Latest news with #userexperience
Finextra
19 hours ago
- Business
- Finextra
Speak Without Words: By Imanuel Kaiser
You can tell in seconds, some fintech products click. Why? They look good, feel considered, give a sense of control. What you're seeing is design doing the heavy lifting. To their detriment, most startups don't treat design like a real business lever. Instead, they might think of it as a coat of paint to add once the product works. But great fintech products aren't painted. They're designed and built from the inside out. Every front-end element: spacing, animation, colour, copy, tone, works to build utility and inspires emotional confidence. That confidence is what keeps users moving, trusting, and coming back. Design decisions are business decisions. Ignore them, and you leave money on the table. Fintechs should feel like music software A great strategy would be to borrow from apps like Apple Music and Spotify, not in terms of features, but in feel. Those apps are highly emotional products. They're tuned to human behaviour and express personality. That idea matters in fintech more than people admit. Personal finance can be stressful and many people don't enjoy thinking about it. So if you can create a space that feels intuitive, confident and a little bit joyful, you're going to get ahead. That's why the best fintechs don't look like banks, they're starting to look more like lifestyle apps you want to spend time in. Design-first fintechs are surging ahead Design features are a forever imprint in the product and scale in ways most marketing doesn't. The strongest consumer fintechs right now such as Revolut, N26 and Wise, have product teams that prioritise design because it drives growth. They know that if you can make financial tools feel light, modern and emotionally fluent, you gain a level of customer engagement traditional players can't touch. You also spend less on support, churn less, and get more referrals. Earning trust Trust isn't won by saying 'trust me' or showing a padlock icon. You win it when the experience feels like it should. That means a responsive UI. Examples might be a transfer button that animates with just the right delay, or typography that's readable without effort. Don't design by committee Finally, if your sign-up form looks like a compliance department built it, it probably was. Most legacy banks ship features. Great fintechs ship experiences. That starts with a small team that cares obsessively about how each part of the product feels, not just what it does. I'd go as far as saying: if your founding team doesn't include someone with a strong design eye, or you're not bringing in that instinct early, you're at a disadvantage. It will show. And no amount of after-the-fact polish will fix it. In conclusion Most users won't say why they don't like your app. They won't complain about the copywriting or the dropdown spacing, they'll bounce. Teams who invest in emotional design, who make things feel smart, fast, easy, and respectful will get a different outcome. Their users are proud to recommend them. And they win market share not by shouting louder, but by being better. When your product has great design, you start to speak without words, and that's when users really start to listen.
Phone Arena
a day ago
- General
- Phone Arena
Discussions and registrations are up and running again!
Well, good news! With some tighter restrictions, our system has now been fortified and we're confident that it's going to be smooth sailing from here on out. The registration block has been lifted, so you can create new accounts, participate in the comment section and create new Well, good news! With some tighter restrictions, our system has now been fortified and we're confident that it's going to be smooth sailing from here on out. The registration block has been lifted, so you can create new accounts, participate in the comment section and create new discussions again! Additionally, you can now easily access the discussion board straight from the website's main navigation. Additionally, you can now easily access the discussion board straight from the website's main navigation. And just to give you a peace of mind, rest assured that the incident posed no threat to you as a reader or registered member. The attempted attack was only related to a large amount of spam user-generated content being posted on the website, so your personal information and accounts are and always have been perfectly safe! Unfortunately, some bad actors saw this as an opportunity to launch a cyberattack and try to damage the user experience for everyone. As a result, we were forced to temporarily pause new registrations and consequently the creation of discussions by new members while we patch things in.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why Modern Leaders Need To Think Like Product Designers
Andrew Lopez is the Founder of 1000 Media, specializing in AI-driven marketing, brand consulting and digital transformation. getty In today's business environment, modern leaders can gain valuable insights from product designers who excel at understanding users, iterating solutions and crafting seamless experiences. In fact, companies that prioritize design principles often outperform their peers. A study by McKinsey & Company revealed that companies with strong design capabilities achieved 32% higher revenue growth and 56% higher total returns to shareholders over five years compared to industry averages. This approach reflects a mindset centered on people and continuous improvement. The following principles illustrate why I believe leaders across industries should begin thinking more like product designers. Product designers begin with empathy, striving to deeply understand users' needs and experiences. Similarly, modern leaders benefit from practicing user-centered leadership, viewing employees, customers and stakeholders as users of the systems they implement. Design has long been described as connecting users to experiences rooted in empathy. By immersing themselves in the perspectives of their teams and end users, leaders can make more informed decisions that resonate on a human level. Design thinking, as explained by Catherine Courage in a McKinsey interview, emphasizes developing deep empathy for customers and crafting solutions that match their needs rather than simply delivering technology for its own sake. Product designers do not expect to get everything right the first time. Instead, they prototype, test and refine. Leaders can adopt a similar approach to strategy and decision making. Embracing iteration means treating new initiatives as experiments: try, learn and adjust. This might involve piloting a new policy, gathering feedback, refining the implementation and then expanding the rollout. Rather than fearing mistakes, design-minded leaders view each attempt as a prototype and an opportunity to learn. Over time, this approach leads to more resilient strategies and stronger outcomes. Designers rely on feedback to refine their work. Leaders should do the same. Effective feedback loops, or structured processes for collecting and applying input, are essential to adaptive leadership. Just as product teams use testing to improve features, executives can use feedback to strengthen team dynamics, workflows and strategy. According to a survey by Brightline Initiative and The Economist Intelligence Unit, 53% of senior executives agree that inadequate delivery capability leaves their organizations unnecessarily exposed to competitors. This underscores the need for rapid feedback systems that help organizations adapt and execute in real time. Product designers aim to make systems intuitive and experiences frictionless. Leaders can apply that same principle to internal operations. Every workflow, policy and communication system should be evaluated for clarity and usability. Applying design thinking to employee experience helps reduce complexity by focusing on what people actually need. As Deloitte notes, this shift can enhance productivity and engagement by improving how employees interact with work systems. Listening to employees with the same intentionality applied to customers can also increase retention and morale. Product designers shape not just the visible interface but the underlying systems that drive performance. Leaders can adopt this mindset by intentionally designing the environment in which their teams operate. As Harvard Business Review explains, wise leaders thrive not by controlling every variable but by shaping the context in which decisions are made. This might involve restructuring teams for better collaboration, implementing tools that promote transparency or fostering rituals that support experimentation. A great leader, like a great designer, creates the conditions where excellence can naturally emerge. It is not about dictating outcomes. It is about building systems where people can succeed. Design-oriented leadership delivers real results. When empathy informs strategy and initiatives are approached as iterative prototypes, organizations can become more responsive and innovative. Feedback loops help fine-tune decisions. Thoughtfully designed internal systems support performance and engagement. In an era of rapid change, I am certain that those leaders who think like product designers—who listen deeply, iterate often and shape intentional systems—will be the ones who create lasting impact. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Geeky Gadgets
3 days ago
- Geeky Gadgets
iOS 26 Unleashed: 25+ More Features That Will Change Your iPhone
Apple's iOS 26 introduces a diverse range of updates aimed at enhancing usability, boosting performance, and delivering a more personalized and secure experience. This latest iteration of the operating system focuses on refining the user experience while advancing mobile technology. In the video below, Zollotech explores 25 key features and changes that highlight how iOS 26 transforms your daily interactions with your device. Watch this video on YouTube. Streamlined User Interface and Design Enhancements iOS 26 brings a refreshed user interface (UI) that emphasizes simplicity and efficiency. The redesigned layout ensures quicker access to essential features, reducing the steps needed to navigate your device. Key updates include: Dynamic widgets that adapt to your usage patterns, offering relevant information at a glance. that adapt to your usage patterns, offering relevant information at a glance. Adaptive color schemes that adjust based on the time of day or your environment, enhancing visual comfort. that adjust based on the time of day or your environment, enhancing visual comfort. A cleaner, more intuitive design that promotes seamless interaction and reduces visual clutter. These changes not only improve the overall aesthetics but also enhance functionality, making everyday tasks faster and more enjoyable. Expanded Personalization Options Personalization takes center stage in iOS 26, offering greater control over how your device looks and feels. New features include: Customizable lock screen widgets and home screen layouts for a tailored user experience. and home screen layouts for a tailored user experience. Advanced themes and icon packs that allow you to express your unique style. Enhanced tools to adjust system-wide settings, making sure your device aligns with your preferences. These updates empower you to create a device experience that reflects your individuality while improving usability. Advanced Privacy and Security Features Privacy and security remain a priority in iOS 26, with Apple introducing robust measures to protect your data. Key enhancements include: App activity reports that provide transparency by showing how apps access your information. that provide transparency by showing how apps access your information. Enhanced encryption protocols for secure communication and data transfers. Stronger safeguards against unauthorized access to sensitive information, making sure your data remains private. These features provide greater transparency and peace of mind, reinforcing Apple's commitment to user privacy. Upgrades to Native Apps Apple's native apps receive significant updates in iOS 26, enhancing their functionality and usability: Safari: Enjoy faster browsing speeds and improved tab management for a smoother online experience. Enjoy faster browsing speeds and improved tab management for a smoother online experience. Messages: New collaboration tools make group chats and shared projects more efficient. New collaboration tools make group chats and shared projects more efficient. Photos: AI-powered organization and improved search capabilities simplify photo management. These upgrades ensure that essential apps work more effectively, making daily tasks easier and more enjoyable. Performance Boosts and Bug Fixes Performance improvements are a cornerstone of iOS 26, delivering a smoother and more reliable experience. Key enhancements include: Reduced app load times , allowing faster access to your favorite tools and features. , allowing faster access to your favorite tools and features. Optimized battery efficiency, extending device usage throughout the day. Numerous bug fixes that address previous issues and improve overall system stability. These updates ensure your device operates at peak performance, offering a more seamless experience. Accessibility Enhancements for Inclusivity iOS 26 introduces new accessibility features designed to cater to a diverse range of users. These updates include: Improved voice control for hands-free navigation, making the device more accessible to users with mobility challenges. for hands-free navigation, making the device more accessible to users with mobility challenges. Expanded text-to-speech options that enhance communication support for users with speech or hearing impairments. Customizable display settings to accommodate users with visual impairments, making sure a more inclusive experience. These tools make iOS 26 more accessible and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of their needs. New Productivity Tools and Utilities Productivity receives a significant boost in iOS 26 with innovative tools designed to help you stay organized and efficient. Highlights include: Advanced collaboration features in the Notes app, allowing seamless teamwork on shared projects. in the Notes app, allowing seamless teamwork on shared projects. AI-powered scheduling suggestions in the Calendar app, helping you manage your time effectively. Improved multitasking capabilities, allowing you to handle multiple tasks simultaneously with ease. These updates empower you to maximize your time and resources, making it easier to stay productive. Improved Compatibility with Third-Party Apps and Devices iOS 26 strengthens its ecosystem by enhancing compatibility with third-party apps and external devices. Key updates include: Expanded APIs for developers, allowing the creation of more integrated and innovative applications. for developers, allowing the creation of more integrated and innovative applications. Better support for smart home systems and wearables, making sure seamless connectivity across devices. Improved interoperability for a unified experience across your Apple and non-Apple devices. These improvements ensure that your device works effortlessly with the tools and gadgets you rely on daily. Innovative Communication and Connectivity Features Communication and connectivity see major advancements in iOS 26, making it easier to stay connected. Notable features include: Real-time transcription and noise cancellation for video calls, improving clarity and accessibility. and noise cancellation for video calls, improving clarity and accessibility. Faster Wi-Fi handoffs that ensure uninterrupted internet access when switching networks. Enhanced Bluetooth pairing for quicker and more reliable connections with external devices. These updates streamline interactions across networks and devices, enhancing your overall experience. Refined System Settings for Greater Control System settings in iOS 26 are more intuitive, giving you greater control over your device. Key changes include: Streamlined menus that simplify navigation and make it easier to find what you need. that simplify navigation and make it easier to find what you need. Advanced search functions that allow you to quickly locate specific settings or features. New options for managing notifications and app permissions, giving you more control over your device's behavior. These refinements make it simpler to customize your device to suit your needs, enhancing usability and convenience. Below are more guides on iOS 26 features from our extensive range of articles. Source & Image Credit: zollotech Filed Under: Apple, Apple iPhone, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why Design-Led Companies Make Better Decisions
Goran Paun, Creative Director at ArtVersion, designing and developing human-centered user experiences for forward-thinking companies. Design is no longer an afterthought. In today's most successful organizations, design drives the thinking that decides what gets built, how it's delivered and why users would care. Design does more than simply "pretty up" a solution once it's been built. Often, design leads. However, the meaning of the term "design-led" is frequently diluted. Some people associate it only with aesthetics. For others, it's just a way of thinking. However, when a design-led approach is applied with purpose and depth, it is a quantifiable business driver. In a crowded and constantly changing market, design is what solidifies a brand's relevance, influences internal beliefs and unifies teams. In boardrooms, design has the power to anchor strategy to product delivery. But what does it actually mean for an organization to be design-led? And how does it translate into tangible outcomes? Fundamentally, an organization must put the user experience first to implement design-led thinking. This goes beyond simply understanding consumers' needs; it entails considering user value in all decisions, including those pertaining to digital interfaces, messaging and product development. Being design-led does not mean prioritizing artistic choices over commercial objectives. Instead, it entails employing design to identify those objectives, make them clear and organize experiences that advance people, their performance and their services. Design-led practices encourage testing hypotheses early on, letting form dictate function and designing with the end user in mind at all times. To put it simply, would you rather sit on a chair that is beautifully designed but uncomfortable, or beautifully designed and ergonomic? In digital spaces, interactions with digital projects should be ergonomic and thoughtful. You should aim to build websites or application interfaces that are easy to understand, as natural as possible to interact with and intuitive enough that the user doesn't feel lost. They should be easy to connect to and as beautiful and eye-pleasing as they are functional, legible and universally resonant. Many brands make the error of considering design to be the last step. Design is then reduced to execution rather than decision making. Companies and organizations that are truly design-led include designers in the early strategy stage. This method can provide important early insights, such as how users interact. Where do they pause? What do they anticipate but are unable to express? Design thinking, an iterative approach to problem-solving, can drive cross-functional teams in exploring avenues they may not have thought of and helps visualize issues before they fully manifest. It produces more deliberate results and leads to less rework and way fewer assumptions. Once you embrace design-led thinking, the next step is operationalizing it. Design systems become crucial at this point. A strong design system is a language that conveys uniformity across platforms, teams and products, not just a set of buttons and color schemes. Design systems are a stabilizing factor for brands that are evolving and changing, whether as a result of modernization, expansion, merger or acquisition. They give teams a framework, a working library of brand elements, that empowers creativity within bounds and enables agility without fragmentation. When properly applied, they also drastically speed up development cycles, cut down on inefficiencies and maintain brand consistency without micromanaging every choice. Our daily rhythms and lifestyles are forcing us to consume content differently and make quick decisions. In a market with limited consumer attention and overwhelming competition, a brand's most valuable asset is relevance. To sustain it, however, a lot of organizations only use campaigns and messaging. But in reality, relevance is something we feel, not just read about. Design-led brands understand that relevance is not just told—it's felt. You can simply communicate these values through everything, such as your website's content accessibility and its ease of use. The degree to which a user feels that your brand "gets" them depends on a number of factors, including visual coherence and tone of voice, but ease of interaction and logical layout hierarchy are small details that have a huge impact. These aren't cosmetic decisions—they're core brand strategies delivered efficiently through design. An often overlooked impact of being design-led is the cultural alignment that ties innovation with productivity inside the organization. When teams rally around a design system, shared language and user-first thinking, silos break down. Communication gets better. Decisions are made more quickly and intelligently. This change in culture spreads. Clarity and trust are then extended and experienced by end users when they engage with a brand that feels consistent across all touchpoints. And that cohesiveness from a business perspective can turn into a competitive advantage in a setting where trust is brittle. Design thinking typically involves five stages: empathize, define, ideate, prototype and test. To be truly design-led, embrace testing not only as a validation step but also as an exploration phase. Consider testing early and often against stakeholders and users. Finding out why a design works or doesn't is more important than simply determining whether it does. This shifts the mindset from output to outcome. The knowledge you acquire from user testing should inform your business choices as well as design improvements. The answers to these design-based questions—what resonates, what converts and what gets retained—should determine your course. Design-led organizations not only look better, but they also operate more effectively, think differently and connect with their audiences on a deeper level. They treat design as a lens rather than a layer—one that ensures that every brand decision is made with purpose, sharpens clarity and feeds strategy. Having a design-led process is truly about much more than just aesthetics. It has to do with alignment and synchrony between brand identity and practical experience, between user needs and business objectives, and between vision and execution. And that's what gives a brand resonance and relevance. Forbes Agency Council is an invitation-only community for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. Do I qualify?
