Cloud apps or solutions are software programs that run on remote servers instead of being installed on the computer. They use internet access to get the needed info, and they can be accessed by multiple users. Often, when talking about cloud solutions, people tend to focus on the technical features like storage, security, power, etc. What is frequently overlooked is the cloud-based system design that is centered around the user, a client who interacts with the app the most. User-centered design shifts the focus from architecture to interface and its usability.
What Is User-Centered Design (UCD)?
User-centered design puts the user in the spotlight. It is driven by the user’s needs, goals, and feedback and utilizes them to create convenient and straightforward digital products.
There are four basic principles of UCD:
- Active involvement of users during the design process through UX research.
- Regular usability testing, which is incorporated into the product’s lifecycle.
- Iterative design process with options to pivot.
- Clarification of user and task requirements.
Since cloud apps often work across different devices, locations, and users, it is critical to design them according to the users’ needs. Knowledge about these needs, requirements, and pain points can be collected through user research, receiving constant feedback, implementing the changes, and testing them quickly. As user behavior changes over time, the interface design should also reflect that.
Value of User-Centered Design Matters in Cloud Solutions
The ultimate measure of user-centered design is the product’s usability. Basically, usability assesses how comfortable it is to use the user interface, and there are quite a few components under this umbrella. Usability determines how easy it is for users to accomplish tasks within the product, how many errors they make, and what their overall satisfaction level is. It also deals with accessibility — the ability of different categories of the population to take advantage of the service.
When dealing with UCD, it’s important to know your target audience and design the interface accordingly. However, your product will not only be used by your perfect user persona but also by other people who may have physical and mental impairments. The product should be developed in a way that allows people with diverse abilities and in different environments to use it. This means using simple language, clear icons and signs, generally adopted colors, and other important features.
Clear interfaces, logical flows, and well-designed feedback mechanisms will also help users avoid mistakes and recover from them quickly. This increases overall customer satisfaction and improves their experience.
Designing for Different Operating Systems
One of the key advantages of cloud-based applications is their accessibility — users can access any app from any device or operating system, whether it’s iOS or Android, Windows or Mac. However, every platform comes with its specifications and limitations, and the design should consider all of them to make the user experience truly seamless.
Each operating system is different in terms of user behavior patterns, from navigation styles and gestures to typography and system alerts. For example, iOS users are accustomed to bottom navigation bars and swipe gestures for key actions. Android users are more familiar with floating action buttons, side navigation drawers, and system-level back navigation. Plus, when it comes to laptops, the keyboard and mouse come into play. All of this should be considered to ensure consistency across devices.
These challenges can be overcome by working with platform-specific experts, conducting meticulous and often cross-device testing, and building flexible and scalable solutions that can be adjusted depending on the platform.
How to Implement User-Centered Design in Cloud Solutions
User-centered design is not a single step or even a stage of the overall development process. It’s a mindset and a system that should be adhered to throughout the whole process. It starts with conducting user research even before the product is made. Furthermore, it helps determine and study the target audience, reveal their behavioral patterns, needs, and pain points, and use this information to create the product that will satisfy those needs. There are a few common types of research used:
Surveys are a quantitative research method that helps gather information about a larger group of users.
Interviews are a qualitative method used to understand the users better and dive into the emotional side of the user experience.
Usability testing is used to observe how users interact with the product and how this interaction can be improved.
Based on this information, a customer journey map and user personas are created. While the former deals with the product and visualizes the user experience within the product, user personas represent the key types of users your cloud app will serve, highlighting their goals, frustrations, environments, and preferences.
Once you understand the users and their needs for the product, it’s time for development. However, this stage also includes building and refining features based on user feedback. After the prototype or the MVP is built, it is tested and adjusted, and both design and development are refined and tested again. Such an iterative process ensures the product is relevant and also reduces development costs on the features users don’t need.
Tools and Methods
Choosing the right tools and methods for prototyping and testing cloud-based applications is very important and can even make or break the process. One of the most popular prototyping and design tools is Figma, which is a cloud-based platform that covers all parts of the design process. It allows users to build customer journey maps, create user flows, and add content to the prototype. It’s user-friendly, straightforward, and has a lot of useful features.
The list of the most popular testing tools includes Maze, User Testing, and Hotjar — all providing access to different demographics and facilitating both quantitative and qualitative user research. These tools allow testing the product both before and after its launch, ensuring it remains relevant and seamless.
Building Better Cloud Solutions With UCD Principles
Even the most technologically advanced cloud-based platform can’t be successful if users don’t like it. In charge of ensuring user satisfaction and meeting their needs stands user-centered design. It’s a methodology that encapsulates the whole design and development process and ensures cloud apps are designed for people, not just systems. From research to prototyping and product development, UCD makes sure that real user needs are prioritized at every step along the way.
Last Updated 19 hours ago
