What is UX?

What is UX?

Overview

Purpose is to explain UX.

(chances are you already think about UX a lot more than you realise).

Where UX thinking comes from.

The benefits of using it.

How to apply it in your job.

Understanding UX in 1 hour

UX, IA, UI, GUI, IXD, CX, HCI… WTF?

Understanding UX in 1 hour

UX = User Experience

It refers to the what, when, where, who, why, and how a person uses a system.

So, it’s everything that affects a person’s interaction with a system.

System?

System is a: website, an app, a service, human computer interaction.

Understanding UX in 1 hour

When working within UX we study the feelings that people have about their experience.

We study the system and look at things like it’s value, how people perceive it, ease of use, efficiency, and so on.

Where did UX come from?

Origins of UX

Ergonomics of tools in Ancient Greece (500BC)

Origins of UX

Show me some UX

UX is everywhere

Look at everything from an experience point of view as a user.

UX is everywhere

Look at everything from an experience point of view as a user.

UX is everywhere

It triggers an emotion.Does it bring joy or frustration?

UX is everywhere

Consideration for how people are going to use things.

UX is everywhere

These pencils were withdrawn from schools after a 10 year old pointed out a problem..

Show me some digital UX

UX in action

UX in action

A pretty face isn’t enough, it matters where she’s looking.

UX in action

Unboxing for someone who is new to smartphones.

Concept by Vitamins

UX in action

UX is a way of thinking

UX is a way of thinking

The way you feel about an experience = $$$ for brands

Everyone wants a happy user

UX is a way of thinking

User Experience is the philosophy of how to treat people

Visual design is the philosophy of how to make an impact

User Experience is the design behind the design

UX is a way of thinking

Good design does always not = good experience

UX is a way of thinking

We’re all constantly learning.

No one is the perfect UX practitioner, some are more balanced whilst others are specialist, everyone starts

somewhere.

The mission statement for every UX practitioner:

Meet the needs of the customer in a way that is simple, elegant, and pleasurable to use.

Why should we use UX?

Benefits of UX

User Experience is the design behind the design.

It’s a process based on a science (insights, data, research).

It’s easy to pick up and apply.

It will always benefit a project.

Benefits of UX

It allows us to visualise ideas without spending money on build.

It’s better to make an informed decision because...

It costs more to fix an incorrect design or thinking later.

UX benefits the agency as a cost saving factor.

Benefits of UX

It provides professional opinion grounded in research.

“I think” is not as valid as “we know”.

Make decisions that resonate because they’re backed up by insights.

Traditional web development

Define Design Develop Deploy Drink

User Centred web development

Design

DiscoverDefine

Deploy

Develop

User

Digital project triage

Let’s bring this thinking back into the business.

How can we apply UX to this?

Digital project pillars

Design

Account / Project Management

Development &

Production

Digital project pillars

Design

Account / Project Management

UX

Development &

Production

How can you apply UX?

Requirements capture - user and business needs

Write down a problem to help see the solution

How can you apply UX?

How can you apply UX?

Competitor reviews

(don’t waste time and money redesigning what’s already been fixed by someone else many times before, and don’t break consistency)

How can you apply UX?

Personas

How can you apply UX?

User journeys

How can you apply UX?

Process flow

How can you apply UX?

Site map (simple)

How can you apply UX?

Site map (phased)

How can you apply UX?

Content strategy

How can you apply UX?

Prototyping

How can you apply UX?

Usability testing (not build testing!)

How can you apply UX?

Usability testing (not build testing!)

How can you apply UX?

But here’s Jacob saying why 5 people is enough

I always test with 7 people

How can you apply UX?

Corridor testing is not a good idea.

Do not test your own stuff.Do not validate your own assumptions.

How can you apply UX?

Silverback app

Simple software to run tests with:

How can you apply UX?

Wireframes

How can you apply UX?

Module library

How can you apply UX?

Site map with modules described

How can you apply UX?

User interface design

How can you apply UX?

The Spectrum of UX via IA.net

Wrap it up

The Digital Industry

Web design is not just making something for a desktop computer.

The market is flooded with devices that all represent a window onto the web and are not considered by the user as separate experiences.

The Digital Industry

Mobile is currently at the focus of most organisations, but TV is next.

In summary

UX is not something to hand over to the next stage in a project, it’s a part of the whole project cycle and beyond.

Design by data.

It’s a science built upon methodical processes rather than opinions.

When UX is applied to a project it will always yield benefits.

It’s easy.

Everyone can apply UX thinking to a project.

Where UX is headed

UX practitioners are going down two different routes:

Multi-disciplined, can rapid prototype / code, acts quickly, can scale to fit different project needs.

Specialists who become masters of a particular UX skill.

Both are needed. The UX discipline is still rapidly evolving, some people like to craft perfect UI, some are experts at listening and understanding client needs, some test constantly, all are interested in User Experience.

Further readingUX Movement (the go to place for the latest industry insights)http://uxmovement.com/

52 Weeks of UX (conversations about designing for real people)http://52weeksofux.com/

UX Rave (User Experience rants and raves)http://uxrave.com/

Disambiguity blog (top UX blog)http://www.disambiguity.com/

Lovely UI (great collection of fantastic looking user interfaces)http://www.lovelyui.com/

Cool collection of user interfaces from the past few decadeshttp://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/people/bibuxton/buxtoncollection/browse.aspx

Little Big Details (sometimes it’s the little things that make a big impact)http://littlebigdetails.com/

Connecting video - the future of Interaction Design and User Experience from some of the industry’s thought leadershttp://vimeo.com/52861634

Questions