Our past experiences are responsible for how we interact with a new interface. Let us relate, for instance, to driving a car. It does not matter if we change brands from Toyota to Ferrari. We will always know how to operate any vehicle because of our prior knowledge.
Another example is when using smartphones. Switching from Android to iOS will matter little since we know how to use a smartphone in general. These are certain expectations and things the user already knows based on past experiences. They are perceived to be known as the user’s Mental Models.
In this blog, we will understand what mental models are and why it is imperative to effective UI design.
What are Mental Models?
Mental Models are how users believe how a specific thing works. It forms due to past experiences and how they perceive the design. Specifically, you interpret a knob for turning or a handle for holding. These mental models are ingrained within us for many years and determine how we use an interactive system.
Everyone has a different mental model
Mental Models can vary with age and various demographics. E.g., it will be difficult for new generation youths to operate an old Nokia phone because they are accustomed to touchscreens.
Furthermore, it also depends on an individual’s experience. If they had never driven a car before, they inevitably would not know how to operate one. They will need to learn from scratch and experience riding one.
In UI design, designers come in to fill that gap. They are responsible for understanding the user’s mental models and designing an interface that accommodates their purpose. As a result, designers ensure that users can interact with the interface effectively.
Misaligned mental models
Undoubtedly, there are situations where there will be disparities between a user’s mental model and how the interface design works. We call this a mismatch or misaligned mental model.
We see this commonly with the back button in our web browsers. Our mental models perceive the back button as taking us one step back, and we subconsciously click it thinking that.
But there will be instances where a modal window pops up in the webpage, and if the user wants to go back, they click the back button. As a result, it takes them away from the webpage they were working on because the modal window was not a separate URL in this scenario. It would make the users feel they committed a mistake and restart the process again.
Hence, as a designer, it is crucial to bridge the gap between the interface design and the user’s mental model to avoid such situations.
Ways to improve misaligned mental models
Fortunately, you can take specific precautions to avoid mismatches and meet their expectations. Here are a few ways you can follow to fix them:
- Sufficient usability testing and research
It goes without saying that adequate research and preparation lead to better results. A great way to know if your design causes a mismatch to a user’s mental model is to keep testing. As a result, it provides you insights into where your design needs re-shaping.
Equally, executing good user research before starting on your design project helps. Using Empathy maps and User journey maps gives you deep insights into the user’s behavior and mental models. Thus, giving you a good idea to cater your design to their perceived behavior.
- Mirroring existing UX design
As Jakob’s law states, users spend most of their time on other websites. Hence, they expect your website to work the same way as other sites. A common mental model we possess is seeing whenever a text is in blue and underlined, we perceive it as a link. It would not go well with the user if they find links not differentiated from other texts, and they would feel something off about your website.
As a result, designers must use other UX designs as a template to work their designs from there. Most importantly, do not concern yourself that you are copying other creators’ because the reality is everyone is taking inspiration from each other.
For instance, Facebook introduced “Likes” in the social media generation. Then, LinkedIn, Instagram, and other social media platforms followed the trend by implementing the same feature.
- Adopting Skeuomorphism in your design strategy
People understand things when they can relate to them. Skeuomorphism is a term that mirrors real-life objects to the user’s interaction. As a result, introducing Windows was a smooth process because Microsoft incorporated real-life elements into the virtual world.
E.g., folder icon for keeping files and dustbin icon for storing deleted files.
- Include instructions and tutorials
Perhaps, you want to make that life-changing design that makes a difference to the world. Indeed, users will be confused initially about figuring out how it works. Hence, there comes the power of guiding and educating the user.
Include well-articulated instructions, tutorials, and demos to get your point across and guide them to use the interface well. Apple did a great job when iPhone was first introduced in 2007. It was entirely a new thing for users. And they released a video demonstrating well how to use it. Thus, making the adoption process smooth.
Use mental models to leverage your design potential
Without a doubt, mental models can evolve. You will require to change the paradigm slowly for users to relate to the design substantially.
Mental models are fascinating and a helpful research model for designers to leverage their interactive design. It is imperative to understand each mental model and conform to the user’s habits. As a result, you will design a worthy interactive model for lifetime use.
Last but not least, always keep in mind that you are not designing for one person but designing for billions.