UX 101:Working with UX and

the UX designer

@natashairizarry

Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.

Steve Jobs

UX is not UI

What we see is visual design

UX is MORE!

“UX is the intangible design of a strategy that brings us to a

solution.”

What is UX?

UX stands for User Experience

Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of a product

How do UX designers work?

Ask questions/research

Follow a user-centered design process when designing products

WTF is User Centered Design?

A process in which the needs, wants, and limitations of end users of a product are given extensive attention at each stage of the design process.

WTF is User Centered Design?

StrategyResearchAnalysisDesignProduction

Strategy

Learn where you want to take your productAsk: Where are you now?Ask: Where do you want to be?Ask: How will you get there?Ask: How will you measure success?

Benefits of Creating a Strategy

Gets your entire team involvedClarifies abstract design thinkingReduces the time spent building components that don’t contribute to user or business value

Research

Is an investigative technique used to add context and insight to the design processIt is also used to combat the tendency to design for ourselves

How is Research Done?

Non-directed interviewsContextual inquiryQuestionnairesCard sorting

Analysis

Takes information collected in the research phase and turns it into actionable information

Analysis Techniques

The creation of: PersonasMental modelsStoryboards

Design

There are two parts to the design phase of this process: information architecture and visual designInformation architecture delivers wireframes and clickable prototypesVisual design produces high-fidelity comps and mockups

Design Methods & Techniques

Sticky notesProject spaceGood practice guidelinesAestheticsPrototypingUser requirements

PersonasScenariosProgressive disclosureUsability testingRapid visualization

Form over function.

Production

You are familiar with this. Trust me.

Why you should care:

Fast Company recently noted that industry studies show every dollar spent on UX brings in between $2 and $100 in return. (DANG!)

Why you should care:

Do you code to deliver value to users? Do you want to become a better coder?

Think of the experience the user is going to have.

How to work with a UX designer

Get ready to deal with the neediest person you have ever met in your life.

Designers vs Developers

Designers vs Developers

We are both hard to deal with.We are both terribly opinionated.

Designers vs Developers

We have shared priorities.Design isn’t completely aesthetic and

development isn’t completely technical.We must communicate!

Collaboration

Successful product development requires effective collaboration between designers and

developers.

Collaboration Tips

Check in about design status every daySit with the teamCommunicate layout mechanicsDesigners write HTML & CSSPair designers & developersExternalize everything

Q&A

THX!