Users are questioning the practicality of your UX designs. Are you sacrificing functionality for creativity?

If users say this is not well-designed, I would check if creativity has outstepped functionality. New ideas are cool, but the design needs to prioritize users' needs and requirements. So, I would check user feedback, do more testing, and make appropriate changes to keep it simple and easy to use while still being creative. Both are important for balancing one another for a good user experience.

Creativity doesn’t have to come at the expense of usability. It’s possible to have a visually appealing design that is also practical. The main focus of any design should be to make tasks easier for users. So ask yourself if the design solves the user’s problem? Every creative element should serve a functional purpose. The best way to find out if your designs are practical is through usability testing. Observe how users interact with your design in real scenarios; are they able to complete tasks easily? If they’re spending too much time trying to figure out how to navigate your design, their might be a problem. Revise your designs and test again with users to see if the adjustments improve the experience.

I believe creativity and functionality go hand in hand—after all, we design for users. Ever wonder why we have multiple shopping platforms like Amazon, Nykaa, and Myntra? It’s not because any of them are flawed, but because each presents information differently. That's where creativity steps in. However, in the pursuit of creativity, we can’t overlook functionality—it’s essential to creating user-friendly experiences. Balancing both is key to serving users effectively.

If your are targeting design awards, be as creative as you can. But keep in mind that there are points for usability too. It is practically not at all feasible to sacrifice functionality just for the sake of being very aesthetically pleasing to the eye. A user hardly spends a few seconds scanning your website. He/she is not there to admire the beauty of your site but to fulfill a task in hand. Be creative, but not at the cost of sacrificing functionality and usability.

From the perspective of designing SAAS products for enterprise users, remember this- your designs exist to serve the goals of the end users. It is up to you- how you can help them best achieve this. Esoteric design patterns and unfamiliar UI component behaviours often end up alienating users. Jakob's Law of Familiarity works well here. If you do end up with a novel design - ensure your onboarding experience handholds and manages expectations explicitly.

- Balance Creativity with Clarity: Innovation should enhance, not obscure, user understanding. - Guide Users Effectively: Use clear signposts and familiar elements to navigate new concepts. - Support Creative Risks: Ensure novel designs have sufficient structure to maintain intuitiveness. - Evaluate Practicality: If users struggle, assess if creative risks are well-supported by intuitive design elements. - Maintain Usability: Creativity should improve, not hinder, the user experience.

While creativity is essential for innovative UX design, it's equally important to ensure that the design is intuitive and user-friendly. Striking a balance between creativity and usability requires a careful consideration Always keep your target users in mind. Understand their needs, preferences, and behaviors to ensure your design aligns with their expectations. Conduct usability testing to evaluate how users interact with your design. Gather feedback and iterate on your design to improve its usability. Experiment with different design variations to determine which approaches are most effective. This can help you identify the optimal balance between creativity and usability.

Creativity is essential to making designs stand out, but it’s a calculated risk. I aim to innovate without losing sight of what users need, ensuring that every creative touch serves a purpose.

I once got carried away with a super slick animation for a nav menu, only to realize users couldn't figure out how to actually... you know, navigate. Oops! I've found that treating creativity as the 'seasoning' rather than the main dish works wonders. Start with a rock-solid functional base, then sprinkle in those creative touches. It's amazing how even subtle creative elements can elevate a fundamentally sound design.

Balancing between the functionality and creativity seems like an ideal thing to do, but I personally think the functionality should be the core of the solution to the problem, making it as easy as possible to understand using a robust functionality and solid business strategy, then add the creative element to enhance it further.

Before adding any creative elements, I always ensure the core functionality is solid and user-friendly. If the design leads to confusion or inefficiency, I step back and focus on making the basic functions work smoothly, knowing that users prioritize ease of use over aesthetics. Functionality should come first.

My mantra is 'function, then form.' I use a 'Core Functionality Checklist' at the start of each project to ensure we nail the basics before adding creative elements. I'm a big fan of the 'Jobs to be Done' framework. By understanding the core tasks users need to accomplish, we can prioritize functionality effectively. While I love pushing creative boundaries, I always ensure it enhances rather than hinders the user's primary goals. It's about finding that sweet spot where functionality and creativity complement each other.

Ensure functionality is always prioritized over visual flair. Users should be able to accomplish tasks seamlessly without being hindered by design elements.

I've found user testing to be very valuable in gauging how well users can use a product you have designed. I remember going through the live recording of a usability testing and thinking to myself, "surely, I thought that would have been easy to figure out!" Alas, it wasn't as I found that this participant struggled with it. When you do user testing, you can determine and see from the perspective of the users what the difficulty is and think of ways to improve that particular feature.

Evaluate Impact: Ensure any creative risks enhance, not hinder, the user experience. Prioritize User Flow: Creativity should never compromise ease of navigation. Test Innovations: Test bold ideas to see if they’re practical for users. Keep Core Features Simple: Maintain simplicity in key tasks while experimenting elsewhere. Gather Feedback: Regularly gather user input to fine-tune your creative approach.

Leverage user testing data to demonstrate that the designs have been validated through real user interactions, addressing any concerns about practicality.

User testing is crucial for assessing UX effectiveness. If practicality is questioned, testing provides actionable feedback on functionality issues. Embrace criticism and iterate designs to prioritize user needs over aesthetics.

User testing has been my biggest teacher. Nothing exposes the strengths and flaws of a design like seeing someone use it in real time. When I feel like the users practicality is compromised I take it as a road map for improvement. Testing lets me really tune into what the design actually needs to be user friendly.

Finding the line between great duty and us abilities is a challenge that I enjoy. It’s like a puzzle, every piece must fit into a larger journey the user takes. When I feel like a design isn’t quite clicking, I dial back on the extras and focus on making it feel intuitive first.

Blend Creativity with Usability: Ensure creative elements support, not disrupt, the user experience. Focus on User Needs: Always prioritize what users need to achieve their goals efficiently. Test and Iterate: Continuously test designs to balance innovation with practical functionality. Simplify Complex Features: Keep interactions intuitive, even when adding creative touches. Adapt Based on Feedback: Use feedback to refine designs that are both functional and engaging

Creative UX elements does not necessary mean "less user friendly". If that's the case - why should you consider them, anyway? Just for your own parade? Insofar, be as creative as possible and as you wish to be to enrich the user's interaction with the product. Then there's no conflict and no need for balance. It's mutually beneficial.

Showcase how design creativity and functionality work together, striking a balance between an aesthetically pleasing interface and a seamless user experience.

Balancing creativity and functionality in UX design is challenging. Designs must captivate users with innovation while maintaining an intuitive flow. This balance often requires simplifying elements or weaving creativity into the user experience without causing disruption. Flexibility is essential in achieving this harmony.

Be open to user feedback, and show a willingness to adapt designs based on insights, ensuring the final product meets both creative and functional expectations.

From the perspective of designing SAAS products for enterprise users - staying curious and having a growth mindset are some basic traits that one should nurture. When designs are being scrutinized for being impractical - it's a clear sign that somewhere the goal and tools to achieve them are misaligned. In such cases, one needs to simply dig deeper and hunt for the cause. Iterations shall further help you better understand and connect with your end users. Regarding methodologies and tools - Heuristic evaluation, SUS scores, A/B Testing iterations, Quick contextual enquiries, Google Analytics are useful.