My first app was terrible!

In today’s digital-first world, User Experience (UX) is more than a buzzword—it’s a vital component of any successful product. Whether you're developing a website, app, or platform, designing for user experience ensures your solution is intuitive, engaging, and effective.

When I built my first app, I thought success meant packing in as many features as I could squeeze into the screen. The result was a cluttered interface that confused people, forced them to think too hard, and ultimately went unused. Watching a few real users struggle through basic tasks was a humbling moment, because it showed me that good intentions and clever UI elements don’t matter if the core experience isn’t obvious.

I was always looking at talks and interviews from Steve Jobs, even the 2 movies made about who he was. One quote always stands out to me:

“You have to start with the customer experience and work back toward the technology—not the other way around.”

That single idea forced me to reframe my process. Instead of asking “What can this app do?” I began asking “What is the one job this screen needs to help someone complete?” When I looked at my first app through that lens, it was clear I had designed around features, not outcomes.Since then, my work has been about subtraction and focus. On projects like the AI healthcare platform and shift management tool, I started every flow by writing a short sentence about the outcome for the user, then designed the simplest possible path to get there. I removed extra buttons, demoted clever but distracting ideas, and made peace with shipping less so the essentials could shine.

That first app showed me what happens when you design for yourself; Steve Jobs’ philosophy taught me how powerful products can be when you design relentlessly for the experience instead.

Tips for new designers:

Understand Your Users Deeply

Every good UX design starts with understanding the people you're designing for. Without real insights, you're guessing—not designing.

Ask:

• Who are your users?

• What are their needs, motivations, and pain points?

• What are their goals?

Use tools like user personas, journey maps, and interviews to create an experience that’s grounded in real behavior—not assumptions.

Create Clear and Consistent Navigation

A user-friendly navigation system is essential. If users get lost, confused, or overwhelmed, they’ll leave—fast.

Tips:

• Use familiar layouts and standard UI patterns

• Label menus clearly and avoid industry jargon

• Maintain consistency across pages

• Use breadcrumbs or sticky headers for orientation

Good navigation is like a good map—it helps users get where they need to go without friction.

Prioritize Accessibility and Inclusivity

Accessible design benefits everyone, not just users with disabilities. It also broadens your reach and improves overall usability.

Best practices:

• Ensure strong color contrast for text and backgrounds

• Enable keyboard navigation and screen reader support

• Use alt text for all images

• Follow WCAG accessibility guidelines

Inclusive design shows you care—and it’s the right thing to do.

Focus on Speed and Performance

No one likes to wait. If your product is slow, users will bounce—regardless of how good the design is.

What to do:

• Optimize images and reduce file sizes

• Minimize the use of heavy scripts

• Implement caching and lazy loading

• Continuously test on different devices and connection speeds

Speed equals usability. A fast experience is a better experience.

Simplify the Interface

Cluttered interfaces overwhelm users and increase the risk of confusion or error. Keep it simple and purposeful.

Guidelines:

• Eliminate unnecessary elements

• Use white space to create breathing room

• Group related content logically

• Reveal complexity progressively as needed

Design is not just what you add—it’s what you choose to leave out.

Provide Meaningful Feedback

Every interaction should have a response. Users need confirmation that their actions were successful—or not.

Examples:

• Show a spinner or loader during processing

• Display clear success, error, or warning messages

• Use animations or subtle microinteractions to show changes

Feedback builds trust and helps users stay in control.

Design for Mobile and Responsiveness

With mobile usage dominating the web, responsive design is a requirement—not a feature.

Tips:

• Adopt a mobile-first design approach

• Ensure touch targets are large and spaced properly

• Avoid horizontal scrolling

• Test responsiveness across devices and screen sizes

A great mobile experience is no longer optional—it’s expected.

Continuously Test and Iterate

UX design is an ongoing process. What works today may not work tomorrow.

Steps:

• Conduct regular usability testing

• Monitor analytics to identify user drop-off points

• Collect qualitative feedback via surveys or support

• Use findings to inform continuous updates

Keep learning, keep improving, and stay close to your users.

Align UX with Business Goals

Great UX also serves your business. The goal is to create an experience that helps users and moves the business forward.

How to align:

• Define KPIs such as retention, conversion, or engagement

• Guide users toward meaningful actions with clear CTAs

• Integrate design decisions with your brand voice and tone

Balance user needs with business objectives for long-term success.

Conclusion

Designing for user experience is about empathy, clarity, and constant refinement. It's about building products that not only work—but feel right. By considering these key principles, you ensure that your users stay engaged, satisfied, and loyal.