| Touch Interaction |
Interfaces should be designed with touchscreens in mind |
Buttons should be large for touch area |
Touch targets, gestures |
Figma, Protopie |
Mobile Development |
2012.0 |
| Contextual Help |
Provide help where needed in the interface |
Tooltips and in-line help instructions |
UI hints, pop-ups |
Snagit, WalkMe |
Software Development |
2017.0 |
| Engagement Metrics |
Track user's interactions for better design decisions |
Click-through rates and session duration measurements |
Analytics tools, heat maps |
Google Analytics, Mixpanel |
E-Commerce |
2014.0 |
| User Journey Mapping |
Visualizing the user's experience to improve design |
Creating flowcharts to depict user pathways |
Storyboards, wireframes |
Lucidchart, Sketch |
User Experience |
2011.0 |
| Interactive Prototyping |
Develop interactive models of the product before development |
Clickable wireframes to visualize user experience |
Prototypes, user testing |
Axure, InVision |
Product Design |
2011.0 |
| Behavioral Targeting |
Personalizing the user experience based on behavior |
Dynamic content based on past behavior |
Customer segmentation, machine learning |
Segment, Amplitude |
Digital Marketing |
2016.0 |
| Onboarding Experience |
Guide new users to become proficient in using an application |
Step-by-step walkthroughs when first using an app |
Tooltips, interactive tutorials |
UserGuiding, Intro.js |
E-Learning |
2013.0 |
| Visual Feedback |
Provide visual confirmation for user actions |
Button changes color when clicked |
CSS transitions, animations |
Adobe Animate, After Effects |
Web Development |
2015.0 |
| Questionnaires & Surveys |
Gather user inputs to improve platform usability |
Using surveys to understand user needs |
User engagement forms, feedback loops |
Google Forms, Typeform |
User Research |
2019.0 |
| Predictive Search |
Enhancing search using AI for suggestions |
Showing search suggestions as users type |
Machine learning algorithms, history tracking |
Algolia, Elasticsearch |
E-Commerce |
2016.0 |
| Checklists & Guides |
Providing users with step-by-step instructions |
Checklists for complex tasks |
Guidance systems, instructional designs |
Trello, Asana |
Project Management |
2020.0 |
| Emotional Design |
Design elements that connect with users emotionally |
Using colors and imagery to evoke feelings |
User persona mapping, emotional metrics |
Adobe XD, Figma |
User Experience |
2018.0 |
| Content Update Notification |
Keep users informed of new content or changes |
Email newsletters for updates |
Push notifications, email campaigns |
Mailchimp, Constant Contact |
Digital Marketing |
2017.0 |
| Microinteractions |
Small design elements that improve user experience |
Progress bars, liking a post |
CSS animations, brief prompts |
Webflow, Framer |
Social Media |
2018.0 |
| Skimmable Content |
Content formatted for quick reading |
Using bullet points and subheadings |
Content layout, typography |
Medium, WordPress |
Content Creation |
2015.0 |
| Data Visualization |
Using graphics to understand data intuitively |
Charts, dashboards for reports |
D3.js, Tableau |
Data Analysis |
2013 |
NaN |
| Load Time Optimization |
Reduce loading times for better user satisfaction |
Code minification, image compression |
GTmetrix, PageSpeed Insights |
Website Development |
2012 |
NaN |
| Chatbots |
AI-driven support for immediate user assistance |
Real-time help through messaging in apps |
Natural language processing, UI bots |
Tidio, Drift |
Customer Support |
2020.0 |
| Content Personalization |
Tailoring content to meet different user needs |
Dynamic landing pages based on user profiles |
User segmentation, A/B testing |
Optimizely, HubSpot |
Digital Marketing |
2018.0 |
| Behavioral Analytics |
Analyze user behavior to improve design |
Tracking user journeys and interactions |
Heatmaps, click-tracking |
Crazy Egg, Hotjar |
User Research |
2012.0 |
| Skeuomorphic Design |
Design elements mimic real-world counterparts |
Virtual notepad and audio recorder designs |
Visual metaphors, design patterns |
Mockups, Adobe XD |
Mobile Development |
2011.0 |
| Fitt's Law |
The time to acquire a target is a function of the distance to and size of the target |
Larger buttons are easier to hit when further apart |
Design sizing, strategic placement |
Web Design, UX Design |
Human-Computer Interaction |
1954.0 |
| A/B Testing |
Testing two versions of a web page to determine which performs better |
Experimenting with different headlines or layouts |
Statistical analysis, variant tracking |
Optimizely, Google Optimize |
Digital Marketing |
2019.0 |
| Content Relevancy |
Keep content matched with user intent |
Keyword-focused content creation |
SEO strategies, keyword research |
SEMrush, Ahrefs |
Content Marketing |
2021.0 |
| Form Usability |
Design forms for ease of use and completion |
Minimal input fields and clear labels |
Reducing friction, auto-completion |
Typeform, Google Forms |
Digital Marketing |
2015.0 |
| User Personas |
Creating fictional characters that represent user types |
Building empathy in design thinking |
User interviews, demographic studies |
Persona Generator, Xtensio |
User Research |
2018.0 |
| Overlay Modals |
Display information in a layer over current content |
Notifications appearing without leaving the page |
Pop-ups, contextual help |
Bootstrap, jQuery |
Web Development |
2020.0 |
| Link Visibility |
Links should stand out and be easily recognizable |
Underlined text with contrasting colors for links |
Clickable links, CSS styling |
Site audits, web design |
Accessibility |
2021.0 |
| Content Strategy |
Planning content goals to meet user and business needs |
User journeys influencing content direction |
Editorial calendars, topic mapping |
Trello, Asana |
Content Management |
2016.0 |
| Multi-Device Usability |
Ensure usability across different devices and screens |
Adapting layouts for mobile, tablet, and desktop |
Responsive design, fluid grids |
Bootstrap, Foundation |
Web Development |
2015.0 |
| Instant Feedback |
Provide immediate responses to user actions |
Success messages on form submissions |
Real-time notifications, alerts |
Firebase, Notification Systems |
Web Development |
2019.0 |
| Task Simplification |
Streamline complex tasks for better user experience |
Step-by-step workflows to reduce overload |
Task flows, user journey mapping |
Lucidchart, UserTesting |
User Experience |
2014.0 |
| Kill Confirmation |
Prevent accidental deletions or irreversible actions |
Confirm dialogs prior to destructive actions |
Confirmation prompts, alert boxes |
UI Elements, Dialogs |
Software Development |
2010.0 |