The easiest way to understand UX is by asking this question to yourself as a developer “Is the user able to use the product in an efficient manner, the way the developer has intended to use his artifact.” If you are not a professional UX designer, you can understand the User Flow as a Flowchart although these two are different terminologies. User flow begins when the user logs in to the application, performs all actions( search, browse, scroll ), and continues until the user logs out. It includes all logical and computational conditions associated with the user interface.
Importance of User Flows in UX
A user flow is the visual representation of the paths a user can take, in order to achieve a specific goal. In order to determine the sequence of actions that will achieve a desired outcome, user flow diagrams include visual elements such as screens, shapes, and images in combination with connectors.
Why Do We Use User Flows in UX?
User Flow is the key to the best UX design. The user interface is designed by focusing on the business objectives, so user flows can be used to design the UI from the perspective of the user. Understanding a user flow gives you an idea of additional features in the UI. For eg: where should breadcrumbs be added, when is alert dialog needed etc. All these will help you prepare a strategy for intuitive UI. It serves as the map for the user journey throughout the UI and presents all the steps of interaction effectively. New user can easily use the app if they have access to the User flow, they can take help from visuals and instruction on user flow to navigate through app/website. User flows helps in building/updating the design with customers demand over time. The product can be presented in form of user flow to the client, its time efficient to modify user flow than updating the prototype or product.
Types of User Flow
- Task flow: Task flow focuses on a single task performed by a user. It does not show the entire solution flow.These are helpful in figuring out the steps taken by user to complete a task. These are usually linear and sequential and avoids loop and branches.These static and reflect the thought process of the developer.
- Wire flows: Wire flows show the relationship between screens and the data that flows between them. Once you know how your users will behave and how many pages or screens you need to create, wireflow is best tool to employ.It is represents structure of a system and how the different screens are connected. It is only taken into action after one low-fidelity prototype is ready. It is little complicated than task flow.
- UI Flow/Screen Flow: It is wireflow with high-fidelity mockups. If you need to show how your final design works, screen-flow will be the appropriate method.It gives a more detailed overview of customer flow thus, more data to build a better user experience.
Role of User Flow in UX
User Flows increase efficiency in designing process amd improves user experience at same time. User flow plays important role in UX by helping designers to create the product from user’s perspective. It is easy to modify as per clients demand and its visuals can be easily understood by a non-technical person too.You may attach a pdf to guide users through your website or assign alerts for same, but if you want to help some confused and frustrated customers then using visuals is the best way to achieve the desired result. These can be used to check previous version of app and changes made with years.
Key Elements of User Flow
- Title: The user flow should have appropriate title and description which indicates what user journey is involved in it. For eg : “Registration” , “Enroll the course”.
- Start: Each user flow has a entry point which marks the begining of user action.
- Flow: This connects the decision/process in proper order.
- Decision: This depicts that next path depends on the choice made by user.
- Process: This represents the process being performed on the screen.
Benefits of User Flow
- UX designers draw user flows as low fidelity to get clearer picture of how users will navigate through an app or website.This helps them design the UI more efficiently.
- User flow is a crucial component of web and app design because it help you understand how consumers engage with your content. You can decide what steps a user needs to take to complete a task by knowing user flow, and you can also decide how to best guide them through your app.
- It reveals all paths of app/website which might be untouched when checking the prototype manually.
- A well-designed user flow will make your product more enjoyable and easy to use,you may visualize all tasks before you even start prototype.
- It uses common components like blocks and arrows for visual representation and can be easily understood by client.
- User Flows better visualizes the UI when prototype do not contain all final features.
- User Flows give designers the ability to develop rapid solutions that lay the foundation for early testing while accelarating iterations (in agile development).
- With User Flows, more attention is paid to the experience of the users and goal of the application, not just design and look.
- The evaluation of present interfaces can also be done using user flows. We can improve the performance of product based on users engagement with the interface.
User Flow v/s Flowchart
- User Flow is more design centric (focused completely on UI) as compare to flowchart , these vary with different screens of your application/website.
- User Flow supports low fidelity, medium fidelty as well as high fidelity, while flowchart supports only low fidelity.
- Flowchart can map internal workflows but User Flows can’t do so.
User Flow vs User journey
- User Flow is dedicated to one task within the product while user journey is overall view of user experience throughtout the product.
- User flow is more detailed as compare to user journey since it is different for each task.
- User journey is best used when you want to know all the functionalities of the products while User flow can be used when you want to understand working of any of the function of the product.
Best Practices to Design User Flow
- Mark the “Legend” i.e specify what the shape/component in the diagram indicates.
- Research about all possible entries to product ( via different platforms )
- Use standard fonts and colors in user flow.
- Use precise lables in the user flow.
- Use the graphics wisely and keep it simple.
What Pratices to Avoid
- Avoid the use of two directional flows between process for simplicity.
- It should not be complex hence a user flow should be dedicated to one task.
- Avoid assigning lengthy titles to the user flow, title should be precise and accurate.
- It should have only one entry and exit point.
- Dont use vibrant colors to highlight the user flow.
Conclusion
User Flow is an vital part of UX designing. This can be drawn using pan-paper and also using various drawing tools available digitally and definitely adds value to the project. Each user interacts with the product in their own way they may not follow the sequence developer decided while designing it, hence user flow proves to be beneficial to help user accomplish desired tasks.