Usability & User Experience

Defining usability and UX – the key to success

What is the difference between Usability and User Experience (UX)? Where do these terms come from? And how can Usability and User Experience be improved?

Prototype of a ticket machine.

What is Usability?

Usability means user-friendliness or ease of use. It refers to the extent to which a product, system, or service can be used by specified users in a specified context of use to achieve specific goals with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction.

Usability plays a role wherever humans interact with technology – from software, websites, and apps to medical devices or complex machinery.

What is User Experience?

User Experience goes beyond usability and encompasses the entirety of impressions and emotions a person experiences when interacting with a product, service, or system. This includes aspects such as aesthetics, trust, or the joy of use.

User Experience is not limited to the actual usage but also includes the time before and after, such as the purchase and setup process or satisfaction with the outcome.

Our Usability and User Experience Services

Wondering how we can support you?

In a short conversation with our Consulting Team, you can quickly find out how we can best support you. Alternatively, feel free to send us a short message, and we will get back to you.

We are happy to advise you - free of charge and without obligation.

The Normative Background

The international standard DIN EN ISO 9241 contains conventions and rules for the design of interactive user interfaces. The standard is divided into several parts, each covering specific aspects.

DIN EN ISO 9241-11 defines the basic terms of the field, such as “usability”, “user”experience”, “user”, and “context of use”.

DIN EN ISO 9241-210 describes the human-centered design process, from understanding the context of use to evaluating the designed system.

Compliance with all defined standards aims to enable the design of products and services that meet the fundamental requirements of usability and user experience.

How Do We Ensure a Good Usability & User Experience?

We develop products and services based on the principles of User-Centered Design. We consistently involve users in all phases of development and place their needs at the center of every decision.

Understand

We understand the requirements and expectations users have for your system, the goals they aim to achieve through its use, and the context in which your product will be used.

Explore

We then explore various solution ideas for the identified requirements. Since the first idea is not always the best solution, we experiment with different variations.

Design

We design user-centered solutions that are simple and intuitive. The design is guided by the interaction principles outlined in ISO 9241.

Test

Finally, we test how users interact with the product using prototypes or live systems, uncover usability issues, or determine the current usability status.

Iterate

Based on the test results, we iterate on our designs and repeat the process as often as necessary until we find the best possible solution.

More about UX Testing & UX Research and UX Design

How Do I Profit from a Good Usability & User Experience?

  • Zufriedenheit der Nutzenden erhöhen

    Satisfied customers and users

  • Better product quality

    Easy to use products, reduce errors

  • Increase in revenue and profit

    Conversion Rate Optimization

  • Increase in productivity

    Employees, working efficiency, less operation errors

  • Decrease of development time and costs

    More agile processes, avoid failing products

  • Decrease of support and & training costs

    Intuitive to use products do not require any training

  • Win new customers by reducing exit rates

    Reduced bounce rate using landing page optimization

  • User Experience as a positive product feature

    Competitive differentiation

🔒 Your information will be treated confidentially. We typically respond within a few business hours.