Organizations frequently utilize Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), a well-liked content management system, to manage their websites and digital assets. Due to the platform’s complexity, designing user interfaces and user experiences (UI/UX) on AEM may be difficult. The UI/UX design approach on the AEM platform, best practices, and methods for creating a fantastic UI/UX will all be covered in this post.
Understanding AEM for Designers
To develop a successful UI/UX, designers must have a solid grasp of AEM. AEM is a complicated platform that necessitates understanding of both back-end programming and UI/UX design techniques. Because the platform is based on Java and OSGi, designers who are unfamiliar with these technologies may find it difficult to use it. To create interfaces that are compatible with AEM, designers must comprehend the platform’s underlying architecture.
Caption: A general workflow of UI/UX Design for AEM
Tips and Techniques for Building UI/UX the Right Way
Understanding the best practices for constructing interfaces is one of the most crucial parts of designing UI/UX on AEM. Some of the most important pointers and methods for creating UI/UX on AEM include:
Maintain a straightforward and uniform design: AEM offers designers a variety of tools and components that may be used to create interfaces. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to maintain a straightforward and unified style throughout the site’s many sections. This makes it simpler for consumers to browse the website and enhances their overall experience.
Use the Core Components: To help designers create interfaces, Adobe Experience Manager offers a collection of Core Components. These parts are made to be reusable and simple to alter. While they aid in streamlining the development process and enhancing the overall functionality of the site, designers should think about including the Core Components in their designs.
Caption: Core components can be reusable and simple to alter.
Make sure the design is user-friendly: When creating interfaces for AEM, accessibility is a crucial factor. The website’s accessibility must be considered by the designers. This involves developing the website to be accessible with assistive technology, keyboard navigation, and screen readers.
Supporting Content Authors in UI/UX Design
It takes more than simply designing aesthetically pleasing interfaces to design UI/UX for AEM. It also involves developing user interfaces that are simple for content creators to utilize. The individuals in charge of producing and posting information on the website are known as content authors. To produce material of the highest caliber, they must be able to use the interfaces efficiently.
Caption: Tools like storybooks can help the authors understand the components.
While creating interfaces, designers should take content creators’ demands into account. This involves making certain that the user interfaces are clear and support the authoring workflow. To enable content producers, make the most of the platform, designers should also offer clear instructions and suggestions on how to utilize the interfaces.
Using Front-End Component Libraries in AEM
Front-end component libraries may be utilized to speed up development and boost the design’s coherence. A front-end component library is a collection of pre-made user interface (UI) elements that may be used to rapidly and simply create interfaces. The uniformity of the design across many pages may be improved with the use of a front-end component library in AEM, which also makes it simpler for developers to create interfaces.
It is crucial to confirm that a front-end component library is compatible with AEM before utilizing it. To make sure that the components are simple to use and compatible with the platform, designers should collaborate closely with the development team.
Creating a Design System for AEM
A critical step in building a unified and consistent UI/UX design for a website is developing a design system for AEM. In order to ensure uniformity throughout the site’s many pages and parts, a design system offers a collection of rules, principles, and standards that govern the design of a website. Design systems facilitate the development process and aid in giving users a consistent and coherent experience.
Caption: Properly planned uniform design systems can ensure uniformity and scalability.
The requirements of the users and the organization’s brand identity must be taken into consideration while creating a design system for AEM. A good design system should allow for flexibility while keeping consistency and be adaptable, scalable, and simple to use. Designers should also ensure that the design system is easy to maintain and update, as it is likely to evolve and grow over time.
In order to assure consistency and accelerate the development process, designers and developers should collaborate closely to construct a design system that is compatible with AEM. Also, they should make sure that the design system is inclusive and accessible, considering all users’ demands, including those of users with impairments.
Further considerations
In addition to developing a design system, designers should concentrate on utilizing the most recent trends and best practices in UX/UI design. Also, they should make sure that the design is responsive to mobile devices and device specific. For AEM website projects, some recommended practices include employing a modular design strategy, making sure the website is SEO-optimized, and putting in place appropriate tracking and analytics.
Caption: Example of design to authoring transfer process
While developing interfaces, designers should consider these best practices in addition to the user’s experience and journey. They should design user interfaces that are simple to use, straightforward, and provide a clear route for people to follow. Also, they ought to think about the requirements of various user groups and create user interfaces that meet those demands.
AEM UI/UX design may be difficult, but by using the best principles and methods, designers can produce interfaces that are powerful, effective, and simple to use. Designers may guarantee uniformity across various website pages and parts while also providing for customization and flexibility by establishing a design system. Designers should collaborate closely with developers to make sure the design is responsive to the platform and performance optimized as AEM offers a variety of tools and components that may be utilized to build efficient interfaces.
Bringing it all together: The Importance of a User-Centered Design Approach for AEM
In conclusion, creating a fantastic UI/UX for AEM is not a simple effort and necessitates a thorough comprehension of the platform, the requirements of the users, and the most recent design trends and best practices. While creating interfaces, designers must take into account a variety of elements, including the design system, the modular design approach, mobile responsiveness, SEO optimization, appropriate tracking and analytics, and the user journey and experience. Designers may produce interfaces that are logical, simple to use, and successful in fulfilling the objectives of the company by following these guidelines.
Contributor
- Mobarak Hossain