Ux for beginners step by step process

UX for Beginners: Step By Step Process

Anthony Overkamp | Creative Director @ Engage

Anthony Overkamp | Creative Director

aoverkamp@engagesoftware.com

www.engagesoftware.com

Agenda

1. What is UX

2. Getting Started

3. Methods

4. Resources

Walk away knowing...

● UX isn't magic

● Getting started is hard, but doable

● Educating and backing up your work is to be expected

● Everyone is always learning

● There isn't a concrete right or wrong way

Team of One

● UX is only part of your role● Lone visual designer● Designer/developer/admin ● Faced with “selling” UX to your team

UX is hard to talk about.

User Experience describes both practice and results

“User Experience is the overall effect created by the interaction and perceptions that someone has with your product or service”.

Leah Buley, The User Experience Team of One

Remember Users are people.

Think of words like:

● Love● Hate● Friendly● Easy to use● Pain in the butt

Example:

UX in your daily workflow or routines

Getting Started

Starter Steps

● Find opportunity – what needs fixed?

● Establish a point of view

● Get to know your users

● Design!

Opportunity

It’s often pretty easy to find what needs improvement – but when not obvious, look for places that could be better than good, but great!

Point of View

● Look for easy-wins – things that everyone agrees needs improvements

● Create an action plan – how can we improve this?

● Do some discovery

Know Your Users

● Put yourself in the user's shoes● Ask questions● Work on what you know, and don’t know● Debunk myths and assumptions

Start Designing!

● Sketch your ideas● Enlist help● Research and learn from success stories● Question things

Building Support

● Invite people in● Make things together● Truly listen● Know when it’s good enough

Methods

A few types we’ll discuss

● UX Questionnaire

● UX Project Plan

● Workshop

UX Questionnaire

The goal is to ask questions about a product or services goals, expectations, and needs.

Deceptively simple, and easy to implement.

Tips & Tricks

● Keep it simple● Spend about 1-2 hrs making questionnaire ● Often answers become your project scope● Answers help measure design decisions

UX Project or Feature Plan

● Understand goals● Brainstorm ideas/solutions● Estimate Time● Assign Milestones● Document & Share

Tips & Tricks

● Don’t be afraid to scope and re-scope● The first pass usually takes longer● Don’t shortchange complexity● Use checklists● Make plan visible or easy to access

UX Workshop

● Plan some time to work as a group (at least 2hrs)● Have clear goals

○ Identify issues○ Prioritize the UX part of pain points○ Create Next Steps

● Discuss strengths/wins● Prioritize ● Discuss

Tips & Tricks

● Document – record what you learn● Follow up – keep the conversation going● Don’t forget to include user research● Aim to work together in person● Have fun!

Resources

The User Experience Team of OneA Research and Design Survival Guide

By Leah Buley

http://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/the-user-experience-team-of-one/

Explore what’s out there

● Plenty of books, podcasts, publications

● A List Apart: www.alistapart.com/

● Smashing Magazine: www.smashingmagazine.com/

● UX Booth: www.uxbooth.com/

● UX Matters: www.uxmatters.com/

● Boxes and Arrows: www.boxesandarrows.com/

Thank You!