portfolio-website

Why Users Click: 5 UX Psychology Principles You Should Know

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:14:41 GMT

1. Hick’s Law: Too Many Choices Kill Action

Image source: https://mavensum.com/why-minimalist-design-helps-users-find-what-they-need-faster/

Understanding the why behind a user’s click is what separated good design from high performing design. At the core of every interaction is human decision making and that’s where UX psychology comes in. When you align your design with real behaviors from real users, you are able to remove friction, build trust, and guide users towards actions without it feeling forced. Below are five essential UX principles that are grounded in psychology that directly influence clicks and overall engagement.

Samantha Lau, from The Design Lab, states that Hick’s Law is the phenomenon when the more options a user has, the longer it will take them to make a decision. In UX, this length of time often leads to abandonment. When a user lands on a page that has too many buttons, links, or calls to action they will hesitate and that hesitation is the enemy of clicks.

How to Apply It:

Limit primary CTAs to one clear action per section
Reveal information as needed to not overwhelm the user
Keep navigation menus simple and straightforward

Streamlining interfaces helps to reduce cognitive load and make a user’s decision feel effortless.

2. Visual Hierarchy: Guide the Eye, Guide the Click

How to Apply It:

Users aren’t fully reading websites. Instead they scan them to find the information they’re looking for. This means that good visual hierarchy determines what they see first, second, and last. By using size, contrast, spacing, and placement you direct the user’s attention exactly where you want it.

Image source: https://blog.waalaxy.com/en/eye-tracking-ux/

When everything looks important then nothing actually is and your users can’t find the information they need.

Make your primary CTA the most visually dominant element
Use appropriate whitespace to separate sections
Follow natural reading patterns

How to Apply It:

Jen Cardello, from Nielsen Norman Group , explains that social proof is another psychological phenomenon where people reference another person’s behaviors to guide their own. This is especially prominent when a user is facing an uncertain situation.

Image source: https://blog.hubspot.com/service/testimonial-page-examples

3. Social Proof: People Trust People

The key is to be authentic. Generic testimonials won’t make an impact, but specific and believable ones will.

Include testimonials near conversion points
Show star ratings, reviews, or client logos
Use real photos instead of stock imagery when possible

Use large, easy to click buttons (especially on mobile)
Keep important actions within thumb reach
Avoid placing CTAs in hard to reach areas

4. Fitt’s Law: Making Clicking Effortless

Image source: https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2016/09/the-thumb-zone-designing-for-mobile-users/

If your website is set up so that users have to work to click, then many of them just won’t.

Fitt’s Law is the idea that the time it takes to interact with something depends on it’s size and distance. For UX that means, the bigger and closer a button is, the easier it is to click. This is one of the most practical UX principles that can be applied immediately.

How to Apply It:

Highlight limited time offers
Frame messaging around what users might lose
Strategically present pricing and comparisons

Image source: https://www.eleken.co/blog-posts/saas-pricing-page-design-8-best-practices-with-examples

When used ethically, these principles help users make faster and more confident decisions.

5. Cognitive Biases: Design for How People Actually Think

Humans don’t make perfectly rational decisions. We rely heavily on mental shortcuts called cognitive biases. To make UX design smart, you should work with these biases and not against them. Some key cognitive biases are:

How to Apply It:

Anchoring bias: Users rely heavily on the first piece of information they see (i.e. showing a higher original price next to a discounted one)
Loss aversion: People are more motivated to avoid loss than gain something (i.e. “Don’t Miss Out” sales)
Scarcity effect: Limited availability increases perceived value

Final Thoughts

Great UX isn’t about guessing. Instead, it’s about understanding. When you design with UX psychology in mind, you stop relying only on trends and start aligning with real user behavior. These principles are practical tools that you can apply to every page, layout, and interaction you design. Start small and pick one that you can refine your design around. Then continue to test, iterate, and learn. Users aren’t randomly clicking. They click when something feels clear and easy.

Which of these UX principles do you use the most?

What’s Wrong With This Website? A UX Audit Breakdown

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 18:58:51 GMT

The Website We’re Auditing: CT Dry Basements

CT Dry Basements’ website homepage

Have you ever landed on a website and aren’t sure what to do next? The problem isn’t you – it’s bad UX. In this UX audit, we’re going to break down a real business’s website to uncover usability issues, look for missed opportunities, and show how small changes can significantly improve performance. Having a website with good UX not only means users can navigate your website well, but it pays off with more leads for your business.

https://ctdrybasements.com/

CT Dry Basements is a Connecticut based basement waterproofing company that offers services like sump pumps, crack repair, and crawl space solutions. Their site communicates their credibility and experience very well. However a closer look at the UX shows several usability issues that could be impacting their conversions.

Issue 1: Weak Visual Hierarchy

The homepage presents a lot of information at once. There’s text, service cards, multiple buttons, and inconsistent spacing. There’s no clear focal point. When a user lands on the site, they should immediately understand what the company does, why they’re different, and what to do next. In this case, everything is competing for the user’s attention at once.

How to Improve It:

Introduce a clear hero hierarchy (headline, subheadline, CTA)
Reduce the repetition of the services section
Increase the amount of space between sections to help guide the eye

Issue 2: Redundant and Repetitive Content

The site repeats service categories multiple times, like Basement Waterproofing and Foundation Crack Repairs, in slightly different ways. While mentioning these keywords is important for SEO, this creates friction instead of clarity. From a UX perspective, repetition without a purpose overwhelms the user and waters down the messaging.

How to Improve It:

Consolidate services into one clean section
Use icons or cards with important keywords instead of repeating text blocks
Ensure that text can be easily scanned

Issue 3: Lack of a Strong Call to Action (CTA)

The main CTA “Request a Free Quote” is on the page a lot, but they don’t stand out visually or strategically. They blend into the page instead of guiding the users’ behavior. This is a major issue especially for a service based business where conversions matter.

How to Improve It:

Use a high contrast color for all CTA buttons
Repeat CTAs at key scroll points
Add urgency to the messaging (“Get a Free Inspection Today”)

Issue 4: Trust Signals Are Buried

The site includes multiple different types of trust indicators like years of experiences, customer reviews, licensing, and their BBB accreditation. However, they’re not prioritized. Users have to scroll down the page in order to see most of this.

How to Improve It:

Move reviews and guarantees higher on the page
Add badges, ratings, and quick stats at the top
Better highlight guarantees and other value propositions

Issue 5: Mobile Experience Feels Outdated

While the site is responsive on the phone, the overall experience feels clunky and outdated. There’s a lot of images and heavy text blocks that slows down the mobile experience and makes users scroll for a long time. Most traffic to websites is from mobile devices, so not having an easy to use mobile experience is a critical issue.

How to Improve It:

Reduce duplicate content
Optimize image sizes and placement
Stack content more intentionally

Key Takeaways from This UX Audit

This audit shows that CT Dry Basements biggest problems aren’t functionality, but rather they’re clarity. Even a legitimate, highly reviewed business can lose conversions due to poor structure and usability issues. A strong UX critique focuses on clear hierarchy, focused messaging, and guided user flow. CT Dry Basements has a strong foundation, but their website doesn’t fully support that. With a cleaner layout, stronger CTAs, and better prioritization of trust signals, the site can convert significantly better without changing the core message. That’s the power of a UX audit. We identify what’s already there and make it work harder.

What Every UI/UX Portfolio Needs to Stand Out in 2026

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:49:29 GMT

Must Have Sections for a Standout UI/UX Portfolio

A strong portfolio isn’t about having an overabundant number of projects, instead it’s about having a curated set of projects that highlight structure and storytelling. According to UXGO , many recruiters prioritize a few high quality case studies over a lot of weak ones. Your portfolio should include:

1. A Clear, Focused Homepage

Your homepage should answer three questions; who you are, what you specialize in, and why your work matters. Khanh Linh Le at UX Pilot says keep it clean and easy to scan. Portfolios that are easy to navigate outperform ones that use complex layouts.

2. Include At Least 3-4 Strong Case Studies

Your case studies are the core of your portfolio. Hiring managers are on the look out for:

A clear problem statement
Your role and responsibilities
Your process
Measureable results

The best portfolios follow a problem, process, outcome structure to make it easy to understand the impact of the work.

3. A Thoughtful About Page

This is the place to tell the world about yourself. Beyond your technical skills, hiring managers want to know how you think and communicate. Including sections about your background, your design philosophy, and bits about your personality help to create a strong About page.

4. Resume and Contact Options

Make it easy for someone to take the next step in learning about you. Include:

A downloadable resume
Clear contact information
Professional social media links

If a hiring manager has to search hard for this, you’re already behind the pack.

In 2026, your UI/UX portfolio shouldn’t just be a collection of pretty screens. It should be the way that you communicate how you think, solve problems, and deliver results. Hiring managers see so many applicants a day, that they don’t have time to spend a while browsing your portfolio. They’ll spend only a few seconds which means that clarity and impact matter more than ever. If you want to stand out in a competitive market, your portfolio needs to be backed by a strategy and not just be nice to look at. Here’s what you should include, what hiring managers are looking for, and common mistakes you should avoid.

Webflow ‘s #1 pick for best UX portfolio in 2025. Source: Niklas Bubori

Webflow ‘s #2 pick for best UX portfolio in 2025. Source: Ljubomir Bardžić

What Hiring Managers Actually Look For

Hiring managers aren’t judging your portfolio based on only the visuals. They’re really looking at how you think. Your portfolio should show:

Clear Design Thinking: Hiring managers want to see how you assess problems. UXfolio states that a strong portfolio should include research insights, important decisions, and any tradeoffs made in the process.
Real Impact and Results: Hiring managers want to see if your outcome shows any measurable results. Even small metrics help to demonstrate value.
Communication and Storytelling: Recruiters are skimming your portfolio. Think of it like a test to see if your content is clear, concise, and easy to scan. Many of them are only spending a few minutes so readability is critical.
Collaboration and Iteration: Showing how your work evolved is more important than showing the perfect product. Including previous iterations and team involvement demonstrates your ability to collaborate well.
Strategic Thinking: Design skills are important, but in 2026 the modern UX role also requires product thinking. Being able to demonstrate how your product impacts users and aligns with business and user goals is a major differentiator.

Common UI/UX Portfolio Mistakes to Avoid

Even the strongest designer can get overlooked because of avoidable mistakes. Here are some of the biggest ones:

1. Overloading with Too Many Projects

More isn’t always better. One highly produced case study is better than five average ones.

2. Focusing Only on Final Designs

Showing only polished UI screens signals a lack of depth. Hiring managers also want to know how you got there.

3. Writing Long, Unstructured Case Studies

Dense paragraphs and too much scrolling loses interest fast. Instead break content into sections, include visuals, and highlight the key takeaways.

4. Being Too Generic

It’s okay to show your unique perspective and personality in your portfolio. If your work looks like everyone else’s, it will be forgotten.

5. Ignoring Results and Metrics

Instead of saying, “improved user experience”, be specific in showing what changed and why it matters.

6. Poor Navigation and UX

It’s ironic, but a lot of the times many UX portfolios have bad UX themselves. If your site it slow or confusing, it directly reflects your skills.

Final Thoughts

A standout UI/UX portfolio in 2026 isn’t about being flashy, but it’s actually about being clear and intentional. Keep your focus on strong case studies, clear storytelling, measurable impact, and a clean experience. If a hiring manager can understand your thinking within 30-60 seconds, you’re doing the right thing. If not, they’re going to move on. Your portfolio isn’t just a showcase of your work. It’s your strongest argument for why you should be hired.

Google Just Released Stitch. Is It Going to Take My Job?

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:41:17 GMT

What Exactly is Stitch?

In a blog post from Google , they describe Stitch as “an AI-native software design canvas that allows anyone to create, iterate and collaborate on high-fidelity UI from natural language”. Basically, Stitch allows anyone (whether or not they have UI/UX design skills) to type in a prompt and create a fully functioning UI prototype. It sounds scary. If anyone can simply type in what they want their app or website to look like, then my job is basically null and void, right? Google frames it as a jumping off point to get the design process started. They say that by “vibe designing”, users can explore a multitude of ideas in a short period of time. Once prompted, Stitch will set up a design system and create a prototype in just a few minutes. Screens generated in Stitch can be exported out into multiple different formats including, Figma files, MCPs, and even Google’s AI Studio which further builds out your prototype using Gemini.

It’s clear that we’re in the age of AI. Everyday it seems like there’s a new AI-powered tool coming out and seems to be posing a threat to the way that many people work. One of the latest AI innovations to come out Google Labs is Stitch , a “vibe design” platform that allows you to generate a high-fidelity UI of either an app or a website. If you’re in any sort of digital design field, you’ve probably heard about Stitch and your first thought was, “Am I about to lose my job?”. That’s exactly what crossed my mind and before I panicked and switched my entire career path, I decided to put Stitch to the test and see if it’s a tool to better my workflow or a threat to my career.

Putting Stitch Up to the Test

Despite my reservations, I decided to test Stitch out and see what it can do. Using one of Develomark ‘s current clients, Pure Skin Med Spa , I developed a new website homepage. Being as thorough as possible, I gave Stitch a hefty prompt that included:

The design style I wanted for the page: Design a modern, clean, and aesthetic homepage for a medical spa brand called Pure Skin Med Spa. The design should feel elevated, feminine, and trustworthy, with a strong focus on skincare results and wellness. Clean spacing, soft shadows, subtle gradients, rounded edges, and minimal clutter.
The brand colors: Primary: #202228 (deep charcoal), Accent: #cda3e8 (soft lavender), Neutral: #bab8b9 (cool gray), Background: #ffffff (white)
The typography style: Elegant, modern sans-serif pairing (light + medium weights). Avoid anything too clinical—balance luxury and approachability.
The type of imagery to use: Use high-quality, natural-looking photos of healthy, glowing women ages 25–45. Skin should look radiant, not over-retouched. Include lifestyle + treatment moments.
The sections to include: Hero section, About Us, Treatments, Video Testimonials, Unique Selling Points (USPs), Memberships, Online Reviews, Locations, and Footer with Contact Form
UX and design notes: Prioritize strong visual hierarchy and whitespace, Keep interactions subtle and smooth (hover states, soft transitions), Ensure mobile responsiveness with stacked sections Use rounded buttons and soft shadows for a modern feel, Avoid clutter—this should feel premium and calming

At Develomark, we work with AI with the saying, “Put garbage in, get garbage out”, meaning the better your prompt then the better your output will be. I wanted to put in a well thought out and detailed prompt in order to truly test how well Stitch can work. After working for about three to five minutes, the results were interesting.

Stitch’s hero section

Stitch’s About Us section

Stitch’s Membership section

What Stitch Did Well

I will say right off the bat, I was pleasantly surprised with the initial results I got from Stitch. The homepage design was well structured and easy to navigate. It’s overall very appealing and matches the brand that I outlined in my prompt. I also thought that the time it took to generate both a basic design system and web page was not too long at all. It only took a few minutes for me to have a design. If I wanted to make any changes in the Stitch canvas, I simply could continue to prompt and a new page with my requested changed would be generated. If I wanted to continue working on this design myself, a simple copy and paste was all I needed to get this design into my Figma account. That page is then structurally organized within Figma’s best practices. The pieces are perfectly placed in labeled frames and use Auto Layout is used to make sections responsive based on screen size. While I thought all of these features were great, I wouldn’t call the results a final design. It was only a starting point.

What Stitch Fell Short On

I showed Stitch’s mockup to my boss and asked him, “How would you feel about showing this page to a client as their website design?” He said he would not feel good about it because it lacks personality, there’s no real photos or logo, and it feels cold and empty. He said it works well for a wireframe. Like most AI generated creative, this is where I think Stitch falls short. The page is created feels very sterile and stock, like it could be for any brand and not just Pure Skin. The biggest fallback to me was that you can’t upload logos or images for Stitch to use in its design. You can only upload up to five sketches or screenshots for inspiration. To me, this makes it more of a wireframing and outlining tool. The content that was written made sense, but it wasn’t custom to this specific client – it was general content that could be used for any med spa. Also, when you copy and paste the design into Figma, you lose all prototyped components like button hover states. What’s the point of Stitch doing it, if I would have to re-do it once I’m in Figma? After generating a few different iterations, my anxiety over the state of my career began to ease.

What This Means For UI/UX Designers

Overall, was my experience with Stitch positive? Yes, I would definitely use it again. However, I would use it only as a starting point. I would never show a Stitch generation to a client as their final design. It’s a great tool for wireframing and concept exploration. If you have an idea and want to see if it will work, pop it into Stitch and save yourself the legwork of designing from scratch. As AI continues to evolve, design roles are going to begin to shift from creator to editors and strategists. We won’t be doing much of the UI execution, but the UX thinking will have to come from our minds. Only humans know how humans will interact with something. That’s what can’t be replaced with AI. Clients will begin to value your thinking over how you can execute the concept. In the long run, the client probably won’t care how their website or app was created as long as their designer understands their goal. Communication will become the most important aspect of the relationship.

So, do I think Stitch is coming for my job? No. I think I will continue to use Stitch as a way to wireframe, test new concepts and ideas, and speed up the early phases of the design process. I would not recommend relying on Stitch for final UX decisions, usable content, or conversion optimization. Stitch won’t be replacing UI/UX designers any time soon, but it will expose the ones who are just designing screens and not applying any design thinking in the process. If you want to evaluate your own AI-generated designs, I created a UI/UX checklist you can use. Click the button below to download the PDF.

How I Became a UI/UX Designer (And What I’d Do Differently Today)

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 18:27:55 GMT

My Starting Point

To give a little backstory, my original post-high school plan was to go into fashion merchandising. I quickly realized that wasn't the path I wanted to take, so I left the college I was at and decided to pursue graphic design. I never thought during my time at college that I would land in UI/UX design. At the time, I thought that UI/UX meant knowing how to code. I didn't realize that it meant understanding how users think and react to different interfaces. There's so much more to UI/UX design than designing a pretty interface or website. That's where I originally went wrong. My initial portfolio had nicely designed pages, but no explanation as to what made that page excel as far as usability. When I began to learn about what makes a good user experience, that was when I decided to make the shift towards UI/UX design.

If you asked the average person what a UI/UX designer was, they probably wouldn't have an idea. Becoming one can seem even harder. You might be wondering where to start, and that's making you feel overwhelmed. It's completely normal to feel that way in the beginning of your career. I was there at one point too. My name is Emily, and I currently work as a leader designer at Develomark , a digital marketing agency based in Southington, CT. My education includes a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design from Central Connecticut State University and a master's degree in Interactive Media and Communications from Quinnipiac University. My road to where I am today didn't start where you would think, but I'd like to share how I got here and what I'd do differently if I started today.

What Actually Moved Me Forward

Nobody becomes the perfect designer overnight. I can't even call myself perfect because I'm always learning, and trends are always changing. That's exactly what pushes me to continue on this journey. UI/UX is an industry that is always changing. New trends emerge, new research is done, so the industry never goes stale as we continue to study and learn how people are using digital products. Here's what I think is important when it comes to a career in UI/UX design:

Learning by doing: Actually getting your hands dirty in the work is going to be one of the most beneficial things you can do. Taking courses gives you the background knowledge of the how and the why, but applying that knowledge is where the real learning happens.
Build your portfolio early: I don't mean a couple of screenshots and a paragraph about what you did. I'm talking about fully thought-out case studies on the projects you've worked on. It doesn't have to be perfect, but providing proof of your execution is the most important.
Understanding UI/UX thinking: Knowing the tools to design for UI/UX is great, but it's also important to know the why behind it all. The ability to be able to back up your decisions with best practices is what will push you over the edge from a good designer to a great one.
Get real-world experience: Similar to learning by doing, getting good real-world experience is going to set you apart from the competition. If you're just starting out, finding internships or freelancing for a couple of years will give you a solid leg up when you go to search for your dream role.

Mistakes I Made and What I Would Do Differently

There's nothing wrong with making mistakes, especially in the beginning stages of your career. You're probably trying to figure out all these technicalities, stay up to date on the latest trends, and understand the psychology behind it all. In the process of all of that, things can get pushed aside, and it's important to remember that it's okay. Here's what I think are some of the most common mistakes people make when getting started in UI/UX:

Waiting too long to start a portfolio: Just start - your portfolio will continue to change and grow as you do during your career.
Over-focusing on visuals: Visuals are nice, that's what gets someone to look at your product, but if you're not solving a problem someone is having, then visuals aren't going to keep them coming back.
Comparing yourself to others: You never know where someone is on their journey, and their path is different than yours. Comparison only diminishes the confidence you built and won't inspire you to keep working hard.

If I was given the opportunity to start my career today, I would do the following:

Start with 2-3 strong case studies: Two to three robustly built case studies are going to prove more than 10 tiny screenshots with a sentence to describe them. Whoever is going to be looking at your portfolio will appreciate the time spent deep diving into that project.
Focus on clarity over perfection: Ensuring that your user is able to reach their goal is critical. It's more important if your CTA is in the right spot than if your text is all spaced the same amount.
Treat everything like a case study: No matter what type of project you're working on, think of it like your most important case study. Thinking like this will train you to give the same level of care to every project you take on.t you take on.

Where I Am Now

I just celebrated the five-year anniversary as a UX-based web designer. In that time, I've also nearly completed a master's program. When I started my undergrad, I had no idea this is where I would be. I now help local small businesses increase leads to their websites, and I have helped in the launch of over 150 websites. After many years of trial and error, trying new ideas and seeing what works, I can now say I feel confident in my ability to get our clients new customers. UI/UX design is best learned by getting in there and doing it, by trying new ideas and seeing what lands. Now I'd like to know, what area of UI/UX are you trying to break into?

If you're beginning your career, click the button below to download my UI/UX career roadmap checklist.

portfolio-website

Why Users Click: 5 UX Psychology Principles You Should Know

1. Hick’s Law: Too Many Choices Kill Action

How to Apply It:

2. Visual Hierarchy: Guide the Eye, Guide the Click

How to Apply It:

How to Apply It:

3. Social Proof: People Trust People

4. Fitt’s Law: Making Clicking Effortless

How to Apply It:

5. Cognitive Biases: Design for How People Actually Think

How to Apply It:

Final Thoughts

What’s Wrong With This Website? A UX Audit Breakdown

The Website We’re Auditing: CT Dry Basements

Issue 1: Weak Visual Hierarchy

How to Improve It:

Issue 2: Redundant and Repetitive Content

How to Improve It:

Issue 3: Lack of a Strong Call to Action (CTA)

How to Improve It:

Issue 4: Trust Signals Are Buried

How to Improve It:

Issue 5: Mobile Experience Feels Outdated

How to Improve It:

Key Takeaways from This UX Audit

What Every UI/UX Portfolio Needs to Stand Out in 2026

Must Have Sections for a Standout UI/UX Portfolio

1. A Clear, Focused Homepage

﻿

2. Include At Least 3-4 Strong Case Studies

3. A Thoughtful About Page

4. Resume and Contact Options

What Hiring Managers Actually Look For

Common UI/UX Portfolio Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overloading with Too Many Projects

2. Focusing Only on Final Designs

3. Writing Long, Unstructured Case Studies

4. Being Too Generic

5. Ignoring Results and Metrics

6. Poor Navigation and UX

Final Thoughts

Google Just Released Stitch. Is It Going to Take My Job?

What Exactly is Stitch?

Putting Stitch Up to the Test

What Stitch Did Well

What Stitch Fell Short On ﻿

What This Means For UI/UX Designers

How I Became a UI/UX Designer (And What I’d Do Differently Today)

My Starting Point

What Actually Moved Me Forward

Mistakes I Made and What I Would Do Differently

Where I Am Now

What Stitch Fell Short On