Empathizing with the folks you design for is nearly all the time step one in design frameworks as a result of it helps you place apart your assumptions and achieve perception into what folks do, suppose, and really feel. For this reason many manufacturers comply with these frameworks and begin their design course of by conducting analysis and synthesizing key learnings about prospects. It is a nice begin, however these learnings are sometimes forgotten about within the later phases of the design course of and don’t get to the ultimate product. Why? The necessity to transfer quick and lack of alignment between groups are partly accountable, however it’s additionally as a result of “empathy” is seen as merely a step, not a follow that’s threaded all through all the course of. In different phrases, many groups empathize with prospects, however they don’t design for empathy.

What Does It Imply To Design For Empathy?

Empathy is greater than a step within the design course of. Whereas empathizing with prospects is an important a part of analysis, designing for empathy transforms these learnings into empathetic moments through which your prospects really feel heard and understood. For this reason, in our newest report, Design For Empathy In Digital Experiences To Drive Loyalty, we give attention to empathy not solely as a method to grasp prospects but additionally an finish — the place manifestations of empathy within the experiences additionally matter.

Designing for empathy means designing experiences that not solely meet prospects’ wants but additionally present that you’re emotionally related to them and perceive their experiences. It creates significant moments in your prospects, builds model loyalty, and humanizes the expertise by demonstrating {that a} model understands its prospects’ wants, feelings, and that their relationship shouldn’t be merely transactional.

Designing For Empathy In Motion

In our report, we focus on tangible examples of how empathy can manifest in design and buyer reactions that we gathered by way of usability testing. From considerate, clearly worded content material to using multimedia for audiovisual learners, there are lots of methods for manufacturers to reveal empathy to their prospects — and prospects acknowledge these efforts.

For instance, NatWest understands prospects face monetary hardship, and it offers precedence to that matter in its app’s assist part. Assist is straightforward to seek out within the app, and the content material is written from the person’s perspective, within the first particular person. Prospects who we surveyed (4 out of 10) mentioned that the assistance part makes them really feel supported and cared for by their financial institution.

What’s Subsequent?

That is our first report in a sequence on designing for empathy. We’d love to listen to how you consider designing for empathy in your work. Attain out if you wish to be part of a analysis interview and share your expertise with us.

When you’re a shopper and have questions, be happy to schedule an inquiry.