Many user interactions within digital products have consequences. Clicking a button can lead to actions like spending money, deleting data, or submitting sensitive information. These actions can often cause anxiety for users. To mitigate this, it’s crucial to clearly set user expectations before they take any action.
Setting Expectations with Design
- Highlighting the desired action:** Use visual cues like size, colour, and position to emphasize the primary action button.
- Leveraging universal symbols:** Utilize widely recognised symbols such as a trash can for deletion, a plus sign for addition, and a magnifying glass for search. Combine these with clear text labels.
- Employing colour psychology:** Use colour effectively to convey meaning. For example, green often signifies “go” or “proceed,” while red typically indicates “stop” or “danger.”
Setting Expectations with Copy
- Write clear and concise button labels:** Use action-oriented language that accurately reflects the intended outcome.
- Provide helpful guidance in empty states:** Offer suggestions or encourage specific actions within empty states (e.g., “Upload a photo here,” “Start your search”).
- Include warnings and confirmations:** For actions with irreversible consequences (like deleting data), implement confirmation prompts to prevent accidental actions.
By effectively setting user expectations through thoughtful design and clear communication, you can reduce anxiety, improve user confidence, and enhance the overall user experience.
