Why Your LMS UI/UX Design Matters?

LMS Stands for Learning Management System, it is a software application that is used by a wide range of organizations from high schools to large corporations in order to implement learning processes as well as assess the learning process. Learning Management Systems are a great way to upskill students, professionals as well as leaders in an organization or an institute.

In this article, we will discuss what a Learning Management System is, and why UI/UX design matters a lot for a Learning Management System.

Why Your LMS UI/UX Design Matters?

Learning Management System (LMS)

LMS Stands for Learning Management System, it is a software application that is used by a wide range of organizations from high schools to large corporations in order to implement learning processes as well as assess the learning process.

Usually, most Learning Management Systems aim to create and deliver information related to a specific topic, and after that, it also helps in monitoring as well as assessing the participants and their performance. Many Learning Management Systems (mostly in larger corporations) also have options for chatting, video conferencing, and discussion.

UI/UX Design

UI design or User Interface design is the process of creating the visual interfaces for a software application. There are lots of businesses where a designer will play both parts, but there are also lots of designers who specialize in UI design. UI designers help users to navigate an interface by using visual cues.

UX design or User Experience design is the process of creating the experiences or the interactions that a user has with a product. The basic principle of UX design is to keep the needs of the user prior and improve the interaction of the user and the product keeping this in mind.

Importance of UI/UX Design in LMS

• User Retention and Active Participation: When it comes to a Learning Management System, user retention mostly depends on the content that is being provided. But initially, the user only cares about the UI/UX design. The user only looks and interacts with the interface in order to get the information or the content. Key to User retention is a good user interface coupled with great user experience.
• Communication with the participants: How you communicate with the users decides the fate of the Learning Management System. The visual elements along with the content being delivered takes the major part of communication for LMSs. A Better UI/UX design along with interesting content sparks interest in the mind of the participants and they engage more with the Learning Management System than they would normally do.
• Effective interaction: UI/UX Design is the way through which users can interact with any applications or websites. The primary goal of application UI principles is to provide the best interaction to the user. This helps in the overall quality of the Learning Management System.
• Make participants come back again: The whole idea of UX design is to create an application structure that provides the best experience to the users. UX is directly or indirectly responsible for a user’s journey through a Learning Management System which ultimately decides the success of the Learning Management System.
• Saves money in longer run: Investing in UI/UX design is longer term, so instead of getting the UI changed every time a new feature is added, its better to have a UI/UX team/person that researches and comes up with the features required, design, interface etc. for the Learning Management System.

Best Practices

• A Consistent application: In some Learning Management Systems, the user experience of the website and the experience of the mobile app defers from one another. It might depend upon the stage of the company/startup or the market but the website and the mobile application of the Learning Management System should be consistent. This helps the user to relate more with the website or application.
• Content Hierarchy: When you are creating UI/UX design for a Learning Management System, make sure that the content Hierarchy and the organization of content is in such a way that the USP – every Learning Management System has a Unique Selling Proposition, Make sure to highlight this unique selling proposition.
• Nothing compensates for good design: Good design is making something intelligible and memorable great design is making something memorable and meaningful. Nothing in application development process can make up for a poor design. Design should be the main priority.
• Contrast: setting up a proper contrast to the UI is can be obtained through organizing the, design establishing hierarchy, emphasizing a focal point and adding visual interest. It can be done by a lot of different ways – we can add contrast with color, with weight, with size of typography or even with the imagery.
• Alignment, Proximity and Repetition: a proper alignment in the UI helps organize and group elements, it creates a visual rhythm of elements on the screen, Alignment and proximity brings order in unordered typography. Proper use of repetition through increasing consistency, increases the user’s ability to learn and identify the pattern in our interface or layout and it also reduces confusion and helps the user guess objects in the layout properly.

Conclusion

Learning Management Systems are a great way for upskill students, professionals as well as leaders in an organization or an institute. UI/UX design plays an important role in this since all the interaction with the content of a Learning Management System happens through the User Interface.