Should action page designs be standard or novel?

The prompt

Hey chatGTP: "Does research show that it is important to stick to good ui patterns even if communications professionals feels it is boring?" (Nov 2024)

The chatGPT response

Research shows that it is important to adhere to established UI patterns and best practices, even if a professionals feels they are “boring”. There are several key reasons for this:

1. Usability and Efficiency: UI patterns that have been extensively tested and proven effective allow users to intuitively navigate interfaces and complete tasks efficiently. Deviating from these patterns can introduce confusion and friction, reducing overall usability.
2. Consistency and Familiarity: Users develop mental models and expectations based on common UI patterns. Maintaining consistency across an application or suite of applications helps users feel comfortable and confident, allowing them to focus on their tasks rather than relearning interactions.
3. Accessibility: Many established UI patterns have been designed with accessibility in mind, ensuring they work well for users with disabilities. Straying from these patterns can introduce barriers and make the interface less inclusive.
4. Cognitive Load: Users have limited cognitive resources to dedicate to learning new interactions. Familiar patterns reduce the mental effort required to use an interface, allowing users to be more productive.
5. Credibility and Trust: Interfaces that follow recognized best practices tend to feel more professional, polished, and trustworthy to users. Deviating too far can make an application seem amateurish or unfinished.
6. Designer and Developer Efficiency: Adhering to UI patterns reduces the time and effort required for designers and developers to create and implement interfaces, as they can leverage established components and guidelines.

While it’s understandable that professionals may want a unique or “exciting” look and feel, it’s important to strike a balance between meeting their aesthetic preferences and maintaining a usable, efficient, and accessible interface. Educating communication professionals on the research-backed value of UI patterns can help them understand the importance of sticking to these best practices, even if they initially perceive them as “boring.”