Some incredibly basic UX design tips for people with absolutely no design experience.

1. Design Hacks
Just Enough Design for an MVP
Laura Klein
@lauraklein
laura@usersknow.com
http://www.usersknow.com
Thursday, April 18, 13

2. Designers Will HateThis Presentation
Thursday, April 18, 13

3. Before We Start: Say It With Me
I (state your name) do solemnly declare that I
have spoken to my users and discovered a
problem that this design is intended to solve.
I have validated that this problem is real and that
people want me to solve it for them and might
even pay me for it.
Thursday, April 18, 13

4. Some (Very Basic) DesignTips
Thursday, April 18, 13

5. Design 101:Tip #1
Information should be in close proximity to your CTA.
Thursday, April 18, 13

6. Not LikeThis
useful information
CTA
Instructions that
wouldn’t be necessary
without the division.
user decisions
Yeah. I know they make a boatload of money.This page is
still not optimized for this sort of purchase.
Thursday, April 18, 13

7. Design 101:Tip #2
Actions should work the same everywhere.
This icon means search. Except when it means enlarge.
Stop doing that.
Thursday, April 18, 13

8. Not LikeThis
hitting enter doesn’t post a comment...
except when it does.
Thursday, April 18, 13

9. Design 101:Tip #3
One primary call to action is the correct number.
Yes.
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10. Not LikeThis does this make
anyone else miss
the 90s?
Hell no.
Thursday, April 18, 13

11. Design 101:Tip #4
Everything is not Pinterest (or Facebook orTwitter or...you
get the point)
Thursday, April 18, 13

12. Not LikeThis
for all you queen/lil
wayne/bob dylan fans.
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13. Design 101:Tip #5
Equivalent things should be shown equivalently
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14. Not LikeThis
I have never once
created an ad.
Thursday, April 18, 13

15. Best “Design”Advice Ever
It’s not stealing, it’s “inspiration”
PatternTap.com
Mobile-Patterns.com
ui-patterns.com
patternry.com/patterns
smileycat.com/design_elements
You can thank me later.
Thursday, April 18, 13

16. Imagine Comments
This product
needs comments!
Thursday, April 18, 13

17. Step 1:What’s It For?
User Need Business Need
I want to know which products
people like.
Sell more products.
I want to chat with my friends. Increase engagement.
I want to talk about a subject I
care about.
Increase retention.
I like to yell at people
anonymously.
Increase clicks on content.
Thursday, April 18, 13

18. Step 1:What’s It For?
User Need Business Need
I want to know which products
people like.
Sell more products.
I want to chat with my friends. Increase engagement.
I want to talk about a subject I
care about.
Increase retention.
I like to yell at people
anonymously.
Increase clicks on content.
Thursday, April 18, 13

19. Step 2: Find Design Patterns
Thursday, April 18, 13

20. Step 3: RefineYour Necessary Features
Rating system
Commenting
Flagging
Profile Pic
Name of Commenter
Number of Comments Made
Way to Navigate Comments
Edit/Delete for Commenter
Commenter Reputation
unlikely to know
person by sight.
unnecessary if nobody
leaves a comment!
test this later
Thursday, April 18, 13

21. Step 4: Sketch It
Oops.That’s not an
MVP requirement!
Thursday, April 18, 13

22. Step 5: Prototype It
Interactive Prototype
Not Pictured Here
Because It’s Hard toTake
a Picture of a Prototype
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23. Step 6:Test And Iterate
This is also steps 7 - n where n equals your users not being
horribly confused.
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24. Step N+1: Release,Test & Iterate Even More
You’re not done yet!
Watch users in the wild and don’t forget that a/b test!
Thursday, April 18, 13

25. Learn More:
@lauraklein
laura@usersknow.com
http://www.usersknow.com
UX for Lean Startups from O’Reilly: Buy It Now!
Thursday, April 18, 13