Post on 08-Sep-2014
description
Kristi McKinneyClockwork Active Media
IT’S TOO FANCY!
Back to Basics User Experience
MinneWebCon | April 14th 2014
THE SCENARIO
FEATURE EXPLOSION
“I saw this [insert feature] on [insert website] and I think we should use it on our site for [insert
problem].”
WE GET IDEAS FROM OTHERS
When approaching web/product changes, we get cues from implementations on other sites and
applications.
HOW DO WE TALK ABOUT THIS?
Use well-documented UX paradigms to find solutions best solve the problem and align with the strategy.
CONSIDER THE OVERALL STRATEGY
Objectives – Big Organizational GoalGoals – Specific MeasuresStrategy – Organizational and Digital
CONSIDER PROJECT KNOWLEDGE
• Define the problem & its effects• Define the technological
boundaries• Define the budget limitations• Understand the data
WHICH PARADIGMS?
GOOD QUESTION!There is no definitive list of UX
Paradigms.
APPLYING PARADIGMS EXAMPLES
CNN: Busy News
CNN Business NewsUseful Paradigms
• The Law of Simplicity– Is there enough
information for users to complete their task?
• Users > Problem– Are personal biases
influencing user decisions?
Mayo Clinic: Sneaky Rotator
Mayo Clinic: Sneaky RotatorUseful Paradigms
• The Law of Experience– Are we reinventing a
common process?
• Clarity Above All– Is everything clear and
understandable?
Mayo Clinic: Sneaky RotatorUseful Paradigms
• Fitts’ Law– Can users quickly reach
intended actions?
• Learnability vs. Usability– Is the product single-
use or repetitive?
Slate, Gawker Media & Time: Mobile for Desktop
Slate: Mobile for DesktopUseful Paradigms
• Expose and Challenge Assumptions– Have we questioned
everything?
• Pay Attention to Patterns– Does the interface follow a
pattern?
• Invest in the Future– What are the future needs of
users?
Gawker Media Group: Mobile for Desktop
Gawker Media Group: Mobile for Desktop
Useful Paradigms
• Words Aren’t the Enemy– Does iconography
translate across languages and experiences?
• Match the Tool to the Problem– Is the tool similar in scope
to the original issue?
Time Magazine: Mobile for Desktop
Time Magazine: Mobile for DesktopUseful Paradigms
• The Data Doesn’t Lie (usually)– What does the
data say about the problem?
• Hiding Complexity Increases It– Can users clearly
find what they need?
Anthropologie: Changing Galleries
Anthropologie: Changing GalleriesUseful Paradigms
• Consistency– Are things grouped
and behaving consistently?
• Always Allow Undo– Can users easily
correct their mistakes?
• Details Always Matter– Is there an over-reliance
on design to communicate details?
• Users Don’t Know What They Want– Are you talking to your
users?
AnthropologieUseful Paradigms
IN REVIEW
FOCUS ON USERS
“I saw this [insert feature] on [insert
website] and I think we should use it on our site for [insert
problem].”
RECIPE FOR SUCCESSFUL SOLUTIONS
STRATEGY & PROJECT KNOWLEDGE
• Strategy focuses the discussion on the big picture
• Core Project Knowledge focuses the discussion on the current project with its guard rails
UX PARADIGMS – HELPFUL QUESTIONS
• Is there enough information for users to complete their task?
• Are personal biases influencing user decisions?
• Are we reinventing a common process?
• Is everything clear and understandable?
UX PARADIGMS – HELPFUL QUESTIONS
• Can users act quickly?
• Is the product single-use or repetitive?
• Have we questioned everything?
• Does the interface follow a pattern?
• What are the future needs of users?
UX PARADIGMS – HELPFUL QUESTIONS
• Are things grouped consistently?
• Can users easily correct mistakes?
• Are details communicated effectively?
• Are you talking to your users?
UX PARADIGMS – HELPFUL QUESTIONS
• Does the iconography translate?
• Is the scope of the problem and solution the same?
• What does the data say?
• Can users clearly find what they need?
WELL-REASONED DECISION
“That [insert feature] on [insert website] will work great for us because we can solve [problem] which will help us [strategy]. We know that users [paradigm] so it should work well.”
RESOURCES
• The Hipper Element - http://thehipperelement.com/
• UX Greatness – http://commadot.com/ux-greatness-part-1-of-3/
• 52 Weeks of UX – http://52weeksofux.com/
• Don’t Make Me Think – Steve Krug• UX Myths - http://uxmyths.com/• UI Patterns - http://ui-patterns.com
/• UX Apprentice -
http://www.uxapprentice.com/
• UX Axioms - http://www.uxaxioms.com/
• Principles of Interaction Design - http://asktog.com/atc/principles-of-interaction-design/
• Communicating Design – Dan M. Brown
• Undercover User Experience Design – Cennydd Bowles & James Box
• Smashing Magazine – uxdesign.smashingmagazine.com/
Thank You.Follow me @kitalooclef
MinneWebCon | April 14th 2014