Building trustworthy UX has become more essential nowadays as people are more sensitive now to security and data accuracy in applications. There are 5 ideas of how to increase user trust, conversion, and retention.

1. Consistency

Maintain consistency in your design elements, such as colors, typography, icons, and layouts. A persistent design creates a sense of familiarity and reliability, making users feel more comfortable and confident in using your product.

Some of the products lack a system design which makes the experience less trustworthy. One of the examples is Paypal. When you’re willing to connect a bank account, you see a Paypal interface with known brand colors, a blue header, and white background. After clicking on the button to link an account, it opens up an interface with completely different colors, layouts, and interface. You still see a Paypal logo though, which is a good sign that this is still a Paypal app. But afterward, when you select a bank to connect, it opens up a bank page where you are asked to enter a username and password. Entering credentials is always a stressful experience and here Paypal doesn’t even warn the user that he will be redirected to a different app.

The best way to design this flow would be to keep the user in the same interface through the full flow of connecting a bank account. Here we also keep in mind that Paypal does it this way on purpose as when you enter your credentials on the bank’s site, your browser suggests you autofill username and password. But they should at least keep the user in the same interface on the second step, giving upfront disclosure to warn the user what will happen and give a choice.

2. Trust elements

Incorporating social proof elements, such as user testimonials, reviews, or secure badges, helps build credibility.

Bumble lets users know that their credentials will not be shared with anyone which increases credibility when entering sensitive information.

Farfetch shows an SSL certificate when you enter your credit card number letting you know that this service can be trusted and is protected by a secure company.

The Loona app aims to improve your sleep and shows positive feedback from satisfied customers that can help establish trust and confidence in your product or service.

They also note that the payment is secured by the App Store which is already a known brand by most of the customers.

3. Predicting user concerns

Anticipate user actions and provide explanations of what will happen next. User concerns usually can be understood by conducting user interviews and hearing their feedback. Providing clear things that will happen after might increase conversion to the next step.

Alltrails app shows clear steps when you subscribe to their services. It displays what will happen next after you subscribe and get access: it will remind you with a push notification that your trial is ending. They also show the price you will be charged when the trial ends.

Nextdoor lets users know that their address won’t be seen by others and you can change this setting anytime.

Understating that your action can be changed in the future relieve users’ concern when making actions.

4. Dark patterns and deceptive design

There’s a basic thing that every good designer should understand: do not design an experience that can’t be predicted by the user. There’s a library of dark patterns on deceptive.design/types.

An example below is a typical modal window that you would see when you enter the e-commerce website. The bad thing here is that it was not predicted by the user and might ruin trust in your product.

Every company tries to minimize users churn by making subscriptions cancel in a not straightforward way. For example, HBO Max makes No, never mind as main CTA on the page understanding that the user has already found a button to cancel the subscription. That is not the worst example, though. Enormous services trying to hide the cancel subscription action or make it less transparent.

5. Up-to-date content

It’s important to provide the user most updated content in the application. Companies often don’t pay enough attention when showing old user reviews, limiting updates of their apps in the app stores and other not up-to-date data.

In this example, Google Maps shows you reviews dated 6 or 11 months ago. This might lead to a worse experience when attending the place and being disappointed if, for example, the place no longer has something that is described in the outdated reviews.

Final thoughts

Building user trust in UX design is important for creating positive and successful digital experiences. By implementing clear and transparent communication, maintaining consistency in design, and ensuring an intuitive and user-friendly interface, you can establish a strong foundation of trust with your users. Additionally, focusing on proving up-to-date content, implementing a robust security experience, and incorporating social proof and testimonials further can give a sense of reliability, credibility, and confidence, ultimately creating a trustworthy and engaging user experience.

5 ideas of how to design a trustworthy experience was originally published in Bootcamp on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Not so long ago, dating network called Pure announced a design competition for the app, which should find you a partner with the same BDSM interests.

I’ve seen different kinds of ideas, but this competition interested me.

After I began to investigate this topic much more closely, I was faced with the fact that there isn’t a single active and popular app with the same idea although there is so much hype…
I’ve discovered that not more than 10% of people around the world are interested in BDSM. This is about real interest, lifestyle if you wish, not about home practices.

“Come what may”, — I thought, I should try anyway.

Step 1

Research

During the work on projects, I’m always trying to think about an app almost all day long. First ideas are popping up in my head. The significant thing, when you are working on app design, is to think about every your step. Then if you have any doubts about it, you should postpone it. Very often solution of the problem appears when you don’t expect it at all.

I faced some difficulties because of my incompetence in this theme of BDSM, but my friends helped me to sort out this issue, also I found some materials to read. For example: One, Two, Three, etc.
As I said earlier, there isn’t anything like this in the App Store.
Ok than. Searching for popular dating networks with similar themes and registering if needed.

That’s what I’ve discovered about BDSM datings:

• Photos are not the only one or the most important criterion here
• There aren’t any “one-night stand”
• Partners should completely trust each other
• BDSM is not about sex.

Therefore, you can’t just make “Tinder” analog, though I’ve tried (results will be described below).

Step 2

The first sketches and interaction ideas.

Step 3

Start drawing

First of all, I should decide which stylistics to use.
Standard color for this theme is black, also need to add some red for additional romantic and some shades of grey.

The introduction screen (“sign up/ login” screens are skipped)

As many of you can notice, I’ve taken an idea of choosing interests from Apple music. I just haven’t found anything better than this. My fault.
I tried to make first settings as simple as possible, despite that favorite sites have much more paragraphs.

Main screen

As I said earlier, I’ve tried to make a Tinder-like main screen.

Don’t like this.

Trying to do it another way.

All the concept is that you choose a person, send a message, and then this profile fades away from the main screen.

I didn’t forget about donating: there is the place for VIP users in top part of the screen.

Also, there are some information blocks like new profiles, events, and users with similar interests.

Want to admit, that nothing can be scrolled horizontally except events block. It’s made like this with a purpose — to provide an easy swipe from tab bar menu.

Profile

Once again, there is an opportunity to donate. I placed gift and message buttons next to each other because I’ve noticed that people are often making presents on sites like this.

In the photo section, there are some albums, which you can see only if you have a password.

After the “about me” block, there is “Wishes and taboos” section.

Messages

There is a “New messages” section. If a stranger writes to you, he appears there. You can block the user or continue the conversation.

Step 4

Production

At this stage, I pack the product and create a presentation. Also writing an article on Medium :)

Conclusion

I had many ideas about additional functions and sections, but I always kept in my mind that this should be a dating network, not a social…

Here you can watch the presentation.

Working prototype (open only on iPhone 6/6S or Web).

Feel free to contact me:

idanial@my.com | My works | Telegram | VK

Thank you for attention!