How UX is important for 2FA

While the primary goal of 2FA is to enhance security, it’s equally important to ensure that the user experience remains smooth and intuitive. If the 2FA process is overly complex or difficult to navigate, users might seek alternative solutions or even disable the security feature altogether, leaving their accounts vulnerable to attacks. Striking the right balance between security and usability is the key challenge that UX designers face when crafting 2FA experiences.

1. Multiple Verification Methods

One way to improve 2FA’s UX is by offering multiple verification methods. While traditional methods like SMS codes are widely used, they might not always be the most convenient option. Offering alternatives such as authenticator apps, hardware tokens, or biometric verification (fingerprint, facial recognition) provides users with a choice that suits their preferences and devices.

2. Progressive Onboarding

Introducing users to 2FA gradually can mitigate the shock of suddenly encountering an additional authentication step. Progressive onboarding involves educating users about the benefits of 2FA and guiding them through the setup process step by step. Providing clear instructions, visuals, and even short video tutorials can significantly reduce user resistance.

3. Contextual Reminders

Implementing contextual reminders can be a subtle yet effective way to encourage users to enable and use 2FA. When users perform sensitive actions, such as changing passwords or accessing account settings, a gentle reminder about the benefits of 2FA can prompt them to consider its activation.

4. Recovery and Backup Plans

Users often worry about being locked out of their accounts if they lose access to their 2FA device. By integrating recovery and backup options, designers can address this concern. Methods like backup codes, secondary email addresses, or security questions can offer users peace of mind while maintaining the security of their accounts.

5. Opt-Out Prevention

Some users might wish to disable 2FA due to perceived inconvenience. Designers can discourage this by highlighting the security benefits during the opt-out process and providing a simple path to reactivate 2FA if users change their minds.

6. Visual Feedback

Clear and intuitive visual feedback during the 2FA process can alleviate user frustration. Displaying loading indicators, success checkmarks, and error messages in a straightforward manner can help users understand the authentication process and reduce confusion.

7. Usability Testing and Feedback Iteration

The key to perfecting the 2FA UX lies in continuously gathering user feedback and iteratively refining the process. Regular usability testing with real users can uncover pain points, confusion, and bottlenecks, leading to targeted improvements.

Conclusion

Balancing security and usability is a continuous journey in the realm of online interactions. 2FA, a powerful security tool, can be made more palatable through thoughtful UX design. By offering various verification methods, progressive onboarding, contextual reminders, recovery options, and user-friendly visual feedback, designers can ensure that 2FA remains an effective and user-friendly solution in the ongoing battle against online threats. In the end, creating a seamless and secure 2FA experience contributes to a safer digital landscape for everyone.

Hello, I’m Lera K., the founder of the Lollyroll team. I’d like to share some insights into our process. As the leader of Lollyroll, a significant portion of my time is devoted to writing proposals. Let me walk you through my approach.

I approach proposal writing as a conversation

It all begins with phone calls and emails to one or two key decision-makers. This phase is followed by a research period, spanning about two to three weeks. During this research period, I engage in conversations with a broader range of stakeholders and customers, in addition to conducting competitive analysis, analytics, and testing.

Unlike some studios that offer this research phase for free or only upon securing a significant project deposit, we charge a reasonable consulting fee for our research. If the client proceeds to hire us for the project, we deduct this research fee from the total project cost. In cases where they decide not to proceed, they still benefit from valuable insights at a fair cost. (In our experience, clients usually choose to move forward with the project.)

From Gathering Information to Generating Ideas

Around two and a half weeks into the research process, we gain a solid understanding of what truly matters to the business and its customers. This understanding leads us to envision both minor and major solutions and innovations. This creative process is inherent to our roles as interaction designers.

After immersing ourselves in a potential client’s world for over two weeks, our minds naturally start crafting designs to address their challenges and amplify their strengths. Initially, we listen objectively, refraining from solving or imagining solutions. However, within about fifteen days, we find ourselves generating ideas for modules, sections, themes, and enhancements that could benefit the client, their customers, or their staff. As long as these ideas stem from the insights shared by the client and their customers, we feel confident in sharing them.

Translating Ideas into the First Design

We translate these ideas into a report that outlines our understanding of the client’s business. Although structured as a business document, we consider it the preliminary stage of design. It’s the initial-written draft that outlines the client’s business objectives and how design can contribute.

While this report includes facts, data, and feedback from stakeholders and customers, its primary purpose is to foster a shared creative exploration of design possibilities.

Starting Raw to Maintain Honesty

Let me describe how we present our findings: We use a Google Doc that the client can access, share, and comment on. While many design studios put a lot of effort into visually enhancing their basic client communications, we opt for simplicity. We reserve aesthetics for site design and maintain open and straightforward communication, akin to an Amish shirt. Communication remains editable because this is a collaborative process, a conversation, not a static, take-it-or-leave-it document. Google Docs serves as the perfect platform for this purpose.

This initial research report, essentially a business-oriented composition, the first rough outline of design, is shared with the client through the accessible format of Google Docs. This triggers more conversations, emails, Basecamp posts, and internal discussions within our studio.

After approximately a week, we present the client with our proposal.

This proposal is the culmination of all our discussions, particularly the key agreements we established during the research phase. By the time the proposal reaches the client, they’re often nodding in agreement, as if the proposal simply formalizes what they already sensed. This outcome results from thorough research, allowing us to externalize and articulate their implicit thoughts.

Even as we request substantial funding for a significant project, we maintain the practice of submitting our proposal via Google Docs. Elaborately designed, heavily branded proposals are more about showcasing the producing studio, whereas our work is centred on the client and their product. An unadorned Google Doc signifies a work in progress, open to modification, agreement, or debate.

This approach embodies our studio’s ethos. You’re welcome to try it, and personally, I find it effective. I’ve never encountered client complaints about this approach. Presenting an overly polished pitch has always made me slightly uncomfortable, and boilerplate proposals have never secured a project for us. Each assignment is earned through attentive study, understanding, and skilful communication. This, at least, is how we operate.

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In the world of proposal writing and design, our approach at Lollyroll is centred on fostering genuine conversations and collaboration. By starting with in-depth research and understanding, we create proposals that truly resonate with our clients’ needs and visions. Our focus on functional communication over visual embellishments ensures that our work remains client-centered and adaptable. Through our unique process, we’ve consistently delivered effective proposals that align with client expectations.

If you’re seeking a partner who prioritizes meaningful engagement, understands your business deeply, and crafts proposals that genuinely reflect your goals, feel free to get in touch with us at Lollyroll. We’re here to help you turn your ideas into impactful designs that drive success. Contact us today to start a conversation that could shape the future of your projects.