There seems to be a bit of a trend at the moment, within developmental circles to just add a few wireframes and develop a prototype or two, and then you can declare you are across the user experience design process.
The thing is User Experience is a lot more than just a few simple techniques, it’s an entire collaborative design process, in a way it’s not just a single methodology at all.
This lack of being a single methodology may be part of the issue.
Listening is one of those skills that no one really talks about, and yet listening is critical to User Research and general business as well.
You have to understand, and in some cases even become emotive, with the users you are listening to. Yes we can all listen to some degree, but the reality is this will not be that thorough, there will be gaps, major things that you will miss or just did not understand completely.
It follows in the field of user experience listening is critical. Without it you just aren’t going to a able to understand the issues your users are telling you, or worse you will miss important information.
I’m seeing an interesting trend here in Perth. Recently, job adverts and recruiters looking for Test Analysts to do usability and accessibility testing as part of their duties. Now this is a good thing in a way.
At least the traditional roles of the IT software project are understanding the need for usability and accessibility testing in web and general software projects. I guess something is better than nothing, right?
Well maybe not.
Photo: Caronne
This is part three of the 5 x 5 interview series of the speakers presenting at the Edge of the Web conference in Perth next month. This time I’m interviewing Ruth Ellison, she will be presenting on Guerrilla user & design research: undertaking research on a shoestring at the Edge of the Web.
Ruth is a user experience practitioner originally from Perth, who has been lured over to the not so bright lights of Canberra, she has a wealth of experience in Information Architecture with a passion for accessibility and usability. Ruth also has this thing for Robots.
Gary Barber
I’m an independent User Experience Consultant.
I design interfaces, build information architectures, HTML prototypes, run workshops on UX design, do user research and conduct usability & accessibility testing and audits.
I can work within your existing team or as an external consultant on a contract or adhoc basis.
You can contact me via my company, radharc or just email me.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 Australia License.
