User Experience is crucial, and actually is the most important part of the website development. In aspects of graphical design and software development, a perfectly developed website may have exactly no meaning at all. It may not be effective. Just think of that; if our website is not usable, if it is not maximizing positive user experience, why do we have it?
Do we need websites for artistic ideals? Or do we need them for engineering purposes?
Website Development process has three main parts each of which should be given at least equal importance:
Graphical Design
Software Development
User Experience Design
If any of above three is missing, it is impossible to have a website that is beneficial to the purpose. Creativity in graphical design or in software development is surely encouraged. However, without proper user experience design, this only leads to art or engineering miracles but not a correctly designed website that has a purpose, with a related strategy.
P.S.: The term usability, i.e. "being usable", may be used in lieu of user experience most of the time, although we evaluate the term user experience a little more comprehensive than usability. Usability term is for a practical use, and by so we are asking the vital question; is yours usable?
