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The Impact of User Experience on Business Success
Episode 19 • 30th October 2024 • Business Ignite Podcast • Business Ignite Podcast
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In this episode of the Business Ignite Podcast, hosts Ethan Walker and Samantha Reed explore the world of effective web design and its importance in enhancing user experience. Drawing from an article by 95Visual, they discuss the role of user psychology, the significance of visual hierarchy, and the necessity of simplicity in web design. By decoding these elements, listeners gain insight into the strategies behind successful websites and the impact of design choices on finding information and engaging with content. The podcast encourages business owners and website visitors to become more discerning, informed and empathetic in their approach to web design.

00:00 Welcome to the Business Ignite Podcast

00:16 The Importance of Good Web Design

00:43 Decoding Effective Design with 95Visual

01:20 Understanding User Experience

02:44 Visual Hierarchy Explained

04:53 The Power of Simplicity in Design

05:58 Becoming a Discerning User

07:29 Conclusion and Next Steps


Resources:

  • The Benefits of Reading Good Design Articles - This article highlights the advantages of reading high-quality design articles. It explains how staying informed on design trends, best practices, and expert insights can help improve your own design skills and keep your work relevant. Regularly engaging with design content can inspire creativity, broaden your knowledge, and ensure that your projects are effective and visually appealing. Reading good design articles ultimately helps designers and businesses stay ahead in a competitive industry. https://www.95visual.com/resources/articles/the-benefits-of-reading-good-design-articles


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Transcripts

Speaker:

Welcome back to the business ignite podcast, where we light the fire

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for business growth and marketing success.

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Your hosts, Ethan Walker, Samantha Reed,

bring you the latest trends, expert

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insights, and actionable strategies

to fuel your business journey.

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Let's ignite your potential.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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So we all have our

favorite websites, right?

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The ones that just make sense.

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You can find what you need like

instantly, but have you ever

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like stopped to think about.

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Why some sites just click and others

you're just clicking and clicking

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and clicking in frustration.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah.

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It's funny how good web design

can be almost invisible, right?

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When it's working, you

don't even notice it.

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You just seamlessly guide it to your goal.

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But bad design?

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Oof.

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You notice that right away.

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Samantha Reed: Sticks

out like a sore thumb.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah.

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Samantha Reed: And to help us decode the

DNA of effective design, we're taking a

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deep dive into an article from 95 Visual.

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Oh yeah.

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These are the Gurus of all things visual,

their piece, the benefits of reading good

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design articles really resonated with me.

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It's packed with insights that go way

beyond just making things look pretty.

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Ethan Walker: Absolutely.

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And I think one of the biggest

takeaways from it for me is

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that it's really about people.

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Right at, at its core web design

is about understanding people,

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your psychology, your behavior,

even your potential frustrations.

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Samantha Reed: So it's less about

the tech itself, more about.

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How we as humans experience that tech.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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And the article really

emphasizes user experience.

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It's about anticipating your

needs as a visitor, and then using

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design principles to guide you

effortlessly through the site.

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Samantha Reed: That makes me think

about those times I've landed on

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a website and Instantly felt lost.

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Like, where's the menu?

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How do I even find anything?

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Ethan Walker: Right.

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And that's a perfect example

of where design falls short.

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And the article actually gives some

specific examples, like confusing

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navigation or burying crucial

information deep within the site.

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These are the design sins that make

us want to hit that back button

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faster than you could say 404 error.

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Samantha Reed: Oh, I've been there.

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It almost feels like some websites

forget they're being designed for actual

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humans who need to, you know, use them.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah, and that's

precisely why understanding

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user psychology is so crucial.

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It's about empathy.

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A good designer puts themselves in

the visitor's shoes, anticipating

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their needs and potential pain points.

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It's about removing

obstacles, Not creating them.

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Samantha Reed: So it's

almost like good design.

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It's like a good host at a party.

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They make you feel welcome and

point you in the right direction

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and make sure you're having a good

time without even realizing they're

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orchestrating the whole thing.

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Ethan Walker: I love that analogy.

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Mm-Hmm, . And then on the flip side of

that bad design is like that awkward guest

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who blocks the snack table and talks your

ear off about their stamp collection.

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Samantha Reed: Ouch.

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I can practically feel the awkwardness.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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So if those are the pitfalls.

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How do we design websites that

people actually enjoy using?

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Ethan Walker: So this is where the

article gets really interesting.

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It dives into the strategic thinking

behind good design and how understanding

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things like visual hierarchy can really

make or break the user experience.

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Samantha Reed: Visual hierarchy.

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Now that sounds a little intimidating.

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Is this where things start

getting too technical?

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Ethan Walker: Not at all.

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It's actually quite intuitive

once you understand the basics.

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Think of it like this.

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Samantha Reed: So about that visual

hierarchy thing, it still sounds

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a bit like design jargon to me.

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Break it down for us non designers.

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Ethan Walker: It's simpler than it sounds.

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Imagine walking into a room where

everything is the same size and color.

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Overwhelming.

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Every virtual hierarchy is about

creating order out of that chaos.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, so instead

of a room, it's a website.

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And instead of furniture, it's

headlines, images, buttons.

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Ethan Walker: You got it.

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It's about guiding your eye.

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Just like a museum curator

arranges exhibits to, like,

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lead you through a story.

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The article mentions techniques

like using size and placement.

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You got it.

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Larger elements, especially at the top,

naturally draw our attention first.

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Samantha Reed: So like those giant

hero images you see on some websites.

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The ones with the sweeping landscapes

or the product shots that make you

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want to reach out and touch them.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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They're using size to

immediately grab your attention.

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But it's not just about size,

it's also about using contrast.

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Ever noticed how important text is, often

in a, like, bold, contrasting color?

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That's not an accident.

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Samantha Reed: And don't forget

those strategically placed call

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to action buttons, the ones that

practically scream, Click me, click me.

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They always seem to be in a contrasting

color that pops off the page.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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They're using color to

subconsciously guide your actions.

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It's about making that desired action,

whether it's signing up for a newsletter

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or making a purchase impossible to miss.

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Samantha Reed: So there's actually

a whole science behind making

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those buttons irresistible.

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I've been manipulated by good design.

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Ethan Walker: We all have.

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But the article argues that this

influence could be a force for good.

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When used ethically, it enhances

usability, making it easier for us

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to find what we need and engage with

the content in a meaningful way.

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Samantha Reed: That makes sense.

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It's like the difference between

a cluttered store with products

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haphazardly thrown on shelves versus a

beautifully merchandised boutique where

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everything has its place and you're

naturally drawn to the key pieces.

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Ethan Walker: I love that comparison.

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You're welcome.

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And this brings us to another

crucial design principle highlighted

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in the article, simplicity.

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You know, in a world that's just

saturated with information, it's

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the simple things that stand out.

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Samantha Reed: So we're talking

about clean lines, uncluttered

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layouts, that kind of thing.

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Ethan Walker: Precisely.

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It's about giving your

content room to breathe.

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The article argues that simplicity

reduces what's known as cognitive load.

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Samantha Reed: Cognitive

load sounds heavy.

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Ethan Walker: It's actually about making

things feel lighter, mentally speaking.

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Think of it this way.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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So cognitive load is like that feeling

you get when you've been scrolling

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for hours and your brain is fried.

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Like it's information overload.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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And a cluttered.

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Poorly designed website just adds

to that cognitive overload, but

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a simple, well organized site

feels like a breath of fresh air.

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It actually reduces stress and

allows us to focus on the content.

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Samantha Reed: So it's like choosing

a quiet cafe over a noisy, crowded bar

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when you're trying to get some work done.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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It's about creating an environment

that's conducive to the task at hand.

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And in this case, that task is finding

information, making a purchase.

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Or simply enjoying the content.

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Samantha Reed: This has been eye opening.

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We've talked about user psychology, visual

hierarchy, the importance of simplicity.

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I feel like I'm seeing

websites with new eyes now.

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Ethan Walker: That's exactly what we want.

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This Deep Dive wasn't just about giving

you abstract design principles, it was

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about giving you a new perspective.

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A new lens through which

to view the online world.

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Samantha Reed: So it's less about

becoming design experts overnight,

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more about becoming more mindful.

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More discerning users.

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Ethan Walker: Precisely.

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As the article suggests, start paying

attention to the websites you visit.

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What design choices are they making,

what's working, what's not, and why.

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You might be surprised

by what you discover.

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Samantha Reed: You know, the article

itself mentions that 95 Visual finds

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inspiration in other online resources like

Creative Block Muesli and Red Lemon Club.

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Those are some great places

to start exploring design

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further, if you're interested.

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Ethan Walker: Absolutely.

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And I encourage you to approach these

resources, not just as a passive

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observer, but as a But as an active

participant in the design process,

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ask questions, challenge assumptions,

and most importantly, don't be

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afraid to develop your own opinions

about what makes good design work.

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Samantha Reed: This has been

a fascinating deep dive.

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It's amazing how much thought and

strategy goes into something we

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interact with every single day,

often without even realizing it.

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Ethan Walker: It's true.

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Good design has the power to

inform, engage, and even inspire us.

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And by understanding the principles

behind it, we can become more informed

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users, more discerning consumers,

and even more creative thinkers.

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Samantha Reed: So next time you're

browsing online, take a moment to

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appreciate the hidden language of design.

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You might be surprised

at what it's telling you.

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And on that note, thanks for

joining us on this deep dive

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into the world of web design.

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Speaker 2: Thanks for tuning

into the Business Ignite podcast,

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where we fuel your business

growth and marketing success.

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If you enjoyed today's episode,

be sure to rate and review us.

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It does help others find the show.

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Don't forget to follow us on social

media at Business Ignite podcast and

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share this episode with a friend.

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Keep the fire burning and remember,

your success is just one strategy away.

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Until next time, stay ignited.

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