Errors in Interfaces

  • •2 min read


Design decisions are important as it relates to building good interfaces. It's not the user's fault when an error happens but the designer's responsibility for making sure there aren't any flaws in the design. The designers are responsible for building interfaces that feel natural and work within the limits of human cognition. This means that if a user makes an error, it could be that there are flaws in the design which don't work with human thought processes.

For example, if a button placement or label is confusing then the user might end up clicking the wrong option unintentionally. If the instructions are poorly written or there's a lack of feedback then it can lead to the user making an error which ends up causing frustration. Instructions should be clear - use plain language and understandable visual cues. One important thing to consider is that users can experience cognitive load. This happens when the task requires a lot of mental effort or when the information being displayed exceeds the user's cognitive capacity. It's better to show less information at a time.