Understanding User Flow (UX Design): A Beginners Guide

Ever heard of the Dunning-Kruger effect? It’s when someone who is the least competent in a certain subject area overestimates their skills the most. That was me. Back in 2019, I landed my first UI/UX designer role at a start-up in Singapore. 

After completing a boot camp in UX Design, I thought I knew everything! Until I got slapped with my first big mistake! I was working on a tight deadline. I had a brilliant feature in mind, and I couldn’t wait to bring my idea to life. 

However, in my haste, I made a critical mistake—I skipped over the user flow stage. I handed over my final designs to the developer, and after two weeks, they delivered the final coded product that left my design team and me mortified! 

The designs were not coded as expected, and two weeks’ worth of effort and money had gone down the drain. I realized quickly that the fault was mine, and it was simply due to miscommunication. 

Moving forward, I always communicate with developers via a user flow diagram of the experience. This is just one example of when you need to use a user flow in your design process. In this article, I will walk you through:

• What is a user flow?
• Why do we use user flows in the UX design process?
• What are the different types of user flow diagrams?
• When to use each type of user flow diagram?

What is a user flow?

A user flow is basically a step-by-step process that a user goes through when interacting with a website or app.

User flows outline the steps that a user follows to achieve a specific goal, such as making a purchase or completing a form.

Understanding user flows is crucial for designing effective user experiences and ensuring that users can easily accomplish their objectives.

This is because it encompasses the various actions, decisions, and interactions that users engage in as they navigate through the interface.

Why do we use user flows in UX design?

If my story above wasn’t scary enough to convince you to use user flows here are more reasons why you need a user flow diagram. 

Create user-friendly designs

First and foremost, user flows provide a clear and structured path for users to navigate through your product or website.

By mapping out the steps users need to take to achieve their goals, you can ensure a seamless and intuitive user experience. 

This not only enhances user satisfaction but also increases the likelihood of users completing desired actions, such as making a purchase or signing up for a service.

Discover points of friction in your design

Moreover, user flows enable you to identify potential pain points and areas of improvement within your design.

By visualizing the user journey, you can easily spot any bottlenecks or confusing elements that may hinder users from accomplishing their tasks.

This valuable insight allows you to make informed design decisions and optimize the user experience accordingly. 

Communicate better with your design team

I like to use user flows when communicating and collaborating among UX designers, product managers, developers, and other team members.

I realize that by presenting a visual representation of the user journey, I can effectively convey my design ideas and intentions to the product team. 

Test your designs cheaply and quickly

User flows are also a valuable tool for user testing and validation. As a design researcher, I can simulate the user experience before development and can gather feedback and insights from real users.

This iterative approach allows me to refine and iterate my design based on user feedback, ultimately creating a product that truly meets the needs and expectations of the target audience.

What are the different types of user flow charts in UX design?

There are three types of user flow charts that you can use during the design process: task flows, wire flows, and user flows.

Task flows

Firstly, task flows are an essential tool for understanding how users navigate through a specific task or process.

By mapping out each step and decision point, task flows provide a clear visual representation of the user’s journey.

This enables designers to identify potential pain points and optimize the user experience, ensuring a seamless and efficient interaction.

Wire flows

Next, we have wire flows, which take user flows to the next level. By incorporating wireframes into the flow chart, designers can visualize the actual interface and interactions that users will encounter.

This allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the user’s experience, enabling designers to fine-tune the interface and ensure a delightful and intuitive user journey.

User flows

Last but not least, user flows encompass the entire user experience, from start to finish.

They provide a holistic view of how users interact with a product or service, capturing all possible paths and decision points. 

User flows are invaluable in identifying opportunities for improvement and ensuring a cohesive and engaging user experience across different touchpoints.

When do I create each type of user flow during the design process?

User flows are commonly completed during the structuring of your website or mobile application.

It is when you have completed the UX strategy and answered who your users are and what they need.

It is after you understand user needs and business goals. After you are done translating them into specific requirements, then you move into the information architecture of user flows.

It is where you will ask yourself how the requirements fit together to form a cohesive product?

Task flow: To map out the user’s journey

I like to start with task flows after I have decided which features to incorporate in the design.

Let’s use a login page flow as an example. I would quickly map out all the steps a user would need to complete in order to log in.

This means signing in with their email, their social media, and any other common entry points.

Wire flow: Get a high-level idea of what to design

Wire flows provide a visual representation of the user interface, showcasing the screen flow and structure of the design.

I love creating a wire flow because it allows me to iterate and refine my design, ensuring a seamless and intuitive interface.

I use wire flows after I have done a task flow. At this point, I like to collaborate with my teammates for a round of crazy 8’s.

I share with them the user journey and what each stage is about. After I’ve debriefed them we move onto wireframing.

This is where we grab a piece of paper and a pencil. We timebox ourselves to a minute per wireframe and together draw out each stage in the user’s journey.

At this point after all screens are complete we go through each screen that we have wireframed and vote on the elements we want to keep in each screen.

It’s a great collaborative process that allows you to work as a team and come up with ideas easily.

User flows to show how users go from point A to point B

I generally create a user flow toward the end of mapping the user’s journey before I finally move to design the screens.

If you read my story above, it is also very useful when handing over your final designs to your developers. During my design handoffs, I will actually utilize wireframes and user flows to showcase:

• Main entry points
• Alternative entry points
• The entire conversion funnel
• The exit points

User Flows: FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is a user flow in UX?

Imagine your website as a virtual maze, and the user flow as the path that guides your users through it.

A well-designed user flow ensures that users can easily navigate from one page to another, effortlessly completing their desired actions.

It takes into account the logical progression of tasks, minimizing confusion and frustration.

Is user flow part of UX?

Consider this: imagine visiting a website or using an app that lacks a well-thought-out user flow.

You would likely find yourself confused, frustrated, and possibly even abandoning the experience altogether.

On the other hand, a well-crafted user flow anticipates user needs, provides clear directions, and effortlessly guides them towards their desired goals.

By carefully designing and optimizing the user flow, we can guide users through the desired path, leading to increased engagement, satisfaction, and ultimately, conversions.

By streamlining the user journey, we can increase the likelihood of users completing desired actions, such as making a purchase, signing up for a service, or sharing content. 

A smooth and intuitive user flow not only enhances user satisfaction but also contributes to the success of a product or service.

User Flows: UX Summary

In conclusion, incorporating user flows into your UX design process is crucial for creating an intuitive product that caters to the diverse needs and preferences of your target audience. 

User flows serve as the backbone of UX design, offering a comprehensive roadmap that guides users along their journey through your digital landscape.

• Clear Path for Users: User flows provide clarity by mapping out the user’s path, ensuring that users interact with your product in an organized and intuitive manner. This clarity minimizes the chances of users deviating from their intended journey.
• Identifying Areas for Improvement: By evaluating existing interfaces and UX flows through the lens of user flows, you gain valuable insights into user behavior and the areas that need enhancement. This data-driven approach empowers you to make informed design decisions and refine the user experience.
• Facilitating Collaboration: User flows act as a common language that fosters collaboration among your design team, developers, and other stakeholders. They enable effective communication and alignment of goals, ensuring that everyone is working towards creating a seamless user journey.
• Enabling Quick and Cost-Effective User Testing: User flows provide a solid foundation for user testing. By observing how actual users navigate through your product, you can gather valuable customer feedback early in the design process. This iterative approach helps you refine the user experience efficiently and cost-effectively.
• Tailoring UX to User Needs: User flows allow you to design specific paths tailored to user needs and objectives. This personalization enhances the user’s experience, making it more engaging and satisfying.
• Versatile Tool for Designers: User flows come in various forms, including task flow charts and wire flows, making them adaptable to different design processes and project requirements. They serve as a great tool for UX designers, product managers, and the wider product team.

Incorporating user flows and closely analyzing user behavior through tools like Google Analytics provides the foundation for understanding your users’ journey.

By mapping out different paths, accommodating common entry points, and addressing specific tasks, you ensure that your product resonates with your target audience. 

These efforts culminate in the creation of an intuitive and user-friendly product that not only meets but exceeds user expectations.

So, remember, when it comes to UX design, user flows are not just a component; they are the backbone of success.

If it’s one thing I know, I’m not skipping on creating a user flow diagram again!