Don't Be Afraid of Design Patterns

Patterns are at the core of all life.

Just look around, nature is flourishing by creating copies of itself. Trees, rivers, waves, galaxies, universes, just a few visuals to help you see what I mean.

These are known mathmatecilly as fractals. Fractals are infinitely complex patterns that are self-similar across different scales. They are created by repeating a simple process over and over in an ongoing feedback loop. The reason for the science lesson is fractals are built into the core of our existence as human beings. To deny this would be to deny the world we live in.

How does this relate to User Experience Design? I'm glad you asked.

Patterns are applied by making users feel comfortable with how something is done. For example best practice suggests you should always bring in home link. No matter if this is a phone app or a desktop website. "Home" for many implies safety, if they get lost clicking deep nto your website, home allows them to start over. Have you ever been to a website, clicking deep into the details only to forget how you got there, and no idea how to get back?

Other patterns like lead photographs on articles, navigation items such as contact us, should be located in where users look for them. Typically this is the top right of your website.

Patterns are our friendly comfort friends, allowing us to focus on efficieny rather than represeting new ways to accomplish similar tasks. Don't be afraid of patterns. They are your friend.

-Eric