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Topic 3: Getting Started with UX

• UX (User Experience) defined as the overall experience users have with a product or service.

• Focus: More than aesthetics; emphasizes usability, enjoyment, and meeting user needs.

3.1 What is UX?

• Encompasses all aspects of user interaction with a product:

  • Usability: Measurement of how easy and efficient the product is to use.

  • Accessibility: Consideration of how well the product accommodates users with disabilities.

  • Aesthetics: The visual appeal and overall design of the product.

  • Engagement: The level of interest and enjoyment during product use.

3.2 Historical Overview of the User Experience Domain

• Evolution of UX over the last several decades:

  • 1950s: Birth of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI); visionaries like J.C.R. Licklider sought to enhance user-tech collaboration.

  • 1980s: Rise of personal computers and graphical interfaces, introducing components like menus and mouse usage.

  • 1990s: Expanding web presence necessitated intuitive designs, development of usability testing, and web standards.

  • 2000s: Growth of mobile devices targeted new design principles focusing on small screens and touch interactions.

  • 2010s: Emphasis on user-centric design principles supported by data-driven insights; UX established as a critical design discipline.

3.3 The UX Design Process

• Iterative and user-focused methodology:

  • Empathize: Research to understand user needs and motivations.

  • Define: Articulate the key problem and goals of the design project.

  • Ideate: Brainstorm multiple creative solutions and possibilities.

  • Prototype: Create low-fidelity models to refine concepts.

  • Test: Engage with real users for usability testing to get feedback and improve the design.

4: User Research and Analysis

• Essential for grasping user needs and challenges:

  • User Interviews: Conduct one-on-one sessions for qualitative feedback.

  • Usability Testing: Observe how users interact with the product to highlight usability challenges.

  • Surveys: Use questionnaires for quantitative insights from larger user groups.

5: Information Architecture and Interaction Design

• Essential for navigation and interaction:

  • Sitemaps: Visual layouts of content structure.

  • Wireframes: Basic sketches of layout and info flow.

  • Prototypes: Interactive demos for testing design choices.

  • User Flows: Diagrams illustrating user tasks within the product.

6: Visual Design and Prototyping

• Components of visual appeal and mockup development:

  • Visual Aesthetics: Design elements like typography, color palettes, and images.

  • Interactive Prototypes: Mockups that simulate the product experience for testing.

7: Usability Testing and Iteration

• Critical feedback stage in the design process:

  • Qualitative Data: Insights from user observations and feedback.

  • Quantitative Data: Metrics such as task completion times and user satisfaction rates.

8: Common Terms in UX

1. A/B Testing: Method to compare two design versions and identify the more effective one, varying only one element for accuracy.

2. Beta Testing: Launching an unfinished product to a select user group to gather real-world performance feedback.

3. Card Sorting: Technique to assess how users categorize information.

4. Eye Tracking: Method for tracking visual attention on a website to discern design effectiveness.

5. Gestalt Principles: Design rules explaining how users perceive grouped elements (e.g., proximity law).

6. Usability: How effectively users can achieve goals with a product.

7. Effectiveness: Degree to which goals are met (yes/no metrics).

8. Efficiency: Assessment of cost vs results, factoring in user efforts.

9. Satisfaction: Measure of how well a product meets physical, cognitive, and emotional user needs.

9: The KANO Model

• Model illustrating customer satisfaction evolution:

  • Classifies product attributes into:

    • Threshold (must-be or basic features)

    • Performance (one-dimensional features)

    • Excitement (delightful features)

    • Rejection (reverse attributes)

10: The Tree Metaphor

• Crown: User Experience - Differentiation and enthusiasm.

• Trunk: Usability - Critical for utility.

• Roots: Ergonomics - Essential for preventing long-term issues.