UX Principles and How to Utilise them.
Fitts’ Law
The time to acquire a target is a function of the distance to and size of the target.
As we can see in the above image, the 'Add to basket' button is larger in size as compared to the text surrounding it. This makes it easier for the user to locate it and click on it thus giving them a fast and smooth User Experience. This is an example of practical implementation of the Fitts' Law.
Hick’s Law
The time it takes to make a decision increases with the number and complexity of choices.
As we can see in the image, all the items have been divided into 6 major categories. This reduces the number of choices available for the user drastically and makes it easier to find the item/items they might be interested in. It also makes the website more aesthetically-pleasing to the eye by giving it a clean look. This is an example of practical implementation of the Hick's Law.
Law of Common Region
Elements tend to be perceived into groups if they are sharing an area with a clearly defined boundary.
Here, there is a clear distinction between the groups in the left and the right region. The left region contains all the major categories in 'Jewellery & Accessories' while the right region contains all the subcategories of the given categories. This distinction is clear because the elements in the left region share the same area which is different from the area shared by the elements in the right region. This is an example of practical implementation of the Law of Common Region
Zeigarnik Effect
People remember uncompleted or interrupted tasks better than completed tasks.
As we can see, Etsy does a good job at reminding the user that they have an unpurchased item in their cart. This way it urges the users to complete their purchase by making use of the Zeigarnik Effect.
Thus it can be concluded that following the Principles of Design is a good practice. These principles can make or break your design depending upon how they are used and thus it is very important to always keep them in mind while designing!
