The Art of User Experience: A Mindshift for Better Design

I’m writing this article Middle of the night because I’ve been thinking a lot about the user experience and how it affects our lives this is something I really wanted to share with you. User experience is something that surrounds us and permeates every aspect of our lives, from the moment we were born. It’s an explosion of our senses and an unlocking of brain cells that allow us to see the world in a new light.

As an information technology undergraduate, my knowledge of user experience is still limited. But as a user experience enthusiast, I am constantly curious and observing the world around me to see how well-designed products and software can enhance our lives. I often find myself admiring the creativity and innovations of the products of designers and engineers who create these masterpieces. On the other hand, “the hilarious part is, even though I am just a people person, I critique products that are poorly designed and fail to provide a good user experience, as this ultimately results in project failure. It makes sense to me.

Storytime

Let me share a personal story with you.

“I am from Sri Lanka, where power cuts are a common occurrence due to the country’s power issues. I am living in a flat near my university because my home is far away. I usually go home every month last weekend my room at my home is always messy because of my lazy nature and attitude. My mother would come every weekend and clean up the room, making it neat and tidy. And make it looks good when we say “nice and neat” and she makes my room to mean it. However, I would always end up making it messy again. As usual, power cuts happen at night. while I was working on my computer. Although it is dark, I was still able to find my bottle, snack box, and even my mouse and graphic tablet pen because I knew where everything is. My mind knows where are the things I have to map according to my personality and requirements which can reach my left and right hand on the table as my brain cells are trained since I born which is the solution for me to have good usability and accessibility around my room.”

This made me realize that, while a neat and tidy room may look good, it may not always be the best solution for everyone.

Have you ever thought about what makes a great user experience? Sure, having streamlined navigation with fewer node jumps in wireframing and prototype and a visually appealing interface is important, WOW! If that`s only what you focus on throughout ex design. congratulation! You will be good enough to make users impress at the first sign. And Oops! the users interact with and experience it, that first impression will be disappeared. Because it’s not just about that. It’s really about creating an emotional connection with the user from the first impression all the way through their interaction with the system. User experience goes beyond just the practicality of the product, it’s about how it makes the user feel. That’s what makes a truly exceptional user experience. It’s all about the emotional impact.

The story highlights that the most attractive, neat, and easy-to-use design is not always the best solution. The colors, tools, and technologies used in design do not define the user experience. What’s important is to focus on solving the problem from the user’s perspective, rather than just relying on our own knowledge and technology.

I used to think that UI/UX design was just about learning how to use Figma as an expert in graphic design among my colleagues, but I was wrong. No wonder why we used to say young and dumb. When I look back at my first-year case studies, I realize that I lacked an analytical approach and failed to understand the user’s requirements and needs.

The key to success in UX design is to constantly conduct research, gather data, and evaluate the solution to find the best fit for the user. This process is ongoing and ever-evolving, as technology advances and user needs change. It always keeps changing and changing and going forward in an iterative path.

Mr. Rasika Mahindasiri’s book “Tier 1 User Experience Designer” on User Experience Design. You are lucky if you are Sri Lankan or understand Sinhala and he explains UX design in a way that anyone can understand. He covers all the important aspects and makes it easy for people to get a grasp of the usability experience. If you are a geek in IT. this is must book to read! Available for purchase for those interested. However, the first paragraph can be previewed for free to give a glimpse into the content.

There are numerous resources available that delve deeper into the concept of UX design and provide a more comprehensive understanding of what it entails. From books and articles to online courses and workshops, you can find plenty of information on the subject to help you gain a more solid grasp of the pure idea behind UX.

Here are some popular books which I can recommend to learn about UX design,

1. “Don’t Make Me Think” by Steve Krug
2. “The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web” by Jesse James Garrett
3. “Seductive Interaction Design” by Stephen Anderson
4. “The Design of Everyday Things” by Don Norman
5. “About Face 3: The Essentials of Interaction Design” by Alan Cooper, Robert Reimann, and David Cronin
6. “A Project Guide to UX Design” by Rossotti and Turkel
7. “100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People” by Susan Weinschenk
8. “Rocket Surgery Made Easy: The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Finding and Fixing Usability Problems” by Steve Krug
9. “The UX Book: Process and Guidelines for Ensuring a Quality User Experience” by Rex Hartson and Pardha S Pyla
10. “The UX Design Process: A Guide for Teams” by Sarah Doody.

And of course, You are welcome!

In conclusion, user experience is a complex and multi-faceted field that requires constant learning and growth. As UX designers, we may not always find the perfect solution, but with every study and research we do, we get one step closer to creating the perfect masterpiece.

Just wanted to share my take on user experience with you. you may have different perspectives on the art of UX design, and different strokes for different folks. I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas on the subject. It’s always great to get a fresh perspective. Thanks in advance for sharing!