Hi! Today, I bring you a review of a book that should be on the shelf of everyone interested in user experience design – 'Laws of UX' by Jon Yablonski. This book not only provides a solid theoretical foundation but also inspires reflection and further exploration. Let’s dive in!

Hick's Law – Simplicity Comes First

The book starts strong by discussing Hick's Law, which forms the basis of any successful UX project. Hick's Law states that the more options a user has, the longer it takes to make a decision. Yablonski writes:

"(…) I believe that the process of reducing or eliminating elements that do not help the user achieve their goal is an integral part of the design process. The less the user has to think about what they need to do to reach their goal, the more likely they are to succeed. (…)"

It’s hard to disagree with that. We are bombarded with information daily, and our brains have a limited capacity to process it all. Simplicity and clarity are the keys to success.

However, it's important to maintain balance and not go overboard. It’s crucial to understand what steps the user needs to take to achieve their goal. Over-simplification can lead to situations where the user doesn’t know what to do next.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by too many options on a website? Take a cue from Hick's Law and try to reduce unnecessary elements in your designs, but remember to keep a balance.

Aesthetic-Usability Effect

Another fascinating chapter analyzes the aesthetic-usability effect. The author states:

"A pleasing design can mask usability issues and prevent them from being detected during testing."

Reading this, I had mixed feelings. Indeed, an aesthetic design can make users overlook certain shortcomings. However, from my experience, even the most beautiful application will start to annoy users over time if it has usability issues.

It’s important to note that good design is both aesthetic and functional. Remember that users prioritize usability, with aesthetics being an added bonus.

Take a look at your projects and consider whether you’ve focused too much on aesthetics at the expense of usability. Always strive to find a golden mean between these two aspects.

The Book as a Source of Inspiration

While reading 'Laws of UX', I felt a fascinating affinity with the author and his approach to UX. The theory described in the book is applicable in practice and often seems intuitive. This is a book that not only provides knowledge but also inspires reflection and further action.

Authors of such books, like this one, can inspire us to seek our own solutions and challenge established norms. Reading 'Laws of UX', I felt that many of the described principles were obvious, but at the same time, it made me think about how many things can still be improved.

If you haven’t had the chance to read 'Laws of UX' yet, I highly recommend it. This book can become a source of inspiration and a tool for improving your projects.

Who Is 'Laws of UX' For?

Jon Yablonski's book is a great source of knowledge for everyone involved in UX design, both beginners and advanced. However, it’s important to remember that not every publication should be taken literally. Let’s treat 'Laws of UX' as an interesting case study that can inspire us, but not necessarily as the only valid source of knowledge.

The book offers many practical tips, but it's equally important to experiment and find your own solutions. What works in one project may not necessarily work in another.

Call to action: Use 'Laws of UX' as inspiration and a starting point for your own experiments in UX design. Remember, the key to success is continuous improvement and openness to new ideas.

'Laws of UX' is a book that will certainly enrich your knowledge and inspire further actions in the field of UX. You’ll find many practical tips that you can apply to your projects, but always approach them critically and adapt them to your needs.

Check out the dedicated page for this book, where you can find its essence summarized - Click here. You can purchase it in both Polish and English. Look for it in popular bookstores.

Thanks for reading this review! I hope it inspired you to pick up this book and develop your skills in UX. See you in the next post!