Not the ideal case.
WHAT DESIGNS ARE USUALLY TESTED ON
A large screen, a fast connection, perfect data, an unhurried user.
WHAT ACTUAL USE LOOKS LIKE
A phone Mobile data, possibly poor One hand, while distracted Incomplete or awkward data Someone in a hurry
WHY THAT MATTERS HERE PARTICULARLY
Most visitors are on phones, frequently on metered data, frequently on variable connections.
WHAT TO DESIGN FOR
Slow loading Long names and addresses Missing images Interrupted connections Errors
WHAT TO TEST WITH
Real data, including the awkward examples A real phone, on mobile data The empty state, before any data exists
THE EMPTY STATE POINT
Every screen has one, and it is usually designed last or not at all.
It is the first thing a new user sees.
WHAT TO ALSO DESIGN
The loading state The error state The state with far more data than expected
WHAT TO AVOID
Designing only the ideal case.
