Trying it all together
Jakobs Law
Today’s lecture, we explored all the different laws and guides there is within UX and UI design, beginning with Jakobs Law. This law was founded by Jakob Nielsen which states that Users when it comes to any interaction design already know the basics or one way of using that design, due to designs in the past. Jakob’s law tells you that in ensuring your user has a pleasant experience with your design, it is ideal to stick to the basics while advancing your ideas on top of that. The focus would be on what you design, not learning the new tools to work your program.
Fitts Law
Introduced by Paul Fitts, Fitts Law says that targets should have the function of the distance to and size of the target. This means that targets should be large enough for users to clearly select, should involve clear spacing and should be placed within a place that is easily acquired.
Law of Prägnanz
Created by a psychologist called Max Wertheimer, the Law of Prägnanz states that a user will perceive and translate complex designs as the simplest form. This is caused by our way of interpreting as it is the least cognitive effort. Users will always look for the simplest ways if possible as it saves the user from getting overwhelmed.
Contrast
You want to create a text hierarchy to help guide the user where your design starts and by doing this the correct way, experiment by using more weight in information that is important. You can do this with colour however, it must be visible and clear.
Text Size
Text size can also help establish hierarchy, but it can help make the text clearer for users to read as smaller text will be difficult.
Spacing
Spacing can help with breaking down the information as it can help organize your design and make it look better visual for the user.
Distortion
Keeping your images clear should be a priority as it makes them more professional and looks better and clearer for the user.
Organization
The layout of your design should be clean and should be displayed in order as it helps the user navigate and it will be easier to understand the information that is given to them.
Hicks Law
With a team of two, Hicks law was created by Wiiliam Hick and Ray Hyman. This law highlights the focus there should be on the decision increases as it allows more of a complexity of choices. Doing this will help the user feel less overwhelmed as the breakdown of complex tasks will fit with the less cognitive way of thinking.
Colour
When it comes to colour, we can divide them into Monochromatic, Analogous, complementary and triad. If we start with Monochromatic, you are looking at one individual colour but you then explore the different tones that colour can produce. For Analogous, you look at the colours that are right beside each other within the colour wheel like red and orange or purple and blue. My favorite section to investigate is Complementary colours as you are taking colours that are opposite from each other in the colour wheel and example would be blue and orange. This gives a more aesthetic outlook. The last one is triad which is the colours that are connected in a triangle shape within colour wheel; remarkably like complementary.
Contrast In Colour
Contrast with colour is a key factor to consider due to how it can affect how users view your design. Contrast with colour can be good when trying to establish a difference within your work, however, this needs to be done correctly because contrast can cause issues like readability and attraction to your design. Figuring out the right balance for your work can make the user have an appeal to your design.
Von Restorff Effect
A Germany Psychologist called Hedwig von Restorff created this term that can also be known as the ‘Isolation effect.’ It senses when more than one similar object is present, however, the element that is different/stands out will be the key design that will be remembered by users. By using this effect, you are making the primary information distinctive to the user; you are showing hierarchy. This means you will avoid putting emphasis on surrounding objects that will distract you from the key information. Using this effect, you should consider those who have motion sensitivity and colour vision deficiency as you want the communication to translate to everyone.
