User Experience Skills
Central to a UX designer's role is prioritizing user experience and functionality.
"Simple is hard. Easy is harder. Invisible is hardest.”
— Jean-Louis Gassée
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What is UCD?
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What is the UX Design?
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What is usability testing?
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What makes an interface usable?
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What is the design process?
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Key Deliverables
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USER PERSONAS
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USER JOURNEYS
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USER FLOWS
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WIREFRAMES
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INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
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USABILITY TESTING PLAN
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UI SPECIFICATIONS
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COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
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ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES
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CONTENT STRATEGY
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HEURISTIC EVALUATION
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FEEDBACK ANALYSIS
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PERFORMANCE METRICS
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PROJECT DOCUMENTATION
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HOW?
Crafting a stellar user experience is just the start; the ultimate goal is to elevate the entire customer journey, encompassing product, service, process, and more. After all, isn't that what we're all striving for?
What is User-Centered Design (UCD)?
- Many designs lean heavily on business objectives, advanced features, or the potential of tech tools, often sidelining the most crucial element – the user. UCD shifts the lens, prioritizing the human user's perspective when shaping interfaces for websites or applications. Instead of bending user habits to fit a system, why not mold the system around users' existing behaviors and needs? By embracing UCD, we craft solutions that aren't just efficient and enjoyable but also bolster sales and foster brand loyalty.
What is User Experience Design?
- As a Customer Experience Designer, I dive deep into understanding users by engaging them directly. Through hands-on research methods, like observing users in action, in-depth interviews, and interactive activities, I uncover the emotional, motivational, and conceptual layers of how users approach tasks. By tapping into these insights, interfaces my design is crafted to resonate with users, making interactions feel intuitive and fulfilling.
What is Usability Testing?
- Usability testing puts a product's user interface under the microscope, evaluating how intuitive and user-friendly it is. In this hands-on evaluation, real users tackle specific tasks while I observe their interactions, noting areas of confusion or difficulty. By capturing users' authentic reactions and performance, I can pinpoint areas needing refinement, ensuring a smoother and more engaging user experience. It's not about what I feel is intuitive, but rather about how real users experience the product.
What Determines Website, Mobile Apps or Software Usability?
- Usability is the blend of a product's functionality, user flow, and responsiveness to user expectations. It's not just about slick designs but ensuring a product truly resonates with its users. To craft a user-friendly interface, I must go beyond principles and guidelines, drawing insights directly from real users. In essence, a usable system is intuitive, memorable, forgiving of errors, and delightful to use. It's where design meets human needs.
What Is the User Experience Design Process?
- The UX (User Experience) design process is a methodological approach ensuring that digital products are developed with the user at the center of the design and development efforts. While the exact stages can vary based on the project, company, or designer, here's a general outline of the UX design process:
It's essential to note that the UX design process isn't strictly linear. I often circle back to previous steps, especially after testing, to refine my design. The process is cyclical, with the aim always to enhance the user's experience.
UX DESIGN PROCESS
USER PERSONA
Name: Jamie Lawson
Age: 29
Job: Marketing Coordinator
Location: Austin, Texas
USER PERSONA
Name: Jamie Lawson
Age: 29
Job: Marketing Coordinator
Location: Austin, Texas
The wireframe I crafted for the SmartTracker app's onboarding process provides a clear and concise visual roadmap, highlighting the essential steps for users to effortlessly familiarize themselves with the app's core features and benefits.
WIREFRAMES
The user flow I designed for the SmartTracker app seamlessly guides users from initial onboarding to advanced tracking, ensuring intuitive navigation while prioritizing user goals and minimizing potential pain points.
USER FLOW
USABILITY TESTING
With the rise of distributed teams and global user bases, I'm being adept at conducting usability tests remotely using platforms like UserTesting, or Maze.
REMOTE TESTING
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I ensure that my digital experiences are usable by people with disabilities. It is not just a legal requirement but also a moral imperative. Familiarity with tools like JAWS, NVDA, or Wave, and guidelines like WCAG, is increasingly essential.
ACCESSIBILITY TESTING
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I use platforms that allow participants to complete tasks without a moderator. I use tools like UserZoom.
UNMODERATED TESTING
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Beyond qualitative feedback, I' m able to set and measure usability metrics, conduct A/B tests, and derive insights from large user groups.
QUALITATIVE USABILITY
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USABILITY TESTING
I use modern usability testing often involves testing interactive prototypes. I am proficient with tools like Figma, Adobe XD, and InVision.
PROTOTYPING
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Given the surge in mobile app usage, i have the experience in testing mobile interfaces, considering touch interactions, screen sizes, and platform-specific.
MOBILE TESTING
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With products being used globally, I understand cultural differences and ensure usability across different cultural contexts. Being fluent in some languages, it helps my work and empathy.
CROSS-CULTURAL USABILITY TESTING
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I am able to quickly identify problems, make changes, and then re-test. It is a process that involves real users performing real tasks, and design changes are made on direct observations of user difficulties.