The Difference: User Journeys vs User Flows.
As a Product/ UX designer, your must be aware of the tools and practices used for a specific part of the design process.
User journey map and User flow are two key parts of the design that should attach great importance since they both have a significant impact on how the user interacts with and experiences the product…which is basically what it’s all about.
However, these two terms are sometimes used mutually, and at first look, they can look incredibly similar. So let’s clear up the confusion and take a look at the difference between them.
What is a Customer/User Journey Map?
A user journey map is a visual representation of the steps a person takes to achieve a goal. It is typically structured by scenarios that describe the situations or journey phases that the user journey addresses, as well as the action, thoughts, and emotions associated with the user’s need and goal, as well as his expectations about the journey(Narrative form). It shows you the entirety of a customer’s relationship with a brand
User Journey Maps, or Customer Journey Maps, are particularly useful for several of reasons.
- Discovering pain points. By putting yourself in your customer’s shoes, you may discover challenges/frictions that you were unaware of.
- Discovering opportunities. On the other hand, you can look for methods to go above and beyond for your customers and delight them.
- Encouraging a user-centric mindset. By focusing on your user’s emotions and motivations, your teams will be more driven to build customer-focused experiences.
- Creating a single vision. Having User Journey maps is a great way to make sure everyone has the same understanding of who they’re building for, and what’s important to them.
What is A user flow?
A user flow is a series of interactions/actions that illustrates the path the user will take through your app or website to accomplish a specific goal. This path is divided into a series of steps that the user takes from the entry point through conversion funnels towards the final action.
You can create user flows at any stage of the design process, which will aid in the determination of the information architecture, red routes, happy path, and more. It also includes titles, wireframes, and notes in the form of flow charts.
User Flows are a great tool for communicating what the interactions will do to non-technical people, especially stakeholders.
Conclusion.
Communication, collaboration, and user-centeredness are all principles that must be included if you want to create a great experience. Designing a great experience from the start is difficult, you’ll have to experiment and try a few different ways before settling on one that works best for your users. But one thing is certain: user journeys and user flows will assist you in laying a solid basis for your tests, ultimately leading to an incredible UX.
