User Experience for WordPress Platforms

User Experience for WordPress Platforms

MODE EFFECT .com // @codyL // #wcoc

Cody Landefeld Managing Director at Mode Effect

!10+ YEARS IN DESIGN/WEB 8+ YEARS IN WordPress


Why User Experience? Why is it important?


“User Experience” encompasses all aspects of the end-user’s interaction with the company, service, or products.

Why should User Experience matter for us?


Because we are the builders. We have the ability to create great things for people who want to create great things.


Our Experience Case: Samaritan’s Purse


Our Experience Case


What the client needed: !1. To publish tons of video content. 2. Multiple responsive views for viewing

had to be optimal for end users. 3. 3rd party video integration. !


What did we learn !1. Automation was key for publishing. 2. Users needed multiple levels of access. 3. End-users needed to take action by

feeling emotion. !


Today we’ll look at two different personas.


Let’s meet our first persona.


• 53 Years old • Insurance Adjuster for 2 decades • Wants to start a business online • Is a “do it yourself” type • Finds out about WordPress !!

Randy Userman.


Randy starts his journey… !1. Finds WordPress 2. Gets a theme 3. Puts together a few plugins !

Then starts to hit a wall.


User Misconceptions !

Because it’s designed well, it’s built well. Because it’s developed well, it should be designed well. WordPress is easy for everyone to use or build with.

!!


What should Randy do? !1. Learn to code? 2. Hire a developer? 3. Give up? !

What do you think? !



Considering empathy, how do we help Randy and other users when they get confused, lost, and frustrated?


Learn and practice empathy for your users. !

• Understand your users

• Know their frustrations

• Know some of their constraints

• Solicit good feedback

Next persona.


Rich Buserman.

• 33 Years old • Has an MBA, Has Investors • Non Technical Entrepreneur • Wants to start a business online • Is NOT a “do it yourself” type • Finds out about WordPress !!


Rich starts his journey… !1. Hires a development company 2. Works with them to plan / design / build 3. Is unable to technically lead the project !


User Misconceptions !

Because he can pay well, it will work well. WordPress is the best possible choice. (It might not be) Trusting developers for design direction.

!


What can we do as Rich’s development company? !1. Choose the right platform depending on the

requirements. 2. Go deeper with front-end design. 3. Ask for help in your network. !

What do you think? !


What are we missing?


User Experience is not just for design.


Resources for Explanation

• Why User Experience Cannot Be Designed • Empathy Requires Experience

!For WordPress • How Many Of These 7 UX Blunders Is

Your WordPress Site Making?


http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2011/03/15/why-user-experience-cannot-be-designed/

http://boagworld.com/usability/empathy/

http://premium.wpmudev.org/blog/how-many-of-these-7-ux-blunders-is-your-wordpress-site-making/

Thanks. !

Visit modeeffect.com for articles and good UX stuff.


http://modeeffect.com

User Experience for WordPress Platforms

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