Objective
The goal of this case study is to demonstrate the basic purpose of alignment in user interface (UI) design and how it can enhance user experience (UX). The case study focuses on how proper alignment in a healthcare portal for patients and healthcare providers can reduce cognitive load, improve clarity, and lead to better navigation.
Background
The healthcare portal was designed to allow users to access their medical records, schedule appointments, and communicate with healthcare professionals. However, feedback from users indicated that they struggled with navigating the portal, particularly in finding important information such as upcoming appointments, health records, and lab results. The interface was described as “cluttered,” “distracting,” and “difficult to use,” which led to high bounce rates, increased frustration, and longer times spent on tasks.
The design team hypothesized that poor alignment was contributing to the confusion. Information was scattered across the screen with no clear visual hierarchy, making it difficult for users to focus on what was important.
What is Alignment in UI/UX Design?
Alignment in UI/UX design refers to the arrangement of elements in a way that creates a visual connection between them. It ensures that elements are positioned in relation to one another in a consistent and organized way, which results in a cleaner, more cohesive design.
The purpose of alignment is to:
- Create a sense of order: A well-aligned layout looks structured and easy to scan.
- Improve clarity: It helps users understand which elements are related and how they should be interacted with.
- Reduce cognitive load: Users can quickly process information when it is aligned in a logical way.
- Enhance visual flow: Proper alignment guides the user’s eyes naturally through the design, helping them follow a smooth path.
Challenges
The healthcare portal faced the following challenges due to poor alignment:
- Cluttered Interface: Text, buttons, and images were scattered without any consistent alignment, causing confusion and making it difficult for users to find essential information.
- Lack of Visual Hierarchy: Important elements like upcoming appointments and messages from doctors were not visually prioritized, making users overlook them.
- Inefficient Navigation: Misaligned elements led to inefficient use of space, causing unnecessary scrolling and making navigation feel slow.
- High Bounce Rate: Users were spending a lot of time trying to navigate the portal, leading to increased frustration and abandonment of the site.
Approach: Implementing Alignment to Improve UX
The design team decided to focus on proper alignment across three main areas of the portal: the homepage dashboard, the appointment scheduling section, and the medical records page.
Step 1: Alignment of Dashboard Elements
- Before: The homepage dashboard displayed a variety of elements (appointments, messages, medical records, and notifications) in different alignments. Some were left-aligned, others centered, and some right-aligned. The inconsistency led to visual chaos, where users had trouble understanding the priority of information.
- After: The team implemented a consistent alignment strategy:
- All titles and headings were left-aligned for a clean start.
- Important features (like upcoming appointments) were aligned in a grid, with clear visual separation between different types of content.
- Cards for each section were aligned centrally with consistent padding, creating uniformity and improving clarity.
- Result: Users could easily scan the dashboard, as important content was aligned logically and visually separated. The layout felt more organized, improving the user’s first impression of the portal.
Step 2: Aligning Text and Buttons on the Appointment Scheduling Page
- Before: On the appointment scheduling page, buttons and text fields were misaligned, with some buttons centered and others left-aligned. This inconsistency made it hard for users to understand where to click next, especially when scheduling urgent appointments.
- After: The design team aligned:
- All buttons were aligned to the right for uniformity.
- Text fields were aligned to the left, ensuring consistency across the form.
- Important dates and times were given prominence, with clearly aligned fields for better readability.
- Result: The page now had a much clearer flow. Users were able to navigate the appointment scheduling process without confusion, reducing errors and increasing successful appointment bookings.
Step 3: Aligning Medical Records for Easier Access
- Before: The medical records page displayed a mix of left-aligned and center-aligned text, which caused the page to look chaotic. Some records had too much white space, while others were cluttered, making it hard for users to focus on key information like test results or doctor’s notes.
- After: The team implemented proper alignment by:
- Grouping related records together and aligning them in a list format.
- Ensuring that each item (e.g., lab test results, doctor’s notes, and prescriptions) had its own section, with clearly aligned headers and descriptions.
- Using consistent padding between sections to avoid overcrowding and increase readability.
- Result: Users could now easily read and understand their medical records, as each section was clearly defined and easy to navigate. This increased user confidence in managing their health data online.
Outcomes
Business Metrics:
- Bounce Rate: The bounce rate decreased by 15% on the homepage after the alignment improvements, as users were able to easily find key information without feeling overwhelmed.
- Conversion Rate (Appointment Scheduling): The conversion rate for appointment scheduling increased by 20%, as users found the process more intuitive and easier to complete.
- Customer Retention: Customer retention improved by 10%, as users reported feeling more confident navigating the portal and completing tasks.
UX Metrics:
- Task Success Rate: The task success rate for completing actions like scheduling an appointment or viewing medical records increased by 18%, as proper alignment made it easier for users to understand what they needed to do next.
- Time on Task: Time spent on tasks like viewing medical records and booking appointments decreased by 12%. Proper alignment made these tasks faster and more efficient.
- User Satisfaction (CSAT): User satisfaction increased from 75% to 90%, with positive feedback about the clean and organized interface that made information easier to digest.
Key Insights
- Alignment Reduces Cognitive Load: Proper alignment helped reduce visual clutter and made it easier for users to understand the relationships between different elements.
- Clear Visual Hierarchy Increases Efficiency: By aligning important elements like appointments and medical records, the design guided users through tasks more efficiently.
- Consistency in Alignment Enhances Trust: A consistent alignment strategy gave the portal a polished and professional look, which increased user trust and engagement.
Conclusion
In this case study, applying the principle of alignment significantly improved the user experience of a healthcare portal. By using alignment to create clear visual hierarchies and group related elements together, the design became more intuitive and user-friendly. This not only enhanced the efficiency of critical tasks but also led to improved business metrics, such as conversion rates and customer retention.
Key Takeaway: Alignment is essential in UI/UX design for creating organized, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing interfaces. A well-aligned design reduces cognitive load, improves navigation, and helps users focus on the most important content, ultimately leading to a better user experience and increased business success.
