Common Mistakes in Web Design That Hurt User Experience

Common Mistakes in Web Design That Hurt User Experience

From Ali Nasir

I'm raising money for a cause I care about, but I need your help to reach my goal! Please become a supporter to follow my progress and share with your friends.

Support this campaign

Subscribe to follow campaign updates!

More Info

Planning a website redesign, update, or in fact, making one from scratch for your business? If yes, then you must be aware of the common web design flaws that could take a big hit on your success. So many businesses struggle with poor web design and miss the boat with their target audience. That just means potential customers look elsewhere. Don't let your business fall into that very trap. Mistakes in web design are common; they can either act as barriers between your user and your website or lead to such horrific first impressions that they turn and leave forever. 

This issue is particularly detrimental for businesses in competitive niches, such as web design and development where first impressions are everything. Take a look at the following pitfalls, most of which you will be able to avoid with sound professional help on your web design. However, in case you are DIYing or have an inexperienced designer, the need to check through your site against design deficiencies remains imperative. A well-designed website engages the audience, and that may provide a boost in business. In this article, we’ll explain some common mistakes in web design that hurt user experiences.

Excessive Visual Elements:

Overloading a site with excess visual elements is one of the common mistakes in web design. Though a site must be visually appealing, too many graphics, animation, and text will overwhelm users. This is not only distractive to the core message but also makes it difficult for users to navigate around the site effectively. Clean, simple designs that focus on the essential elements tend to work better on the aspects of user engagement and satisfaction.

Ignores Mobile Responsiveness:

The number of people who use smartphones is increasing day by day and that’s where comes a common mistake that people usually make and that is they ignore the mobile activeness

When the website is fine on a desktop but doesn’t work or function well on mobile, it enrages users and chases them away. The algorithm is also biased toward mobile-friendly websites in its rankings, so such neglect will hurt your site’s search engine visibility. Responsiveness first in web design & development enables a smooth user experience across all devices.

Slow Loading Times:

Patience is an element absent like the user. The moment a website takes too long to load, they will leave the site. The most common problems that may be the reason for slow loading are heavy images, unoptimized code, and too many plugins. It doesn’t only negatively affect user experience but also Search Engine Optimization ranking, as search engines like Google consider site speed in determining search results. It means you should constantly check your website’s speed and improve it where necessary.

Bad Navigation Structure:

Navigation is one of the most important aspects of web design, yet it has probably been discussed the least. If we know that navigation gone wrong frustrates users immensely because they can’t find what they are looking for, it means some common mistakes are hidden menus, unclear labels, and too many menu items. The best way to deal with this is just to keep it simple, intuitive, and constant all over the website. Any area within your website needs to be accessible within three clicks.

Ignoring the Readability of the Content:

It is believed that content is king if it’s not hard to comprehend but if it is, the content is going to lose its power. So many designers put way too much importance on aesthetics and not enough importance on readability. This could be in the form of the wrong font size, poor contrast colors, or just big blocks of text with no break in sight. Enhance readability through enlarged, distinct fonts, content structures with headings and bullet points, and adequate contrast between text and background colors.

No User Testing:

No matter how great a design may be, it’s impossible to know how a website will perform with real users without some kind of user testing. Too often, many designers skip this step and are surprised by usability problems when the site goes live. User testing allows you to identify any problems before they face a larger audience. You can further enhance the user experience by gathering feedback from real users.

Forgetting Accessibility:

Web accessibility is the term used for allowing people with disabilities to access a website. Not taking accessibility into account will likely alienate a portion of your target audience. Common mistakes when considering accessibility relate to a lack of alt text next to images, insufficient color contrast, or a lack of options for navigating by keyboard. Following best practices in accessibility, like using semantic HTML and providing available text alternatives, means that now your website will be accessible and usable by anyone.

Conclusion:

User experience is what breaks or makes the success of a website in the competitive digital world. By avoiding the most fundamental web design mistakes that businesses have been making in multitudes such as overloading with visual elements, ignoring mobile responsiveness, slow loading times, poor navigation, neglecting content readability, lack of user testing, and letting accessibility slip one’s mind a business has a chance to create websites that not only attract visitors but also mature them into customers. Good web design & development revolve around the user’s needs providing a smooth, enjoyable, and accessible experience to all.

Campaign Wall

Join the Conversation

Sign in with your Facebook account or

Help Ali raise $20 by making a donation.