How to build intuitive and engaging interfaces

Listen, gain, build, test, query: 5 tips from experience.

Listen.

Observe other interfaces. Study them. Are they intuitive? Are they engaging? Who thinks so? Just you? Your boss? Millions of users? Who are those users? Local people? People like you? Or people from other cultures? People unlike you? More is better.

Gain

Gain examples of intuitive and engaging interfaces in the wild. Determine which of those can be made to fit whatever product or service it is you want users to use, or customers to purchase.

Build

Build the interface. If you’re the designer: don’t worry about coding, storage, security, and payment models. Focus on the components and how they fit into the larger view. Start with pen and paper, then move on to tools like Axure and Figma.

Test

Test how it feels. Does the flow guide you well? Or does it have you bouncing around? Can people who live in other parts of the world, enter their information? Can people who use smaller or larger devices enter information and see what you want them to see? Can people who are blind, or who work in a loud factory, or cannot move very well, also use your interface?

Question

Question your own assumptions. Question why differing people find differing interfaces more intuitive. Why don’t we all simply agree that what I find intuitive is intuitive for everyone?

Rinse and repeat.