I’m currently working on a presentation to help introduce tools to my colleagues that may help improve the work that we do towards enabling great user experiences with our online and mobile properties. One particular point I am trying to make is that the web sites we may create do not stand alone in a user’s experience with our company. There are many other external factors at work that contribute to the experience they ultimately have. These external factors are important to recognize and understand in order to effectively design and build the web components we are responsible for.
While taking a break from my work I noticed Dan Willis’s post at uxcrank.com about the role of Design and Web sites in user experience.
A Web site can affect emotion, but only fleetingly. A customer’s experience can involve a Web site, but even in the case of an online retailer, the Web site is only ever a part of the overall experience. So by itself, Web design is an impotent tool for affecting an organization’s brand.
That’s the thing though, Web design isn’t a solo act. It’s not an end unto itself. Design is one of the side effects of a solid problem-solving process that defines these key elements:
1. Who are your Web site’s most important users?
2. What are the goals of your Web site’s most important users?
3. Which of the goals of your Web site’s most important users can your organization address most effectively?
4. Is what you gain from satisfying those user goals worth what it costs?
I couldn’t have said it any better myself, and his great words will find a way into my work :) Thanks, Dan!
Livia Labate and I have been trying out new ways to help communicate issues we observe with flows. Here’s a high-level example.
Use this tool to document the experiences you observe directly from users or from other metrics. This can reflect the experience of an individual user or a composite of similar user behaviors. The diagram can help communicate troublesome areas of a particular process in the user experience.
The idea is…
The more unexpected activities we add to a process the more room there is for complication.
The more a user slides the more likely they may fall and not achieve their goal.
To address this…
We must remember to better manage expectations and assist users in completing required tasks so they don’t fall.
It’s been almost two years since I sat down to really evaluate and articulate all that I’ve accomplished professionally. I worked on so many different projects and at different capacities it’s challenging to identify what I should concentrate on next.
With almost 10 years experience in UX it’s time to evaluate and expand. I’m beginning this journey by preparing an online portfolio.
Preparing an online portfolio is new for me, but will be an incredible exercise in identifying my best work, succinctly articulating my accomplishments, and broadcasting this to the world.
One thing is true with all of my endeavors… I plan them out. So, here’s the plan:
1. Identify strengths and skills to include
I’m starting with an assessment of the strengths and skills I wish to highlight from my work. Here’s what I’m looking to demonstrate:
- design and user research
- information architecture
- interaction design
- user experience strategy
- usability evaluation
- models and frameworks
- collaboration and brainstorming
- process development
2. Review past work for examples
Next I dig into my past work looking for examples of all of these strengths and skills. I’m not looking to categorize all of my work, but I am looking for good examples where I had a significant effort that I can speak to.
3. Pick the 5 best
Why only 5 examples? More is not better. I want to really shine without being overwhelming or too repetitive.
4. Write mini case studies
Once I narrow the examples, each will be described through a mini case study that covers:
- purpose and goals
- process and challenges
- effect and result
In the end I should have a good idea of all that I’ve accomplished in the past 10 years and where I want to improve.
My friend, Sue has created a masterpiece. A true statement for the cause. Check out all the great balloon art from Black Cat Balloon Company on Flickr.
Here’s a collection of other fun things for Team Conan.
All this review is a little delayed it was well worth the time. Despite the overall gloomy haze that covered most of 2009 for the nation, there were many things to be proud be proud of.
Chaired for Pre-Conference at the IA Summit in Memphis, TN
With the help of fantastic folks like Samantha Bailey, Keith Instone, Mags Hanley, Jennifer Bohmbach, Donna Spencer, Stacy Surla, and Dick Hill, I took on the responsibility to organize and manage the efforts of the pre-conference workshops for the 2009 IA Summit. In addition to workshops, we also were able to hold the first-ever consortium in the history of the Summit. An awesome accomplishment with great success for the content strategy community.
Ran Second Marathon in Baltimore
In 2008 I ran my first marathon in Philadelphia with my good friend, Regan. It was such a major accomplishment for the both of us in my hometown that we also decided to give it a go in hers. Read about the fantastic experience we had in October.
Completed Full Year as a UX Researcher
In my quest to be the best User Experience Designer I can I chose to spend the past 18 months concentrating on understanding our users and how to best use that information to affect the products we provide. I’m very proud of the work I’ve done so far and the progress I’ve made as a new researcher and a designer.
Mentored a Transitioning UX Designer
I had the privilege this year of providing guidance to a very smart and enthusiastic woman interested in transitioning to UX. This is really fantastic and rewarding opportunity. I’m very proud of the progress and hope to continue playing a role in her transition.
Traveled to London, Edinburgh, Zagreb and Hawaii
Like every year, we try our best to travel to new places while also making a stop in Zagreb to see family. This year was no exception. The UK is always a treat, but Edinburgh was amazing and I really hope we get the opportunity to live there one day. Enjoy the pictures from my trip to London and Edinburgh.
I can only hope that 2010 continues to be a year of great experience and accomplishment. Looking forward to whatever lies ahead.
