IA / User Experience Design

What is User Experience?

You may have heard people use the terms Usability and Information Architecture. These are just two parts of what we call a User Experience (or UX as it's becoming known). UX is the practice of applying User Centered Design techniques to every aspect of a website. Our proven methodology leaves no stone unturned and ensures that no user interaction is left to chance.

• Strategy - We need to know why you are developing a website and exactly what your organisation needs to get out of it. Making sure that your objectives for the site are understood and communicated is an essential first step.
• Audience - We'll help you identify your audience before segmenting them based on their needs and expectations.
• Accountability - You'll need to be able to measure your site's success and demonstrate the impact of a new User Experience. We can show you how.
• Content and Functionality - We'll discover and define the content and functional scope that will help meet the objectives of your organisation and the needs of your users.
• Information Architecture and User Processes - We'll organise your site's scope, designing the ways your audience will navigate through your website, and interact with its functional and transactional elements.
• Information Design and Layout - We'll ensure that your content and functionality is easy to understand and use by making sure everything is given appropriate priority and placement on every page.
• Aesthetic Design -  Your site needs to be more than just a pretty face. By applying a surface design that compliments your brand and supports the user experience your site will become simple, accessible, beautiful and easy to use.

Throughout the process, we'll listen to you, your colleagues and your users. We'll learn your language and discover what makes you and your customers tick. We'll also user test your site during the design stages to gain quick and valuable insights that will help guide the development process.

Why is User Experience Important?

Ensuring that your site anticipates and responds to user needs is one of the most efficient ways of maximising Return on Investment (ROI). A good user experience reduces friction by eliminating obstacles and distractions. User Experience delivers tangible and non-tangible returns in ways that are measurable and accountable, for example:

• Noticeable increases in return visits
• Increased duration with more tasks completed per visit
• Greater conversion and throughput ratios
• Increased leads and revenue generation
• Improved productivity and cost savings
• Better perception of your site and brand; internally, as well as by customers, suppliers and potential employees

Want to Know More?

Recently we interviewed one of our top User Experience Consultants, James Downes. To read about his take on UX and to get some tips and starting points for your own website, read Achieving Results with James Downes, Box UK User Experience Consultant.

How Can Box UK Help You?

Over the past decade, Box UK have worked on hundreds of different websites. From simple campaign microsites, to rich content websites and transactional ecommerce solutions, we understand that all sites have different purposes. It doesn't matter if your site is designed to generate direct or indirect revenue, reduce costs or just communicate your brand and its values, it must put the visitor first if it is to reach its potential. Box UK has the skills and experience to help you.

Talk to us about your needs and expectations - you'll be surprised at the difference we can make.

If you are looking to make improvements to your existing website, but without the cost of a full redesign, read about our website optimisation services.