The term “user experience” was coined by Dr. Donald Norman, a cognitive science researcher who was also the first to describe the importance of user-centered design (the notion that design decisions should be based on the needs and wants of users). User experience (abbreviated as UX) is how a person feels when interfacing with a system. The system could be a website, a web application or desktop software and, in modern contexts, is generally denoted by some form of human-computer interaction (HCI). UX designers) study and evaluate how users feel about a system, looking at such things as ease of use, perception of the value of the system, utility, efficiency in performing tasks and so forth.
Consumers are driving the rapid adoption of technology because of the capabilities that are unlocked through each device. Some of the biggest trends today–mobile, geoloco, social, real-time–are changing how consumers discover and share information and connect with one another. From self-expression and validation to communication and connections to knowledge and collaboration, new opportunities unfold with each new device and platform. If your app or website is not able to make the maximum utilization of these resources then you are losing on ROI of the product.
UX is an art and science, and it is all but ignored in the development of new media channels where customers control their own fate. If the appeal of an app diminishes, it’s removed from the device. If a brand page in a social or mobile network no longer delivers value, a customer can effortlessly unlike, unfollow, or unsubscribe.
Your smartphone, computer screen, and tablet open a window to a new experience that is unique to that device. It’s a looking glass into your world that goes beyond usability. Successful UX evokes engagement or purpose, affects sentiment, and influences behavior. And this is why UX is so important
As Marshall McLuhan once said, “The medium is the message.” Now, the medium is not only the message, the medium is the experience. And that is why we cannot simply design for the medium, we must design the experience where the medium becomes an enabler to the journey and the end as devised.
As smart and connected technology matures beyond a luxury into everyday commodities, consumer expectations only inflate. As a result, functionality, connectedness, and experiences emerge as the lures for attention. User experience (UX) is now becoming a critical point in customer engagement in order to compete for attention now and in the future. For without thoughtful UX, consumers meander without direction, reward, or utility. And their attention, and ultimately loyalty, is lost.
Things To Know About UX Design:
- UX DESIGN IS NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL
- CAN’T BE DIRECTLY ASSESSED WITH TRADITIONAL METRICS
- USER EXPERIENCE IS MUCH MORE THAN USABILITY
- RESULTS ARE NOT DIRECTLY MEASURABLE
Mistakes to be avoided in User experience design:
- Forcing registration before demonstrating value
- Overly detailed tutorials
- Unusual interface elements or gesture controls
- Make customers fill out lengthy mobile forms
- Putting Too Much Time Into Designing Your Homepage
- Relying Too Much on Text
- Designing for the Wrong Generation
An example of an User Experience fail :
http://vimeo.com/4255076
Tiny controls + tiny icons + terrible guides + meaningless icons + horrific use of white space + mixed metaphors + inconsistent interaction methods + no real innovations + SUPER FLASHY WERE-SO-AWESOME-VIDEO = Epic fail.
Some of the webistes to help you in User Experience design:
http://www.uxmag.com/
http://www.uxbooth.com/
http://ui.stackexchange.com/
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/user-experience
http://uxexchange.com/
http://www.uie.com/articles/three_hund_million_button/
Lengthy shutdown process in Windows 8
Summary: “User experience” encompasses all aspects of the end-user’s interaction with the company, its services, and its products. Remember, your customers expect to be able to engage with you on their terms. Helping them do so can only help your business.I hope this article has helped you better understand what user experience is and why it should be important to your business.
Blog by Skanda: http://en.club.vmall.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=16142
