Understanding the Basics of UX Design

Aug 22, 2024

UX Design Overview

Introduction

  • Host: D, Senior Product Designer at AJ and Smart
  • Experience: Over 10 years in product design and UX design
  • Video purpose: Clarify what UX design is, its importance, and what UX designers do daily.

What is UX Design?

  • UX design is often misunderstood.
  • Analogy: Eating cereal involves the product (cereal), interface (bowl and spoon), and user experience (how it feels to eat).
  • Objective: Improve existing user experience rather than creating a new one.

Key Components of UX Design

  1. Useful: The product must serve a purpose.
  2. Usable: The product should be easy and efficient to use.
  3. Desirable: The product should be aesthetically pleasing to attract users.

Example: Coffee Cups

  • Two cups analyzed based on usefulness, usability, and desirability:
    • Cup A:
      • Holds coffee (useful).
      • Insulated design (usable).
      • Attractive design (desirable).
    • Cup B:
      • Holds coffee (useful).
      • Difficult to hold, can burn hands (not usable).
      • Less attractive (not desirable).

Importance of User-Focused Design

  • Many companies prioritize business perspectives over user experiences.
  • Example: Poor design led to a nuclear power plant meltdown due to user interface issues.

UX Design Process

  • Commonly depicted in circular or linear diagrams, but not strictly linear in practice.
  • Key steps include:
    1. Understanding: User research to identify needs and behaviors.
    2. Ideating: Brainstorming and sketching design concepts.
    3. Testing: Validating designs with real users.
    4. Crafting: Building and implementing the final product.
  • Flexibility in moving between steps.

Daily Tasks of a UX Designer

  • Creating wireframes to show user flow.
  • Conducting ethnographic research in real-life environments.
  • Collaborating with developers to bridge user needs with technology.
  • Testing concepts with users to gather feedback.
  • Presenting findings and design concepts to teams.
  • Facilitating workshops for collaboration and co-creation.

Conclusion

  • UX design is crucial for creating effective user experiences.
  • Bad UX can lead to significant repercussions for organizations.
  • Engage with the host by asking questions in the comments and following their content on social media and podcasts.