Putting "U" back in UX

putting “u” back in UX | @albertatrebla SoCal UX Camp - Cal State Fullerton

Illustration: Dan Willis

alberta soranzo | @albertatreblaSoCal UX Camp – Cal State Fullerton

putting “u” back in UX



NZ001 — LHR-LAX


NZ001 — LHR-LAX


NZ001 — LHR-LAX


NZ001 — LHR-LAX


NZ001 — LHR-LAX


NZ001 — LHR-LAX


NZ001 — LHR-LAX


NZ001 — LHR-LAX


(New) Armano’s WTF-OMG!

based on http://darmano.typepad.com/logic_emotion/2008/12/the-omgwtf-spectrum.html


anatomy of the process

source: thebarracuda57.wordpress.com/


scary, isn’t it?

source: blog.qburst.com

VISUAL DESIGNVISUAL DESIGN

INFORMATION DESIGNINFORMATION DESIGN

STRUCTURESTRUCTURE

REQUIREMENTSREQUIREMENTS

STRATEGYSTRATEGY

Designing the presentation of information to facilitate understanding

navigation, table of contents, indices, visual hierarchy

Structural design of the information space to facilitate intuitive access to content

information architecture, interaction design, wireframe, progressive disclosure

Definition of scope, user needs, content and information requirements, functional specifications

personas, accessibility, feature set, ethnographic research, differentiation, purpose

Planning out the objectives and goals of the project, specifying organisational requirements

project space, project schedule, selecting methods and techniques, briefing

CONCEPTIONabstract

COMPLETIONconcrete

The visual treatment of graphic elements, the look and feel of the product

typography, colour palette, alignment, texture, tactile quality of materials

GOOD PRACTICE GUIDELINESIt is important to consider good practice guidelines relevant to the project in order to address broad user requirements and meet accessibility standards. For example RNIB legibility guidelines, W3C validation, ISO standards, British Standards or ergonomic principles.

USER REQUIREMENTSIt is vital to use all available resources to gather information about the users’ requirements. Successful projects use an average of five different sources of information. These may be focus groups, contextual or individual interviews, observation, surveys, etc.

STICKY NOTESComparing notes is a useful tool to aid decision making. Ideas are written down on individual sticky notes, weighed against one another and organised according to priority or other criteria (speed, cost, quality, desirability etc). This technique can also be used with users to get them to put their considerations in order of importance.

PROJECT SPACEA dedicated project area where research and visualisations can be organised spatially on walls provides a creative work environment where meetings can be held surrounded by stimuli. Constructing a story about the project in the space providing roughs and unpolished design invites others to comment and contribute.

PERSONAS AND SCENARIOSA persona is an archetype comprised of habits and characteristics of the target audience. Scenarios are little stories describing how typical user tasks are carried out. They help to anticipate and identify the decisions a user will have to make at each step in their experience and through each environment or system state they will encounter.

AESTHETICSVisual design impacts greatly on the usability of a product. Users prefer a beautiful look & feel over an ugly or dull one. Aesthetic designs are perceived as easier to use, whether they are or not. Good designers find a perfect combination of accessibility and aesthetics.

PROGRESSIVE DISCLOSUREManaging the information complexity or cognitive load by displaying only relevant information at any given time prevents information overload. For example through effective signposting of destinations in a wayfinding system or using “read more” links on a website.

USABILITY TESTINGEvaluating a product by testing it with representative users helps to identify usability problems by collecting quantitative data on the users’ performance (e.g. error rate) and establishing their satisfaction with the product.

METHODS AND TECHNIQUES METHODS AND TECHNIQUES

CONCEPTIM

PLEMENTATION

EVALUATION

PERSONAS & SCENARIOSROLE PLAY

USER TESTINGACCESSIBILITY TESTING

FOCUS GROUPOBSERVATION

The user centred design process is an iterative cycle where every step is evaluated against the initially identified requirements of the users and iterated until these requirements are met. Evaluation methods include:

ANALYSIS AND PLANNING LAUNCH


user centered design

source: paznow.com


UXPA

source: blog.qburst.com


the process

Strategy → Research → Analysis → Design → Production


artifacts (that’s deliverables)

source: @tuna (Gary Barber)

Stories

Proverbs

Personas

Scenarios

Content Inventories Analytics

User SurveysConcept MapsSystem MapsProcess Flows

Wireframes

Storyboards

Concept Designs

Prototypes

Narrative Reports

Presentations

PlansStyle Guides

SpecificationsDesign Patterns

User EXperience Treasure Mapby Jeffery Callender and Peter Morville


semanticstudios

source: semanticstudio.com


deliverables

source: semanticstudio.com


deliverables - Jamie R. Levy

Anybody can draw a box and put it on a page. — Jamie R. Levy, 2013


deliverables - Peter Morville

Clearly, these artifacts of the process are not the whole story. We must also think about the relationship between goals, methods, and documents. — Peter Morville, 2009


trained monkeys

source: nerudaproject.wordpress.com


evolution of how we practice

source: geekybytes.org

WHAT


source: c21nicholson.com

“u”


evolution of how we practice

source: geekybytes.org

HOWWHAT


deliverables - Peter Morville

Clearly, these artifacts of the process are not the whole story. We must also think about the relationship between goals, methods, and documents. — Peter Morville, 2009


methods vs principles

“As to methods there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson


I say

Just because everybody else is doing it, it doesn’t mean that it’s going to work for you.


the real issue

We worship at the altar of "doing" and technology.


a little social experiment





Seamus O’Leary, PhDQueen’s UniversityInstitute of Cognition and CultureBelfast

“Predictive Cognitive Semantic Analysis: An Algorithm for Place-Making in Cross-Channel Experiences” (2010)



Predictive Cognitive Semantic Analysis

“I had an intuition that by interpolating results of best merge dendograms with anti-pattern libraries and text readability scores, my algorithm would accurately predict the boundaries of cognitive and semantic mapping.”



Predictive Cognitive Semantic Analysis

• Parallax Theory of Brain Modeling (Johnston, Neil et al.)

• Cognitive Disenthropy Theory (Blake, McGuinn)• Systemic Distribution of Neural Pathways Model (Mould?)

• Fibonacci Sequence

• Limit of Consecutive Quotients Paradox (Kepler)• Structural Malta Approach to Card Sorting (Mann, Pallot)


is it just an American thing?

• Australia — ac%ve listening, facilita%on• Canada — decision making, change

management • India — dealing with difficult people,

building trust, %me and stakeholder management, conflict resolu%on

source: uxmatters.com


• Scandinavia — presen%ng, building trust, stakeholder management

• United Kingdom — presen%ng, decision making

• United States — planning, organiza%on, persuasion, influence, presen%ng

source: uxmatters.com

is it just an American thing?


E = U

em·pa·thy /ˈempəTHē/

NounThe ability to understand and share the feelings of another.


Empathy is a three-way thing

Stakeholders

Users

You areHERE Colleagues


what do I do?

THINK(before you do)


give it 5 minutes

“Man, give it five minutes.” — Richard Saul Wurman


ask more questions

“Asking questions means you want to know.” — Jason Fried (37signals)


daily UX zen


Empathy = getting in character to understand

Stakeholders

Users

ColleaguesYou areTHEM


who are you?


NZ001 — LHR-LAX


NZ001 — LHR-LAX


the end

Questions?


#whoissheanyway

alberta soranzo@albertatrebla

albertasoranzo.com

Thank you!

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Technology

Putting "U" back in UX