What is UX?
The way products are presented can have a positive or negative impact on the user. For instance, if a customer finds discomfort in wearing a pair of sneakers, they will not want to buy it again. We can say that the customer has a bad experience with that product. With that illustration, we can define user experience. User Experience, also known as UX, describes the experiences of users while interacting with or using a digital or physical product.
What is UXD?
Understanding what UX means will help us to have an idea of what user experience design is all about. User Experience Design, also known as UXD, focuses on creating products that provide a meaningful experience for the users. UX design studies user behaviours and reactions to design better experiences. User experience design goes beyond sketching how the product should look, it also entails understanding the rationale behind a user’s choice. The UX designer considers these while working on the product.
What is the UX Pyramid?
We now know what UX and UXD are, let’s examine the UX pyramid. The UX pyramid is a framework for designing user-centric products. According to iABI.com, “The User Experience Pyramid is a model that helps us map out the different stages of a product’s design process and helps bring together key stakeholders and team members under one shared user-centred strategy. It follows a similar structure to Maslow's hierarchy of needs where you start at the bottom and work your way to the top.” In other words, the UX pyramid shows the various levels a product needs to pass through to attain success. The UX Pyramid is an important concept that helps designers understand and prioritise key elements of UX design.
Levels in the UX Pyramid
The UX Pyramid has six (6) levels starting from the base to the top. They are as follows:
Level 1: Functionality
This level looks at the usefulness of the product. It asks questions like does the product work? does it meet the users’ needs? etc. At this level, the designer is concerned with the functionality of the product. Here the needs that the users want to achieve are highlighted and worked on.
Level 2: Reliability
This level focuses on how dependable the product is in meeting the goals of the users. It raises questions like: can this product be trusted to reach the users’ goals? Is the content accurate? Can it be used on any device? and so on.
Level 3: Usability
This stage is concerned with the ability to use the product without difficulties. It focuses on how users can easily navigate the product and carry out their tasks. In this phase, the designer makes sure that the user doesn’t depend on long instruction manuals.
It is important to note that levels 1-3 dwell on the users’ ability to accomplish a task.
Level 4: Convenient
The core of the fourth level is convenience. The designer should keep in mind the flexibility of the product and how it fits into the users’ schedule. This gives the users the ability to use the product whenever.
Level 5: Pleasurable
This level raises questions like Are the product visuals appealing? Is the experience worth sharing? The designers create features that the users can enjoy and also share with others.
Level 6: Meaningful
This level targets the essence of the product. Does the product have any significance in the lives of the users?
Levels 4-6 place emphasis on the users’ experiences while engaging with the product.
How UX Pyramid Creates a Successful Experience for Users
The UX pyramid contains the fundamental principles needed to build a wonderful experience for the user. When we look at each component, we notice that each level is connected and encapsulates the overall user experience. The UX pyramid is an essential ingredient in design as it helps the designers build products and create mind-blowing experiences for users.
Thank you for taking out time to read.