I've always been fascinated by how people think differently, not just as a designer. I love the diversity of human nature and thrive in collaborative environments where we can create something greater together.

As a designer, I've been continuously intrigued by the intricate workings of human behavior, especially when it comes to interacting with digital interfaces. I noticed that what's clear to one person can be puzzling to another. The feedback I receive always surprises me.

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Unraveling Complexity

unravel (v) - to investigate and solve or explain (something complicated or puzzling)

The world around us is a complex place, filled with countless details and information. In this world, we have to navigate and make decisions. Each individual brings a unique perspective shaped by their background, experiences, and personality traits, making the design process both exhilarating and unpredictable… and my ‘one’ design should be perfect for a variety of users.

This ignited my curiosity to explore this topic - design psychology further.

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What is Design psychology?

It is a field that explores the intersection of design and human psychology. It focuses on understanding how people perceive and interact with designs, as well as how design choices can influence user behavior, emotions, and decision-making processes. Design psychology incorporates principles from cognitive psychology, behavioral science, and user experience design to create effective and user-centered designs. The goal of design psychology is to optimize the user experience by aligning design choices with human cognitive processes and emotional responses.

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Our workshops

At Rocksoft, we regularly organise internal workshops with our design team. Inspired to delve deeper into UX design psychology,  we brought the passion for human-centered design to the table. We've dedicated several weeks to diving deep into this topic. Through these sessions, we aimed to understand human behavior better in UX design, sharing valuable knowledge and experiences that proved both enlightening and educational. We went deeper into the laws and principles of this field - something that is helpful and crucial to know as a designer.

I'll introduce you to some key insights from design psychology, shedding light on its significance in shaping user interactions and experiences—some of the topics that we've explored in our workshops. This is just a brief introduction to a vast field that warrants further exploration, so I encourage everyone to delve deeper.

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1. Mental model

Mental model is a simplified cognitive framework that helps understand how the world works. By leveraging existing models, such as website navigation, icons, we facilitate users' interaction with our interfaces based on their prior experiences.

This reduces cognitive load and promotes more intuitive usage. In an increasingly complex world, relying solely on memory is insufficient, which is why mental models are invaluable in user interaction design.

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2. Progressive disclosure

Progressive disclosure involves gradually revealing information to users, presenting only the essential details at each interaction stage. This approach reduces cognitive overload and improves user comprehension, leading to a smoother user experience.

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Progressive disclosure involves gradually revealing information to users, presenting only the essential details at each interaction stage. This approach reduces cognitive overload and improves user comprehension, leading to a smoother user experience.

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3. Fitts's Law

Fitts's Law emphasizes the importance of making interactive elements, like buttons, larger and more accessible. This principle states that users can interact with these elements more quickly and accurately, particularly when they need to perform specific actions, and it is actually backed by mathematical formulas, like:

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4. Miller's Law

Miller's Law suggests that limiting the number of items presented to users at once can improve usability. For example, using a 4-digit verification code instead of a longer sequence can make the verification process easier and more efficient for users.

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We focused on this Law during the creation of a donation app for one of our clients - the goal was to make the UX as easy as possible.

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Endless Possibilities

In the ever-evolving world of UX design, one thing stays the same: human thinking is unpredictable. No matter how much we plan or study, there are always surprises. It's about prioritizing user needs and designing solutions that are simple yet impactful. As technology evolves, it's essential to focus on solutions that are easy to use and adapt to meet the ever-changing needs.

If Design Psychology has sparked your curiosity, I recommend exploring further on lawsofux.com