Blog
4 min read
When we first started our design journey at Alraedah, we considered what we wanted our design to be. It all starts with how we want the interface to feel. We decided our visuals should aspire to four principles:
Modern
Intiuitive
Transparent
Authentic
Modern
Making a modern interface starts with the foundations. The glue that holds elements together. We start by setting aside the noise around product requirements for a moment, and study what makes a modern icon, typeface, color palette or spacing layout. We perfected those first on a micro level before taking on entire screens and flows.
We built those lessons into components and styles, and even shared our stylesheets with developers so there was no room for mismatch or inconsistencies.
We realized that once you get the basics right, the rest follows naturally. We were able to accelerate fast without roadblocks and spent more time looking up to collaborate on what our customers needed to make their businesses thrive.
Intuitive
What makes a product intuitive? For us, it boils down to something very simple; does a user innately know how a page functions? If not within a few fractions of a second, is it easily discoverable?
When done right, a user’s mental capacity is freed up to spend only subconscious energy deciphering function, therefore their mind is available to decide what products are right for their business. It's like navigating at the speed of thought, which gives them more time making the right decisions for them.
Our team member Mariana shared this ADPList article in our weekly catch-up which summarizes the point well – it examined a Spotify A/B test on a simple sign-up screen vs one with background images and illustrations. The result was that the simple version performed far better, hence the conclusion, ‘don’t be clever, just be clear.’
So, how do we make decisions on what's intuitive or not? It's simple – if an element requires explanation, rethink or remove it. Our product is not specialized industry software. It's for business owners with countless other things on their mind. It should accelerate their day and alleviate friction.
Transparent
Brand principles are sensed, not heard. That’s to say; a company can tell you they're transparent, but it doesn't mean much unless you feel it for yourself. It has to be proven through each touchpoint with the business right from sales and advertising, to the credit approval process and ultimately the end product, the financing app.
At each stage, we should give them all the facts they need to make the right decision for them, not just to boost our short-term sales. When we provide full disclosure, the we develop trust over time and which fosters closer relationships and the constant sense that we’re genuinely rooting for their success.
Authentic
Lastly, authenticity comes down to providing solutions in context, thereby truly knowing our customer.
Despite our expertise and experience, we cannot know more about which solutions are needed than the business owners themselves. That’s because they’re living their business every day, with many unpredictable variables. The closer we can watch and listen to their greatest pains, struggles and successes, the better we can serve them with the products we build.
Thanks for reading this article. Feel free to reach out and share your perspectives at design@alraedahdigital.sa
