Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by SkyLemon 1426 days ago
I usually recommend the following to people I work with:

Practice, but also in all aspects of life, UX - User experience, is not limited to only the realm of computer interface.

Learn to paper prototype, by hand, no computer, no rulers, it's not meant to look pretty, at lest not at first (graphing paper is recommended).

Read Norman's design principles (https://www.educative.io/answers/what-are-normans-design-pri...). Why because they are short and concise, and a good starting point, but not necessarily the be all and end all. (First learn the rules, understand the rules and why they exist, then if needed break them.)

Then look at everything in to world, everything at one point had to be designed. Ask yourself what was the reason. Why did something get build they way it did. Read up on general design and look into intent of why something was/is done a certain way.

Why are milk and eggs at the back of a store? Why are they together? Look at every door handle, why is it the way it is, what does it communicate? Sidewalks, roads, crossing, traffic lights, color usage, shapes, position orientation. Look at everything around you and work out why it is the way it is.

Once you catch yourself doing this subconsciously, look at graphic design, ads, magazines, chose your own adventure books. (Slightly off topic but a good radio series: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/undertheinfluence)

In the end keep in mind, that a lot of design is a response to a need, Sometime bad design is needed, bad design forms a presentence, and unless you are willing to retrain every user, you likely have to follow it... think Qwerty keyboards.

Good luck!

1 comments

Also keep in mind what each step is doing. Is it clear what to do? What will happen next? Why am I filling out this form (again)? Above all use your GUI. Use it yourself. Pretend you know nothing of the space and is it clear what is going on? Grab someone and have them use it, do not walk them through it. Can they get through it without help? Are they getting stuck? One that has been bugging me for a few years now. If you have something that is required. Make sure it is marked. Make sure if they hit next you do not clear out the whole form.