The “Laws of UX” is a collection of principles and guidelines summarizing key user experience design concepts. These laws are not strict rules but rather heuristics that designers can use to inform their decisions and improve the usability and effectiveness of their designs. Some of the most commonly referenced laws include:
- Hick’s Law: This law states that the time it takes for a person to make a decision increases with the number of choices available. Designers should strive to reduce complexity and streamline decision-making processes to improve usability.
- Fitts’s Law: Fitts’s Law describes the relationship between the size of a target, its distance from the user, and the speed at which the user can accurately interact with it. It suggests that larger targets closer to the user are easier and faster to interact with.
- Gestalt Principles: Gestalt principles, such as proximity, similarity, continuity, closure, and figure-ground, describe how humans perceive and organize visual information. Designers can use these principles to create clear, organized, visually appealing interfaces.
- Miller’s Law: Miller’s Law posits that the average person can only keep around 7 (plus or minus 2) items in their working memory at once. Designers should be mindful of cognitive load and avoid overwhelming users with too much information or options.
- Jakob’s Law: Jakob’s Law states that users’ expectations are shaped by their experiences with other websites and applications. Designers should follow familiar conventions and patterns to create intuitive and user-friendly interfaces.
- Parkinson’s Law of Triviality (Bike-Shedding): Parkinson’s Law of Triviality suggests that people tend to spend more time and energy on trivial matters (the “bike shed”) while neglecting more important issues. Designers should prioritize their efforts on the most impactful aspects of the Design.
- Fogg Behavior Model: The Fogg Behavior Model explains the factors influencing user behavior, including motivation, ability, and triggers. Designers can use this model to design experiences that encourage desired user actions.
These laws, among others, serve as valuable guidelines for designers to create compelling and user-centered experiences across various digital products and platforms.