Ignoring First-Time User Experience (FTUE)
What a user sees and feels the first time they open your product shapes their entire perception. Yet many products skip onboarding or overwhelm new users with complexity. The result? Confusion, frustration, and quick drop-off.**Fix it:** Introduce progressive onboarding. Show only what’s needed at each step. Use tooltips, walkthroughs, or micro-interactions to guide users without walls of text.
Poor Mobile Optimization
It’s 2025 — your product should feel amazing on mobile. Poor tap targets, broken layouts, and horizontal scrolls are huge red flags for users.**Fix it:** Test designs on real devices. Use auto-layout tools and flexible grids. And make sure your primary CTAs are thumb-friendly.
Overwhelming the User With Options
Choice paralysis is real. When users are bombarded with too many buttons, filters, or steps — they freeze or abandon the experience.**Fix it:** Apply Hick’s Law — fewer choices = faster decisions. Group actions, collapse non-critical settings, and use progressive disclosure to simplify screens.
Inconsistent Design Patterns
When the same interaction behaves differently in different places, users lose confidence. Inconsistent styles, mismatched icons, or changing UI patterns are subtle — but they break trust.**Fix it:** Use a design system. Standardize components and interaction behavior. Audit your UI monthly to spot design drift.
Lack of Feedback and Error Handling
Ever click a button and wonder if it worked? That’s bad UX. Feedback helps users feel in control. The same applies when errors occur — unclear error messages lead to rage-clicks and churn.**Fix it:** Provide visual cues for all user actions (loading states, success, etc). And when things go wrong, explain why in plain language — and how to fix it.
