introduction to ux for developers

Introduction to UX for DevelopersJacques Woodcock

@kitportal@jacques_thekit

A little about me...

- Degree in Design

I started by getting my degree in design...

- Degree in Design

- Multimedia Designer

...then started doing multimedia design...

- Degree in Design

- Multimedia Designer

- Multimedia Programmer

...then multimedia programming...

- Degree in Design

- Multimedia Designer

- Multimedia Programmer

- Coldfusion, Javascript, PHP

...then started learning most web technologies....

- Degree in Design

- Multimedia Designer

- Multimedia Programmer

- Coldfusion, Javascript, PHP

- Project Managment

...then on to project management...

- Degree in Design

- Multimedia Designer

- Multimedia Programmer

- Coldfusion, Javascript, PHP

- Business Dev, Ops Managment

- Project Managment

...business development and operations management...

- Degree in Design

- Multimedia Designer

- Multimedia Programmer

- Coldfusion, Javascript, PHP

- Business Dev, Ops Managment

- Project Managment

- Strategy

... and am now focusing on strategy.

Let’s get started

What is UX?

1st

View

It is NOT the View

View = UI

(UI = User Interface)

UX is

Model View Controller+ + + So Much More

“UX is the technical study of how users interact with your product.”

If I were to order web disciplines into a diagram, it might look like this...

Business Strategy

UX

Technical Scope

User Interface

Business Strategy is your base then you build on that with your UX which defines your Technical Scope and is presented with your User Interface.

Business Strategy

UX

Technical Scope

User Interface

UX is crucial to defining your technical scope and thus your project.

A Quick History

Human interaction with technical systems started being studied post WWII

They found that even operators who’s live depended on using a technical system, still ran into human limitations.

The 80’s & 90’s

When the computer started dominating the workplace, user-centered design took on a bigger importance.

Today

Today, as the discipline has evolved, we look more at the psychological aspects of human interaction as opposed to just the usability of an interface.

5 Principles of UXWhitney Hess

1. Understand the problem

Whitney Hess

1. Understand the problem

2. Don't hurt anyone

Whitney Hess

1. Understand the problem

2. Don't hurt anyone

3. Make things simple and intuitive

Whitney Hess

1. Understand the problem

2. Don't hurt anyone

3. Make things simple and intuitive

4. Acknowledge the user is not like you.

Whitney Hess

1. Understand the problem

2. Don't hurt anyone

3. Make things simple and intuitive

4. Acknowledge the user is not like you

5. Have empathy

Whitney Hess

Sound Familiar?

1. Understand the problem

2. Don't hurt anyone

3. Make things simple and intuitive

4. Acknowledge the user is not like you

5. Have empathy

Whitney Hess

1, 3, 5... these are similar to principles of development.

Expanded to 20Whitney Hess

My Favorites?

Here are some of my favorites.

Present few choicesMy Favorite Principles

We all know Apple is the king of fewer choices, yet they have the best user experience on the market.

Present few choicesMy Favorite Principles

The more choices a person is presented with, the harder it is for them to choose. This is what Barry Schwartz calls The Paradox of Choice. Remove the "nice to haves" and focus instead of the necessary alternatives a person needs to make in order to greatly impact the outcome.

Create a visual hierarchy that matches the user's needs

My Favorite Principles

"Visual hierarchy" is a combination of several dimensions to aid in the processing of information, such as color, size, position, contrast, shape, proximity to like items, etc.

Provide contextMy Favorite Principles

If what users find when they get to your site/product isn't close to what they predicted, chances are they're going to give up and go elsewhere

Use appropriate defaultsMy Favorite Principles

Providing preselected or predetermined options is one of the ways to minimize decisions and increase efficiency. But choose wisely: if you assign the defaults to the wrong options (meaning that the majority of people are forced to change the selection), you'll end up creating more stress and processing time.

Make actions reversibleMy Favorite Principles

There is no such thing as a perfect design. No one and nothing can prevent all errors, so you're going to need a contingency plan.

Provide feedbackMy Favorite Principles

tell them why they're waiting. Tell them that you're working. Tell them you heard them and offer the next step along their path. Design is not a monologue, it's a conversation.

Be consistentMy Favorite Principles

When things don't match up between multiple areas, the experience can feel disjointed, confusing and uncomfortable. People will start to question whether they're misunderstanding the intended meaning or if they missed a key cue.

If I were to add 1...

Don’t be lazyMy Favorite Principles

In the battle to “just get it launched” you need to place followthrough at the top of the list. These might be your principles, but that don’t mean squat if you don’t apply them.

Why is UX not UI?

UX defines your features, user flow and product personality.

UX: - checking in- sending messages

- tweeting, liking, +1ing- the process to do these tasks

UI defines the screen style and layout of those features.

UI: - button styles- colors- content size

UI == Aesthetic Design

UX == Features and interacting with those features.

UX will define what the UI must create through wireframes.

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UX will direct with a wireframe. Here is an example of a wireframe for a user interface.

UI will convert the wireframe into an interface.

UI specialist will be a member on a UX team.

UX & Developers are cousins

Both try to solve a problem.

Both break a system down to basic tasks.

Both describes how a function interfaces with the overall system.

Both plan for input and output.

Shared Goals; Different Focus

Developers think of what's best for the system

UX thinks of what's best for the user

Developer: “Is the process an efficient use of resources?”UX: “Is the process efficient for the user?”

Example

Let’s look at the focus of those questions in an example.

Example: Remote

Let’s look at the remote.

Devs:

Want to make sure all functionality is assessable to the user, typically in one menu.

Devs:

Which leaves you with this.

UX:

UX designers understand the principles of user interaction.

UX:

UX will deliver a product like this.

Not the same level of functionality,but a mountain of difference in usability.

Disciplines can be broken down to 3 areas.

1Guiding principles

1Guiding principles 2 Processes

3 Tools1Guiding principles 2 Processes

1Guiding principlesUX

Dev

UX and Dev share similar principles, as we discussed.

UX

Dev2 Processes

- Listen- Ask questions- Define a goal- Define milestones

They even start with a similar process.

1Guiding principles 2 Processes

UX Processes

Dev Processes

It’s halfway through the process that they split.

1Guiding principles 2 Processes

UX Processes >

Dev Processes > Technical Scope

User Flow

UX starts to focus on the user flow while devs start to focus on the technical scope.

UX: User Flow

Dev: Technical Scope

Project

Good projects have both

UX: User Flow

Dev: Technical Scope

Project

, and they communicate.

UX: User Flow

Dev: Technical Scope

Project

User flow should define the technical scope.

UX: User Flow

Dev: Technical Scope

Project

Technical scope should not influence the user flow...

UX: User Flow

Dev: Technical Scope

Project

...beyond technical limitations.

Why?

We build for users.

Average users will trade functionality for usability.

You have to know your users.

Great UX specialist understand development.

Efficient UX specialist have coding knowledge.

UX specialist prototype.

UX specialist prototype. Papered process flows

Some present papered process flows.

UX specialist prototype.

AJAX/JQuery

Some prototype in AJAX/JQuery

UX specialist prototype.

AJAX/JQuery

HTML/CSS

HTML/CSS

UX specialist prototype.

AJAX/JQuery

HTML/CSS

PHP

and even PHP

Great UX specialist write prototypes that can be pushed to developers for final production.

Use prototypes to streamline development.

AJAX/JQuery

HTML/CSS

PHP

Development Environment

You can even use these prototypes to streamline the development process.

How do I get started?

1st

Change Mindset

How can I organize these features to create an efficient system?

From

How can I organize these features for an efficient user experience?

To

2nd

Interact with REAL users

Take them out for coffee, lunch, or just chat on the phone.

KNOW YOUR USERS!

3rd

PrototypeSketch, build, test, adjust, repeat

Sketch

Build

Test

Adjust

PrototypeSketch - Paper

Here is a user flow I did for a process for users to take content from the system, get a short url and pass it to the social sphere. Bottom right is a rough UI and the bottom left is a rough data scheme.

PrototypeSketch - Paper

Here is an interface sketch, the first is the overall interface, the top right is the interface when interaction is initiated and the last is the new user interface that gets shown.

PrototypeSketch - Wireframe

Next you wireframe. Here is the social process’s interface.

PrototypeBuild

Here is the user sketch built out. The top is the default state, the next is the interface after the new function has been initiated.

PrototypeBuild

Here is the new screen they are presented with to complete their process.

PrototypeTesting

- Focus Groups- Screen Capturing- Eye Tracking- Heat Mapping- Analytics

Testing can be done with any of the above.

PrototypeTesting: Focus Groups

A focus group involves encouraging an invited group of participants to share their thoughts, feelings, attitudes and ideas on a certain subject, feature or user flow.

PrototypeTesting: Focus Groups

- Prepare agenda

Start by preparing an agenda.

PrototypeTesting: Focus Groups

- Prepare agenda- Invite 1 to 6 target users

Next invite 1 to 6 target users, depending on the agenda. 1 works better for them interacting with website and 6 is best for a Q&A.

PrototypeTesting: Focus Groups

- Prepare agenda- Invite 1 to 6 target users- Meet in quiet room

You want to be able to hear each other.

PrototypeTesting: Focus Groups

- Prepare agenda- Invite 1 to 6 target users- Meet in quiet room- Record session

You must record, either video or audio, video if they are interacting. This allows you to reference back and justifies any changes in strategy.

PrototypeTesting: Focus Groups

- Prepare agenda- Invite 1 to 6 target users- Meet in quiet room- Record session- Ask them to walk through, or walk them through tasks

PrototypeTesting: Focus Groups

- Prepare agenda- Invite 1 to 6 target users- Meet in quiet room- Record session- Ask them to walk through, or walk them through tasks- Document feedback

Documenting feedback should be highlights as you have a recording to reference back to for details.

PrototypeTesting: Eye Tracking

“Eye tracking is the process of measuring either the point of gaze ("where we are looking") or the motion of an eye relative to the head.”

PrototypeTesting: Eye Tracking

This works by placing a camera on top of the user’s computer.

PrototypeTesting: Eye Tracking

It then beam infrared light out that is in turn reflected back by the human eye.

PrototypeTesting: Eye Tracking

In the end, you can pinpoint where the user’s eyes move to.

PrototypeTesting: Screen Capturing

Screen capturing allows you to see exactly what your users are doing on your site, down to all sporadic mouse movements, by recording their complete session.

PrototypeTesting: Screen Capturing

I love this tool.

PrototypeTesting: Screen Capturing

Demo

Can’t embed demo. Sorry.

PrototypeTesting: Screen Capturing

Some providers:User Flyhttp://userfly.com

ExactoStatshttp://exactostats.com/

ClickTalehttp://www.clicktale.com/

Some providers of Screen Capturing.

PrototypeTesting: Heat Mapping

“A heat map is an easy way to understand what users do on your site. It’s a visual representation showing you where people click and what users do.”

PrototypeTesting: Heat Mapping

Many software solutions for making heat maps.

PrototypeTesting: Heat Mapping

Most are based off of user click patterns.

PrototypeTesting: Heat Mapping

Notice the colors

PrototypeTesting: Heat Mapping

Cool colors are few clicks

PrototypeTesting: Heat Mapping

Warm colors are most clicked

here you will see most people use this page to login.

PrototypeTesting: Heat Mapping

Some providers:Crazy Egghttp://www.crazyegg.com/

Omniturehttp://www.omniture.com/en/

Clickdestinyhttp://www.clickdensity.com/

Google Analyticshttps://www.google.com/analytics/

And many others

Google actually only gives you the percentage of clicks per link, but that’s still useful.

PrototypeTesting: Analytics

We all know what analytics are, but do we understand how they help usability?

PrototypeTesting: Analytics

First, they clarify what works in your UI.

PrototypeTesting: Analytics

Next, they justify your content, or justify removing some of your content.

PrototypeTesting: Analytics

Lastly, they can tell you if your user flow is working.

PrototypeTesting: Analytics

There are many names for this, funnels, goals, paths. I like conversion as it implies your user flow is taking a user from the start to your desired destination.

PrototypeTesting: Analytics

This works by tracking how your user comes in, where they go and where they end up.

It’s easy when you have a finite task, such as share a photo. You can tell how your conversion is doing by how many photos are being shared. Still, it’s good to know how your users come in and then find the share function.

PrototypeTesting: Analytics

So you have your site.

Home

About Login Sign Up Support

Team Share

Service

Blog

Post 1

Post 2

PrototypeTesting: Analytics

You define a successful conversion follows this path.

Home

About Login Sign Up Support

Team Share

Service

Blog

Post 1

Post 2

PrototypeTesting: Analytics

With analytics, you find that users follow this path.

Home

About Login Sign Up Support

Team Share

Service

Blog

Post 1

Post 2

PrototypeTesting: Analytics

There’s something wrong with your user experience.

So you...

Sketch

Build

Test

Adjust

PrototypeAdjusting

Adjust

Repeat

To Sum Up

UX != UI

UX

UI

UX owns UI

UX like Development

UX like DevelopmentShared goals, different focus

UX == Development

In the case of prototyping.

Get Started

Get StartedChange Mindset

Get StartedChange Mindset

Interact with REAL users

Know your users!!!

Get StartedChange Mindset

Interact with REAL users

Sketch, build, test, adjust, repeat

One last thing

Pay attention to design.

Okay, I know a lot of developers are going to scrum by this word, but trust me, it’s okay. We’re not going to talk color palates, nor shading.

Pay attention to design.

You may not be a designer, but you have opinions on design, and that’s okay. So quickly...

Design

Design covers a wide variety of definitions and skills. It can be one of the most misleading disciplines out there.

Design == Creativity

Most people think design equals creativity.

Design == Creativity

They are wrong. I know so many people who are good with UX design that have no ability to “design.”

Design is simply the structuring of elements into a pleasing, or usable, product for the target audience to consume.

Design is simply the structuring of elements into a pleasing, or usable, product for a target audience to consume.

Design is simply the structuring of elements into a pleasing, or usable, product for the target audience to consume.

Don’t get me wrong. Art is something totally different than design. There’s emotion, thought, pain, love and so much more that goes into art.

Design

But we are talking design.

UX Design

And more specially UX design.

Sketch

Build

Test

Adjust∞

You piece together a user experience from what’s proven to work for the user by getting to know the user, testing your product, adjusting your offering and repeating. ∞

Pek Pongpaethttp://uxmag.com/design/user-experience-for-developers

Whitney Hesshttp://www.uxmag.com/design/guiding-principles-for-ux-designers

Justin Davishttp://www.maderalabs.com/blog/five-things-every-developer-should-understand-about-ux/

#more-1051

Everett McKay http://www.uxdesignedge.com/2010/03/getting-started-in-interaction-design/

David Leggetthttp://www.uxbooth.com/blog/top-29-free-ux-tools-and-extensions/

Focus Groupshttp://www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-usability/focus-groups.shtml

29 Free Toolshttp://www.uxbooth.com/blog/top-29-free-ux-tools-and-extensions/

Dr. Tobias Komischke http://blogs.infragistics.com/pixel8/media/p/95683.aspx

References

@kitportal@jacques_thekit

Introduction to UX for Developers Jacques Woodcock