What is User Experience?

ISO 9241-210[1] defines user experience as "a person's perceptions and responses that result from the use or anticipated use of a product, system or service".

User Experience is not:

User Experience is not:

Applying the Golden Ratio to the design of a User Interface

User Experience is not:

User Experience is not:

PreferencesIf a thought ever starts with “I think”, “I feel”, “I prefer”, “I like”, or an assumption ---- then stop.

User Experience is not:

User Experience is not:

User Experience is not:

Using UI Framework tools

I see a lot of postings that call for UI/UX – normally it’s one or the other, and not both.

You can apply UI Patterns to a User Interface, but that’s not UX. Part of a User Experience can include return shipping or customer support via phone. Learn to remove the user from the interface and perceive them in the workflow of a product. From how they might learn of your product; to how they feel once they use your product. A bad User Experience means the entire experience was interrupted and will not “complete”. Design your product with an idea of a beginning and end (workflow). And if the user doesn’t get from the beginning (discovery) of the workflow to a successful and satisfactory ending (receiving product in mail) then they’ll have a bad User Experience.

http://www.slideshare.net/lishubert/the-future-of-ux-killing-the-wireframe-machine#btnNext

So, What is UX?

UX is…

UX = User Experience It’s an experience a person has with a product that

encompasses the entire process from how they discover the product to how they use the product to achieve a goal.

It’s a solution to a problem. And without a problem to solve there is no User Experience.

UX consists of…

Visual DesignInteraction DesignInformation ArchitectureUsabilityUser ResearchContent Strategy

UX seeks to answer questions such as:

Who are the users of this 'thing'? What are the users’ tasks and goals? What are the users’ experience levels with this

thing, and things like it? What functions do the users need from this

thing? What information might the users need, and in

what form do they need it? How do users think this 'thing' should work? How can the design of this ‘thing’ facilitate

users' cognitive processes?

Other terms you might hear

What is HCI?

HCI is a very broad discipline that encompasses different specialties with different concerns regarding computer development: computer science, sociology and anthropology, ergonomics, psychology, and linguistics.As computers become more and pervasive in culture, designers are increasingly looking for ways to make interfacing with devices easier, safer and more efficient.

Human Computer Interaction

User Centered Design

UCD is a methodologyUsability is an outcome of UCD practicesThis standard (ISO 13407: Human-centered

design process) defines a general process for including human-centered activities throughout a development life-cycle, but does not specify exact methods.

UCD seeks to answer questions about users and their tasks and goals, then use the findings to drive development and design.

User Centered-Design (UCD) is a philosophy and a process. It is a philosophy that places the person (as opposed to the 'thing') at the center; it is a process that focuses on cognitive factors (such as perception, memory, learning, problem-solving, etc.) as they come into play during peoples' interactions with things.

Known Tasks & Techniques

A/B testing A UX specialist might devise a study to compare the effectiveness and quality

of experience of different user interfaces.

User Surveys A UX designer could interview existing and potential users of the system to

gain insight into what would be the most effective design. Because the user’s experience is subjective, the best way to directly obtain information is by studying and interacting with users.

Wireframes and Prototypes Based on their findings, UX specialists might develop wireframes of different

layouts and perhaps also higher-fidelity prototypes.

User Flows Designing how users should move through a system is another popular

deliverable.

More Techniques

Storytelling

Design Patterns

Content Inventory – Information Architecture - Sitemaps

User Profiles and Personas

Content Style Guides

Content Inventory Software

User Testing and Feedback Software

Analytics Software

Card Sorting

Contextual Inquiry

Future of UX?

Probably another shift in how we define solving problems to create a satisfactory experience. And a change in terms/definitions depending on how technology advances along with design trends that last (becomes no longer a trend). Below is from an article on UX Matters.

“In my mind, the differentiation between the terms user experience, customer experience, and experience design is all about domain. If we’re designing applications—regardless of platform—or hardware user interfaces, we’re doing it for users. If we’re designing corporate Web sites and, especially, ecommerce sites, we’re doing it for customers. I’ve always used the term experience design only when referring to real-world experiences like museum experiences or theme-park experiences or dining experiences.”

http://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2012/12/trends-in-user-experience.php

Book Recommendations

Website Links

UX Magazine - http://uxmag.com/UX Booth - http://www.uxbooth.com/User Interface Engineering - http://www.uie.comUxmatters - http://www.uxmatters.com/index.php52 Weeks of UX - http://52weeksofux.com/Boxes and Arrows -

http://www.boxesandarrows.com/Johnny Holland Magazine -

http://johnnyholland.org/