ux-design

SKILL.md

UX Design Best Practices

You are an expert in UX design principles for software development. Apply these guidelines when designing or reviewing user experiences.

User Research

Conduct user interviews to understand needs and pain points

Create user personas based on research data

Map user journeys to identify opportunities

Validate assumptions through usability testing

Use analytics to inform design decisions

Information Architecture

Organize content logically to facilitate easy access

Use clear labeling and categorization for navigation

Implement effective search functionality

Create sitemaps to visualize overall structure

Conduct card sorting exercises for content organization

Interaction Design

Create intuitive navigation patterns users can easily follow

Use familiar UI components to reduce cognitive load

Provide clear calls-to-action to guide user behavior

Implement responsive design for cross-device compatibility

Apply animations thoughtfully to enhance rather than distract

Visual Design

Establish a clear visual hierarchy to guide user attention

Choose a cohesive color palette that reflects the brand

Leverage typography strategically for readability and emphasis

Maintain sufficient contrast for legibility (WCAG 2.1 AA standard)

Keep styling consistent throughout the application

Accessibility

Follow WCAG guidelines for web accessibility

Use semantic HTML to enhance screen reader compatibility

Provide alternative text for images and non-text content

Ensure keyboard navigability for all interactive elements

Test with various assistive technologies

Performance Optimization

Optimize images and assets to minimize load times

Implement lazy loading for non-critical resources

Use code splitting to improve initial load performance

Monitor and optimize Core Web Vitals (LCP, FID, CLS)

User Feedback

Implement clear response mechanisms for user actions

Use loading indicators for asynchronous operations

Provide clear error messages and recovery options

Implement analytics to track user behavior and pain points

Mobile-First Design

Design for mobile devices first, then scale up

Use touch-friendly interface elements

Implement gestures for common actions (swipe, pinch-to-zoom)

Consider thumb zones for important interactive elements

Consistency

Develop and adhere to a design system

Use consistent terminology throughout the interface

Maintain consistent positioning of recurring elements

Ensure visual consistency across different sections

Testing and Iteration

Conduct A/B testing for critical design decisions

Use heatmaps and session recordings to analyze user behavior

Regularly gather and incorporate user feedback

Continuously iterate on designs based on data and feedback

Documentation

Maintain a comprehensive style guide

Document design patterns and component usage

Create user flow diagrams for complex interactions

Keep design assets organized and accessible to the team

Responsive Layouts

Use relative units (%, em, rem) instead of fixed pixels

Implement CSS Grid and Flexbox for flexible layouts

Design mobile-first, then progressively enhance

Content Strategy

Write clear, concise microcopy

Use progressive disclosure to manage complexity

Prioritize content based on user needs

Maintain consistent voice and tone

Cognitive Load Management

Reduce number of choices when possible

Group related information together

Use whitespace effectively

Provide sensible defaults

Break complex tasks into smaller steps

Emotional Design

Create delightful micro-interactions

Celebrate user accomplishments

Handle errors with empathy

Build trust through transparency

Stay current with UX design techniques and industry standards.