Core UX Principles
| Principle | Description |
|---|
| Don't Make Me Think | Users should understand instantly — if they have to pause, the design failed |
| Fitts's Law | Bigger + closer targets are faster to click. Important buttons should be large and near where the user's cursor already is. |
| Hick's Law | More choices = slower decisions. Limit options. Netflix's "Top 10" row is Hick's Law in action. |
| Jakob's Law | Users spend most of their time on OTHER sites — they expect yours to work the same way. Don't reinvent the wheel. |
Visual Hierarchy
| Technique | How |
|---|
| Size | Bigger = more important. Headline > subhead > body text. |
| Color & contrast | CTAs in a contrasting color — one primary action color per screen |
| Whitespace | Space around elements makes them stand out — crowded = nothing stands out |
| Typography | Max 2-3 fonts. Bold for emphasis, not everything. |
Accessibility Essentials (WCAG)
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|
| Color contrast | 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text |
| Keyboard navigation | Everything usable without a mouse |
| Alt text | Every image has descriptive alt text |
| Focus indicators | Visible outline on focused elements |
Pro Tip: Good design is invisible. Users don't notice a well-designed interface — they just accomplish their task and leave satisfied. If users notice your design (in a bad way), you've failed. If they notice it in a good way, you've also probably failed — it should just work.