Here’s my UX confession (which I end up stating often): I am a user experience designer, but not the graphic designer kind. Sure, I know my color theory fundamentals, know how to cut/edit existing graphics with the best of ‘em, and - having worked with a dozen or so very talented graphic/brand designers over the years - I definitely know the difference between “good” and “amateurish” visual design. It’s just that in my case I chose to focus more on user research, user testing, interaction architecture, and the strategic side - in other words, the rational and behavioral, rather than the more aesthetic and visceral, aspects of design. I have found during my career that, unless you’re some kind of modern-day Michelangelo, it’s a very rare thing indeed for one individual to be strong in the full spectrum of “user experience research and design” skills.
Over the past 7 years, while working at entrepreneurial and budget-conscious medium-sized companies, I have felt an explicit wish from colleagues for a “do it all” designer - someone who can whip up a compelling Photoshop comp, while also do great user research and render well-thought-out wireframes and workflows. While i’m the first to admit that grayscale wireframes aren’t particularly sexy, I strongly believe that the process that goes into creating them is as - if not more - important to the success of the ultimate website or web app than are its graphic design elements. Interestingly, I’ve found that it takes my colleagues and management about 6-9 months to come to this realization, usually after asking something like, “What’s the difference between your UX process and the Creative process again?”.
For me, it ultimately comes down to asking users to vote: If you had to choose one over the other (obviously having both would be ideal), which would you choose: a site with a smooth, intuitive workflow and mediocre color scheme, or a site with a great color scheme but awkward workflow? I’ve found that in the “app” world (and many new websites are much more “app” than “site”) the predominant answer is “workflow”. Ultimately it’s hard to fix a broken structural foundation, while it’s easier to embellish a less-than-pretty face.
The strategic companies get this and keep someone like me on board; the less strategic continue down the road of beautifying their sites/app, while making few user friends and brand advocates in the process.
How to Reach Mark
email: mark.hall99@gmail.comskype: markhall_skype
twitter: @HallmarkUX
linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/hallmarkexperience
No comments:
Post a Comment