XCA 2023

🔰 Workshop

An Introduction to UX & Human-Centered Design

In this presentation, we explored the fundamentals of User Experience (UX) and Human-Centered Design, providing a solid introduction to these critical concepts. We began by defining UX and dispelling common misconceptions about it, emphasizing its significance in creating user-centric software solutions.

We delved into the skills and responsibilities associated with UX roles, highlighting the multidisciplinary nature of UX design and the importance of collaboration. We introduced foundational UX principles such as the Isolation Effect, Hick's Law, and Fitts' Law, explaining how these principles guide design decisions to enhance user experiences.

Additionally, we offered an overview of Design Thinking, a problem-solving approach that puts empathy and user needs at the forefront. We discussed its five key stages: Empathize, define, imagine, prototype, and test, showcasing how it fosters innovation and user-centric design.

Presentation

Sources & Resources

Online Resources:

  1. Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g): NN/g is a leading UX research and consulting firm, and their website offers a wealth of articles, reports, and usability guidelines.

  2. Smashing Magazine: Smashing Magazine features articles, tutorials, and resources on web design, UX, and front-end development.

  3. Interaction Design Foundation (IDF): IDF provides affordable UX courses and articles on various UX topics, making it a great resource for beginners.

  4. UX Design Institute: Offers a Professional Diploma in UX Design, which is recognized globally and provides comprehensive UX education.

  5. Usability.gov: A resource from the U.S. government with guidelines, best practices, and case studies related to usability and UX design.

  6. A List Apart: A resource for web developers and designers, focusing on web standards and best practices for creating accessible and user-friendly websites.

  7. UX Planet: A Medium publication that features articles, case studies, and insights from UX professionals and designers.

Books:

  1. "Don't Make Me Think" by Steve Krug: This classic book provides practical advice on web usability and how to create intuitive user interfaces.

  2. "The Design of Everyday Things" by Don Norman: A foundational book on design principles and human-centered design, exploring how everyday objects are designed for usability.

  3. "The Lean UX" by Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden: This book introduces Lean UX principles, focusing on collaboration, experimentation, and iteration in UX design and development.

  4. "Seductive Interaction Design" by Stephen Anderson: A book that delves into the psychology of user engagement and how to create compelling digital experiences.

  5. "About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design" by Alan Cooper, Robert Reimann, and David Cronin: A comprehensive guide to interaction design, covering principles and best practices.

  6. "Design for How People Learn" by Julie Dirksen: This book explores the principles of instructional design and how to create effective learning experiences in software applications.

  7. "The Elements of User Experience" by Jesse James Garrett: A book that breaks down the components of user experience design, from strategy to structure to surface.

  8. "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman: While not specifically a UX book, it offers insights into human cognition and decision-making, which are crucial for UX designers to understand.

Organizations

Interaction Design Foundation (IDF): IDF provides affordable UX courses and articles on various UX topics, making it a great resource for beginners.

User Experience Professionals Association (UXPA): UXPA is a global organization dedicated to supporting and advancing the field of user experience.

Action Design: Action Design is an organization focused on the intersection of behavioral science and design. It explores how behavioral insights can be applied to design products and services that drive user actions and behavior change.