Your taste doesn't matter today

Foreword

Designing a website that really works means changing perspective. Sure, we have our own ideas and customer wishes often come into play. But in the end, only one perspective counts - that of the user. Who is using the website? What needs and expectations does this person have? If you have this in mind, you can bring real user-centered design to the site. So it's time to put your own tastes aside for a moment and see the world through the eyes of the user!

In the end, the change of perspective in web design is not an extra - it is the foundation for everything that should work. Those who understand users and respond to their needs deliver websites that not only look good, but also score points. Because empathy for the user creates designs that resonate and inspire.

Change of perspective in web design - why your taste doesn't matter today

Okay, let's be real: when we build a website at Wagemut , it's not about celebrating our own style or creating the look we like best. Sorry, personal taste, but you're staying out today. Web design is about one perspective: the user's perspective.

And that is precisely why we have to constantly change perspectives when designing. Who is the end user? What are their needs, preferences or perhaps even limitations? And what do they expect when they land on the website?

Take perspective: Who actually visits this site?

Let's start with a basic question: Who is the visitor? Age, interests, profession - all things we should know about the target group. There is not just "the user", but different personas who move through the web with different lifestyles and expectations.

And of course, even if we often hear this: "But I think it's cool if the site has XY!" - that's not the point. What makes for a great site is always what is well received by the end consumer. And this is exactly where personas help: small, fictitious characters that represent the typical user. Taking perspective here means that we should really put ourselves in the user's head. What does the 35-year-old marketing manager scrolling through the website on the train expect? What expectations does the pensioner reading on his tablet have?

Accessibility? Also a perspective!

Let's look back to the last blog article: Accessibility is a topic that pays directly into these perspective questions. What if someone reads the page via screen reader or is dependent on subtitles? Perhaps the user has a temporary disability (arm in a cast or hearing loss) or is in an environment where loud sound is not perceived at all. If a website is to be accessible to everyone, we need to consider the perspective of each user group.

Context counts - changing situations on point

Not only who uses the website is relevant, but also how and where. Are users sitting in their home office and have the whole screen at their disposal or are they just scrolling on their smartphone in between? Do they need to find important information quickly or do they take the time to read a few blog articles? The life situation can have a huge influence on how a site is perceived and used. This is also a question of a change of perspective - and anyone who simply starts designing without thinking about the context will fall flat on their face when it comes to usability.

Style questions? Sure, but targeted please!

Yes, we as designers and customers all have our own style. But here, too, a change of perspective is required: what will really go down well with future users? Even if our customer wants bright colors or ultra-modern elements, the decisive factor remains what convinces the target group. Anyone who understands the user perspective also knows where personal taste can take a back seat. All in the interests of the user experience (UX).

Change of perspective = empathy for the user

Ultimately, it's about looking at the website through the eyes of the user. For us, this means that the user is the focus, not the designer's ego and not just the customer's wishes. A change of perspective means empathy - the ability to recognize needs and design accordingly. Because those who understand their target group deliver a design that not only looks cool, but also works.