Design for usability

[custommurvin4]

As someone who has seen conversions improve after simplifying a visually impressive but confusing checkout flow, how do you personally decide when to sacrifice aesthetic elements for usability? I’m curious about how you identify the point where design details stop adding value and start creating friction for real users, especially during critical steps like checkout. Do you rely more on usability testing, analytics, or direct user feedback when making those calls, and how has this mindset changed the way you approach new projects from the very beginning?

[JasinSwift]

One of the biggest lessons I learned was that usability beats aesthetics when the two conflict. A site I worked on looked great but confused users during checkout. After usability testing, we simplified steps and added clearer labels. The design became less flashy, but conversions improved. It reinforced that good design for usability should reduce effort, not show off creativity. Now I always think about how a real person will move through a page, not just how it looks in a mockup.