the state of ux in the uk by nick fine
TRANSCRIPT
My UX Journey1996 BSc (Hons) Psychology
2004 MSc Human Computer Interaction with Ergonomics
2009 PhD Human Computer Interaction, Personalisation
2010 User Experience Executive, LV=
2011 User Experience Consultant, Redweb
2013 Head of User Experience, SAS/MSLGROUP
2014 Lead User Experience Architect (contract), Virgin Media
2016 Lead User Experience Architect (contract), Camelot
2016 Lead User Experience Architect (contract), VML London
DEMAND > SUPPLY• “We need UX now” • Limited UX education
• Seniority takes time• Limited mentorships• Rare research skills
• “Putting the customer at the heart…”• Trendy/buzzword
EVERYONE WANTS TO BE
UX
visual designers
developersart directors
creative directors
project managers
account managers
recruiters
social media managers
marketeers
technical directors
Name another career or industry where the area has no clear definition ?
The problem is:
What is UX?
Why is a commonly accepted definition of UX so important?
• Talent management Team building nightmares
• Role definition Specialisation v generalisation
• Project practicalities Matching skills to projects
• Ensure user centricity It’s all about the user
I have experiences, I can do UX
I have a mind, I can do psychology
I have a hammer, I can do carpentry
I have a brain, I can do neurosurgery
I have a photoshop, I can do design
I have Axure, I can do UX
The Recent History of UX
HUMAN FACTORS
ENGINEERS
INFORMATIONARCHITECTS
USER EXPERIENCE
CONSULTANTS
USER EXPERIENCE DESIGNERS
1980s 1990s 2000s 2010 2016
USER RESEARCHERS
UX DEVELOPERS
UX STRATEGISTS
UX PROJECT MANAGERS
DEM
AN
D E
XCEE
DS
SUPP
LY
UX/UI
USER EXPERIENCE
RESEARCHERS
DURING THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THE MOST MONEY WEREN’T THOSE DIGGING FOR GOLD BUT THOSE SELLING PICKAXES AND SHOVELS
1848–1855
Completely anecdotal, 2016
UX UX/UI• User centric • Practitioner centric
• Facilitator and investigator • Expert
V
• Obsessed by tools• Obsessed by behaviour
• Insight driven solution • Best practice driven solution
• Involves users throughout • No user involvement
The UX Recession: UCD to DCD
HUMAN FACTORS
ENGINEERS
INFORMATION ARCHITECTS
USER EXPERIENCE
CONSULTANTS
USER EXPERIENCE DESIGNERS
1980s 1990s 2000s 2010 2016
USER RESEARCHERS
UX/UI DESIGNERS
UX DEVELOPERS
UX STRATEGISTS
UX PROJECT MANAGERS
UX PRODUCT MANAGERSD
EM
AN
D E
XC
EE
DS
SUP
PLY
USER CENTRIC DESIGN
DESIGNER CENTRIC DESIGN
UX =
Requirement GatheringCompetitor & Market AnalysisPersona DevelopmentService Evaluation
ScampingWireframingPrototyping
User testing• Local (lab based) • Remote (web based)
RESEARCH
INTERACTION DESIGN
VALIDATION
Requirement GatheringCompetitor & Market AnalysisPersona DevelopmentService Evaluation
ScampingWireframingPrototyping
User testing• Local (lab based) • Remote (web based)
RESEARCH
INTERACTION DESIGN
VALIDATION
UX =
What does this mean?• Designer centricity • UX by proxy • Unused and unloved • No local insight • Poor performance • Bye bye ROI
= Good looking, awful UX
USER CENTRIC, FULL SERVICE PRACTITIONERS
BECOME RARE AND FOUND ONLY AT USER CENTRIC AGENCIES ONLY
DEMAND
UX ARCHITECT
UX CONSULTANT
UX RESEARCHER
UX DESIGNER
UX/UI
UX DESIGNER
UX PSYCHOLOGIST
SERVICE DESIGNER
?
ROLE EVOLUTION?
DESIGNER
?
https://vimeo.com/134560844
FIGHT FOR USER CENTRICITYEducate and demonstrate
• research strategy • test scripting • information architecture • workshop facilitation • persona development • remote user testing • lab based user testing • ethnography • insight report writing
GAIN AND EXTEND RESEARCH SKILLS
GAIN AND EXTEND RESEARCH SKILLS• Participate in user testing sessions
• Seek out research-specific mentorship
• Learn from Psychology graduates (BSc not BA)
• Get into Psychology and HCI literature searches