The internet is composed of input fields.
Whether it’s signing up for a social media platform, conducting ecommerce credit card transactions, or applying for a financial product within an online banking system, filing a form is the first and/or final step of nearly every action you perform on the internet.
Working in a Product Design team brings many possibilities to design (and redesign) application forms. Our recent application form redesign process for Newable is just one example.
Depending on the industry, the range of data your form calls for is different. Regardless, I would risk the assumption that most of them, especially for fintech, are strongly rooted in an offline environment. These forms usually originated in financial institutions and require dozens of specific data types.
But translating the form directly to a digital format is not enough. The process can still remain just as long and complex as it was offline. Given that the form is the last hurdle for the user before they accomplish their goal, you should work on improving the user experience of the form until it’s quick, seamless, and efficient.
However, a great experience doesn’t emerge from a vacuum. Thinking about the form design process, you immediately notice some aspects in dire need of improving. You should help the user stay focused and mindful by reducing cognitive load while also accelerating the user’s progress through the form.
In this article, I’ll present some general guidelines and best practices for application form design. Use them well, and you will cover all the aforementioned issues.