Perception

I took NM4210 User Experience Design last semester, and it’s really been a module that has changed the way I think about design. One of the core lessons I’ve learnt from this class is the segmentation of the broad field of user experience design into four main parts- user research, information architecture, interaction design and visual design.

My initial passion for design definitely stemmed from an interest in aesthetic interfaces, but working on projects over these last two years has enlightened me how user experience is the crux of design. It’s sometimes easy to talk about design definitively, but achieving a level of effective design is much harder to qualify, let alone do in practice. This is what makes the field so exciting, and my relentless enthusiasm is no doubt driven by my perfectionistic streak.

I used to design in a backward manner- I would think of how something looks first before moving on to how it works, but this isn’t necessarily optimal in terms of usability. Being able to understand the difference more succinctly has been refreshing, and I’ve adopted the mentality that the focus of design should be on the user experience. What is interesting is in the context of the form versus function debate, which side of the fence does user experience fall? It may well be the important bridge that connects the two, and attaining good usability will probably see compromises from both sides.

Thinking about user experience design in the contexts of user research, information architecture, interaction design and visual design has made it easier as each area highlights a critical angle to consider. As they cover the different aspects of user experience, I would make the case that they are equally important in the sense that none should be neglected. The design process should also be iterative rather than waterfall, where each of these four areas are worked on in tandem. I’ll expand on each in the context of my interest- web design.

User research is clearly the important foundation on which any design must be built as design is inherently a practice backed by psychology. Understanding the audience of your design and receiving feedback from them is thus a critical process in design. While a case can be made that users “do not know what they want”, there ultimately has to be a compromise between the designer and users where the point of convergence is an implementation that achieves both their objectives.

Information architecture describes how the content of a site is structured, not just on the front-end but a top-down view as well, where a user navigates through the information on the website. It is necessary to find the balance between how much content should be shown to the user along with what kind of information is relevant to his or her needs. Making it easy for users to find what they’re looking for is thus achieved through a regular yet intuitive site layout.

Interaction design brings the user closer and how he or she behaves and responds to the system is the core of this idea. It is increasingly difficult to design task flows that accommodate the different platforms which we use daily- either through the browser or on the mobile, while meeting the user’s expectation of a certain slickness in the experience. Modern web technologies also afford more real-time interaction on the client side, leading to faster and less disrupted flows for getting things done. This is a popular trend these days, challenging the notion of page views which often web interactions are designed upon.

Visual design is probably the most subjective segment in user experience design, and often correlates with the intended branding and message of the system. Of course, following the basic principles advocated in user interface design like contrast, balance and spacing is pretty much necessary, but beyond that it usually varies depending on the brand. Having a design that is aesthetically pleasing is usually easier than having one that suits everyone’s taste.

All in all, it’s been a fantastic class that has definitely improved my understanding of user experience design concepts. The structure of the curriculum also repeatedly enforced the segmentation of these four aspects, granting a more in-depth look at each of them.