UI and UX are not the same thing
UI (user interface) is what the screen looks like: colours, fonts, buttons and spacing. UX (user experience) is how easy it is to get something done: finding a price, filling in a form, paying a bill. A screen can be beautiful and still be hard to use. Good design needs both.
Why it matters for a business
- Visitors decide within seconds whether a site looks trustworthy.
- Every extra step in a form or checkout loses some customers.
- Staff who find software confusing go back to paper.
- Clear design reduces support calls and training time.
Eight practical rules
- Design for the phone first. Most users in Nepal are on a mobile screen.
- One main action per screen. Make the most important button the most visible.
- Use plain words. "Pay fee" is better than "Initiate transaction".
- Keep it consistent. The same colour and position for the same kind of button everywhere.
- Make text readable. Good contrast, a comfortable size and short lines.
- Ask for less. Remove every form field you do not truly need.
- Show what is happening. Confirm that a form was sent or a payment succeeded, and explain errors in plain language.
- Keep it light. Heavy images and animations slow the page on mobile data.
Designing for users in Nepal
- Offer Nepali as well as English where your users prefer it, and choose a font that displays Devanagari clearly.
- Use Bikram Sambat date pickers in forms.
- Show familiar payment options such as eSewa, Khalti and QR.
- Test on an ordinary Android phone, not only a new one.
How the design process works
- Understand who the users are and what they need to do.
- Sketch simple layouts (wireframes) without colour.
- Design the real screens with brand colours and content.
- Test with a few real users and watch where they hesitate.
- Improve and then build.
A quick check for your own site
Hand your phone to someone unfamiliar with your business and ask them to complete one task, such as sending an enquiry. If they need help, the design needs work.
See graphics designing, web development and ten website mistakes that lose customers.
