What is the 80/20 Rule?

Also known as the Pareto Principle, the 80/20 rule states that, in many situations, approximately 80% of the outcomes result from 20% of the inputs. It is a general principle applied in various contexts, such as business, economics, and time management. Some key examples include:

In business, 80% of a company's revenue often comes from 20% of its customers.

In software development, 80% of software errors are usually caused by 20% of the bugs.

In personal productivity, 80% of results come from focusing on the most important 20% of tasks.

Why is the 80/20 rule important?

By applying the 80/20 rule in UX design, designers can prioritize their efforts, resources, and improvements on the most impactful aspects of the user experience, leading to more efficient and effective design decisions.

How to use the 80/20 rule?

The idea behind the 80/20 rule is that designers should do research to identify the top 20% content, functions, design even that will provide the bulk of the design value to customers and users.