Hello readers, this blog throws light on the top pillars of user experience. Today, we will explore the roles of usability, utility, and accessibility in UX design. These terms are essential for all UX designers to understand.
Introduction to Key Terms of UX
In simple terms, these words are easy to understand, i.e., Usability is defined as a product that is easy to use. Utility defines if the product has the feature to make the product useful. Similarly, accessibility portrays that the product is used and understood by people who want to access it.
These three terms are interconnected or interlinked to each other. That is, if the product is not usable, its utility does not matter, as well as if the product is not understood by people, even if it is easy to use, then it will not work either.
Understanding the Usability, Utility, and Accessibility with An Example
Usability in UX Design
A student wants to fill University Admission form online. So, he/she browsed the internet and found a university named ABC; therefore, they tried to register on the website. But they could not find the right link which means that website format or in our term its UI is hard to understand.
Hence, that website is not usable. The UI of the website is hard and the user gets stuck in the middle of browsing it.
Solution:
- The UI of any app or website should be easy to understand and efficient to use, so it has a high rate of usability.
- It should also be error-tolerant, and the user should be satisfied with it.
Utility in UX Design
There is a lady who wants to change their morning routine and start a new hobby every morning, whether it is cycling, yoga, or gym. But she is quite lazy and wants a reminder. So, she used a mobile app that uses AI and comes up with a detailed plan. However, when she looked for the remainder in the app, that feature was not available inside it. So, she had to use her phone alarm.
Hence, the UI of the app was easy to understand, but it lacked a basic key feature.
Solution:
- The app or website should have its theme-related key feature so it can have high utility.
- It should also contain problem-solving features such as FAQs, etc.
Accessibility in UX Design
Suppose there is a person in a wheelchair and he wants to go to the hospital. But since the hospital does not have an elevator or ramp so the patient cannot access inside the hospital. But the other patient who just had an eye surgery wants to enter the hospital and that hospital has automatic door system. Therefore that person can easily get access in the hospital.
Hence, if there is a person with diverse abilities such as visual, auditory, or motor wants to use online payment apps which does not support auditory sensors. Then that person will not be able to use such apps.
Solution:
- The apps should contain options to ensure no matter what, everyone can use that app.
Final Words on Usability vs Utility vs Accessibility in UX Design
In summary, these three are already interconnected with each other. Yet they are different from each other. When designing an app, you should maintain a high degree of usability, utility, and accessibility with other functions. Thereupon, the app or app UI created by you will be useful for everyone, as it is said, “Good design is usable. Great design is useful. The best design is accessible.”
About the Author
This blog is written by Aditi Guleria, a UX design diploma course student at our institute. She made it as an assignment/homework for the UX Theory class conducted by Ravi Sir, and the class topic was Usability vs Utility vs Accessibility. We hope you found it valuable enough to improve your understanding of UX.
