Laws of UX

Laws of UX

by Jon Yablonski
Released January 2024
Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ISBN: 9781098146962

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Book description

An understanding of psychology-specifically the psychology behind how users behave and interact with digital interfaces-is perhaps the single most valuable nondesign skill a designer can have. The most elegant design can fail if it forces users to conform to the design instead of working within the "blueprint" of how humans perceive and process the world around them.

This practical guide explains how you can apply key principles of psychology to build products and experiences that are more human-centered and intuitive. Author Jon Yablonski deconstructs familiar apps and experiences to provide clear examples of how UX designers can build interfaces that adapt to how users perceive and process digital interfaces.

You'll learn:

  • How aesthetically pleasing design creates positive responses
  • The principles of psychology most useful for designers
  • How these psychology principles relate to UX heuristics
  • Predictive models including Fitts's law, Jakob's law, and Hick's law
  • Ethical implications of using psychology in design
  • A practical framework for applying principles of psychology in your design process

This updated edition includes an even deeper connection to the underlying psychological concepts that govern the principles explored in the book, along with accompanying UX methods and techniques. Examples have been updated to ensure the deconstructed apps and experiences remain familiar and relevant.

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Table of contents

  1. Preface
    1. Second Edition
    2. Why I Wrote This Book
    3. Who This Book Is For
    4. What’s in This Book
    5. A Brief History of Psychology and Design
      1. Gestalt Psychology
      2. Human Factors Engineering
      3. Human–Computer Interaction
      4. User Experience Design
    6. O’Reilly Online Learning
    7. How to Contact Us
    8. Acknowledgments
  2. 1. Jakob’s Law
    1. Overview
    2. Origins
    3. Examples
    4. Conclusion
  3. 2. Fitts’s Law
    1. Overview
    2. Origins
    3. Examples
    4. Conclusion
  4. 3. Miller’s Law
    1. Overview
    2. Origins
    3. Examples
    4. Conclusion
  5. 4. Hick’s Law
    1. Overview
    2. Origins
    3. Examples
    4. Conclusion
  6. 5. Postel’s Law
    1. Overview
    2. Origins
    3. Examples
    4. Conclusion
  7. 6. Peak–End Rule
    1. Overview
    2. Examples
    3. Conclusion
  8. 7. Aesthetic–Usability Effect
    1. Overview
    2. Origins
    3. Examples
    4. Conclusion
  9. 8. Von Restorff Effect
    1. Overview
    2. Origins
    3. Examples
    4. Conclusion
  10. 9. Tesler’s Law
    1. Overview
    2. Origins
    3. Examples
    4. Conclusion
  11. 10. Doherty Threshold
    1. Overview
    2. Origins
    3. Examples
    4. Conclusion
  12. 11. Applying Psychological Principles in Design
    1. Building Awareness
      1. Visibility
      2. Show-and-Tell
    2. Design Principles
      1. Defining Your Principles
      2. Best Practices
      3. Connecting Principles to Laws
    3. Conclusion
  13. 12. With Power Comes Responsibility
    1. How Technology Shapes Behavior
      1. Intermittent Variable Rewards
      2. Infinite Loops
      3. Social Affirmation
      4. Personalization
      5. Defaults
      6. (Lack of) Friction
      7. Reciprocity
      8. Dark Patterns
    2. Why Ethics Matter
      1. Good Intentions, Unintended Consequences
      2. The Ethical Imperative
    3. Slow Down and Be Intentional
      1. Think Beyond the Happy Path
      2. Diversify Teams and Thinking
      3. Look Beyond Data
      4. Embrace Friction
  14. Index
  15. About the Author

Product information

  • Title: Laws of UX
  • Author(s): Jon Yablonski
  • Release date: January 2024
  • Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
  • ISBN: 9781098146962