Role of User Flow in UX Design

Reading Time: 5 minutesUser flow is a key activity in UX design. A designer needs to fully understand the product, user behaviour, and business objectives to plan an excellent user flow. 

A user flow displays the entire roadmap of the various touchpoints through visualization. Creating user flow at an early stage helps in creating an optimized user journey and productive experience.

How greatly do user flows affect the overall user experience with the product? Let’s discuss this together with other essential features of it.

What is a user flow?

User flow is the digital or written visualization of the tasks that can be performed by users on the apps and websites.

This flow begins when a user starts using the product and performs different tasks like signing up for your services, placing an order, or just navigating around to know more about it.

User flows are important because the interaction of each user is different from the previous one.

In simpler terms, user flows are simple flow diagrams that showcase the complete movement of a user throughout your product.

According to a Forester report, a simple and user-friendly UX design can help boost conversions by 400%.

Why do you need a user flow?

UX designs need to be constantly analyzed and updated to adapt to the ever-changing user expectations.

User flows also help to monitor the effectiveness of the current UX design through understanding the behaviour and pattern of users. 

They also help in building and rebuilding the product design in various stages of product development.

1. Assist you in creating an intuitive interface

Your product solves the problems of users and its UX design is the backbone of building that solution.

An engaging and minimal design increases the possibility of users enjoying your product.

With user flows, you can simultaneously achieve your business objectives while meeting the user’s needs across different touchpoints.

2. Helps you evaluate the existing interface

User flows are helpful for the products both at the development stage and those already launched in the market.

User expectations change from time to time. With user flow, you can monitor the efficiency and any issues reported in the feedback provided by the users.

This not only increases productivity but also saves the product from becoming obsolete.

3. Helps in product presentation to clients

User flows break down the entire user journey throughout the product development. This helps the designer to showcase the blueprint of the product design according to the behaviour and needs of the end-user.

What are the benefits of a user flow?

User flows play a crucial role in delivering an effective UX design.

1. User flows are quick

They are the fastest and the simplest form to showcase the design visualizations.

User flows can easily establish paths that users take while interacting with the product through diagrams and shapes.

2. Better than prototypes

User flows are different from the prototypes. They are not limited to a single screen.

They present all product options and how different screens are attached to one another.

3. Simplicity is the key

User flows are easy to understand both for the designers and the clients which helps everyone involved in the product design to be on the same page.

Also, it shows the results of each element. So, you can rationally decide which element you want to have in your UX design.

Best practices to design a user flow

Designing user flows is a process and it should be simple, not complex and confusing.

1. Descriptive name to the user flow

Each user flow should have its own clear and concise description.

The action users take, the result they obtain, and how they behave with each element should be mentioned with a unique name.

Also, the user flows for every element should be separated to avoid confusion.

2. One directional user action

User flows should have a consistent and simple structure, avoiding all complex diagrams and multiple actions.

The best way to go with this is to make one action respond to one way flow.

3. One goal for one flow

Each user flow has an action and a goal to achieve. This should be achieved without any interruptions and delays. The process should be streamlined.

No user flow should have multiple goals and actions.

4. Label an entry point

User flow begins with an entry point that should be drawn clearly.
This point starts the action and the desired goal expected from the user.

Make sure, you clearly define an entry point such as the home screen, checkout page, etc. for a better understanding of the user behaviour.

5. Select colours wisely

Colours are a vital factor in crafting a great product design. 

For a better understanding of each action point for every element, you should have a unique and consistent colour. Our article on how to choose the right colours for your design project will help you in this step.

How to use user flow in the UX design stage?

1. User research and competitive analysis

To start the process, you should define your target user’s expectations, objectives, and problems.

After that, you have to analyze and understand your competitors’ strategies.

You can do this by interacting with their products to get a better understanding of their user experience and user flows.

Figure out their weak spots and fill the gap by making sketches of user flow that will help to improve your product.

2. User flow chart

In UX design, a flowchart helps in visually showcasing user flows and tasks.

It has components like start and end, input and output, processing, and decision. They represent the outcome of each user action throughout the product.

3. Wireflow

It’s up to the designers to present the first sketches of user flow as they want. It can be displayed through digital means or by writing.

With the rapid growth of technology in the design industry, there are plenty of tools available for drawing user flows such as Wireflow, Justinmind, Timblee, etc.

These digital tools help in wireframing the user flows of each element replacing the need for papers and sticky labels.

Wireflows are helpful when designing apps or websites for smartphones. They are comparatively small and help in eliminating the abstract figures of the user flow chart.

Conclusion

A well-designed product is a deciding factor for its success.

When users can comfortably and smoothly navigate through an interface, they feel delighted. As a result, there is a greater probability that they will purchase your product or visit your website or app.

User flows play an important part in recognizing the efficiency of the UX design. 

It also helps in having everyone in the team on the same page to communicate the analysis effectively to partners and stakeholders. 

To conclude, keep your user flows concise, simple, and keep optimizing. The more you understand your user’s behaviour and needs, the better you can craft your UX design.

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User Flow vs User Journey: Meaning, Similarities & Descriptions