6 UX Myths which you thought were true

There are plenty of UX myths going around from time to time. As UX designers, we should be able to identify them so that they do not affect our UX designing negatively. In this article, we will cover 6 UX myths which a lot of us believed to be true at some point in our lives.

Myth #1: All pages should be accessible within 3 clicks

You must have definitely heard of the 3-click rule UX myth. It states that any task on a system should be achievable within 3 clicks. While it is a good idea to try to keep important things within minimum reach, it might not work for every element.

Moreover, there are complex tasks which can be simplified by adding additional steps and clicks. Studies show that the number of clicks does not really affect the user satisfaction. So, don’t compromise with the quality of your product while trying to reduce the number of clicks.

Myth #2: You only need to test with 5 users

Nielson has given a 5-user rule which states that most of the major problems can be find by just testing 5 users. If we add more users, the problems just keep on getting repeated and wastes our time.

But what most people don’t notice is that this formula is given for specific circumstances and might not hold true for all the cases. So, the number of users you need to test is going to depend upon the complexity and scope of your product.

Myth #3: White space is bad for your design

This is very simple but very important UX myth. White space is also known as the negative space. Business might consider it a wastage of screen space and money. But people have started to realize the importance of white space.

It gives your design breathing space and improves the readability of your content. Users are easily able to filter or scan through the content and locate the important information. Ultimately, it makes your design look clean and clutter free.

Have a look at Apple’s website to understand better.

Myth #4: Options should be strictly limited to 7+-2

George Miller gave this theory of The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two in 1956. This theory works around the idea that the cognitive ability of human beings allow them to remember 7+-2 chunks of information at a time.

People have started taking this rule too seriously in the UX world. Providing options has nothing much to deal with the cognitive ability of the users. This is because the users don’t have to memorize these options as they are presented visually. However, this theory will definitely work for cases which require memorizing.

Also note that, giving more options to the users might leave them feeling confused and increase the decision taking time.

Myth #5: One size fits all

‘One size fits all’ is not true when it comes to UX design. You cannot identify one user’s needs and expect it to replace the needs of all the users. Neither one type of approach will be suitable for all the products. Every product should have unique target audience, identify unique problems and have a unique problem solving approach.

Myth #6: It will definitely work for you if it works for a popular brand

We might be easily persuaded to copy the design or methods followed by successful businesses. We assume that if it works for them, it will surely work for everyone else. Then, why everyone isn’t at their level yet? Every product is different in its own way. You have to understand your product intensely and find out what will work for it.

Conclusion

Now you know the top UX myths which you will be able to easily identify and avoid. Knowing the right things at the right time might help you dodge some major mistakes.