UX Mistakes Startups Make (and How to Avoid Them)

UX Mistakes Startups Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Good user experience can turn visitors into loyal customers. Yet many startups stumble over common pitfalls that slow growth and frustrate users. In this post, we’ll cover the top UX mistakes startups make and simple steps to steer clear of them.

1. Skipping User Research

The mistake
Building screens based on assumptions instead of real needs. This often leads to features nobody uses or confusing workflows.

How to avoid it
Start with quick interviews or surveys. Ask potential users what problems they face and which tasks they do most often. Even five talks can reveal patterns that guide your design.

2. Overloading the Interface

The mistake
Cramming every feature, button, and link onto a single page. Too many choices cause decision fatigue and hidden features.

How to avoid it
Prioritize the essential tasks for your first version. Remove anything that does not directly support those tasks. Use empty space to let important elements stand out.

3. Inconsistent Design Elements

The mistake
Mixing fonts, colors, and button styles across pages. This creates a jarring experience and makes your product feel amateur.

How to avoid it
Create a simple style guide with your brand’s fonts, color palette, and button rules. Apply these everywhere. Tools like Figma let you define shared styles so updates stay in sync.

4. Confusing Navigation

The mistake
Hiding menus behind unclear icons or burying important pages deep in sub-menus. Users waste time trying to find what they need.

How to avoid it
Use clear labels like “Dashboard,” “Settings,” or “Help.” Keep your main menu to no more than five items. Test your menu with someone who has never seen your product and watch where they click.

5. Ignoring Mobile Users

The mistake
Designing only for desktop screens and assuming it will work on phones. Mobile users struggle with tiny buttons, fixed-width layouts, and long load times.

How to avoid it
Design mobile first or at least check each screen on a phone early in your process. Make buttons large enough to tap, reduce image sizes for faster load, and collapse content into simple vertical flows.

6. Lengthy Onboarding

The mistake
Forcing new users through long tutorials, multiple sign-up steps, or pop-up tours. Most users skip or abandon these before finishing.

How to avoid it
Focus onboarding on what adds immediate value. Let users skip tutorials if they want. Show tooltips only when someone first uses a feature. Keep sign-up to an email and password or social login.

7. Forgetting Accessibility

The mistake
Using tiny text, low-contrast colors, or relying solely on hover and gesture controls. This locks out users with visual or motor challenges.

How to avoid it
Follow basic accessibility checks. Ensure text meets contrast standards. Provide clear focus states for keyboard users. Add alt text to images. Simple audits with free tools can catch most issues.

Conclusion

Avoiding these common UX errors will help your startup deliver an experience that feels intuitive and polished. Start small: research your users, trim your interface, and test early on mobile. Create a simple style guide and clear navigation. Keep onboarding short and make your product accessible to everyone. By focusing on these basics, you’ll build a user experience that delights customers and fuels growth.

Ready to fix your UX? Reach out to Hex for a quick design audit or prototype review.