Guide to Writing UX Case Studies - Part 1

Introduction

• Importance of UX case studies for job applications
• Overview of the two-part series:
  • Part 1: Mistakes & First Half of Writing Case Studies
  • Part 2: Second Half and Resources

Understanding the Importance

• Case studies are products; treat them as user experiences.
• Readers/users have limited attention spans.
• Content should showcase:
  • Results and outputs
  • A visually appealing layout

Common Mistakes in Case Studies

Pre-Case Study Mistakes

1. Lack of Basics in UX and Psychology

   • Learn basics before starting.
   • Recommended resources:
     • Foundations of UX Design (YouTube, 15 episodes)
     • Growth.design psychology models
     • Built for Mars psychology models

2. Incomplete Knowledge of Figma

   • Know components, styles, auto layouts, and variants.
   • Checklists:
     • Figma office hours playlist (50% completion).
     • Figma best practices guide.

3. Lack of Inspiration and Research

   • Use UX Inspiration Checklist.
   • Suggested websites for inspiration include Mobin, SAS interface, Page flows, Landing folio, etc.

4. Not Documenting Resources and Plugins

   • Importance of Figma plugins and their usage (e.g., Content Reel, Sorter, Unsplash).
   • Use platforms like Notion for documentation.

5. Ignoring UI Guidelines

   • Validate against iOS HCI guidelines or Material Design guidelines for Android.

6. Working on Fictional Problem Statements

   • Avoid solving trivial problems.
   • Use AI tools like ChatGPT for generating realistic UX problems.

Writing the Case Study

Major Components

• Defining the Problem and Goal
  • Ensure it’s clear and simple.
  • Avoid adding unnecessary complexity.
• Show Before and After Evolution
  • Focus on outputs more than the research.
• Make Case Studies Easy to Read
  • Use clear and concise language, strong hierarchy, bullet points.

Examples of Good Case Studies

1. Mahesh Jaitani - Coho housing mobile app.
   • Clear problem statement with design considerations.
2. Abhishek Gupta - Ordering from multiple restaurants.
   • Organized format, conversational style, bullet points.
3. Yogesh Mithun - Landing page for a client.
   • Clean design and presentation of the process.

Examples of Mistakes in Case Studies

1. Distraction from Layout
   • Avoid complex two-column layouts.
2. Unrealistic Problem Statements
   • Simplify goals.
3. Cluttered and Overdetailed Projects
   • Concise communication preferred.

Checklist for Improved Case Study Writing

• Write on Medium, embed in Notion.
• Select simple, relevant problems instead of big brands.
• Use concise wording, focus on one core problem.
• Maintain readability, avoid distractions.

Resources

• Free UX Design Course on YouTube.
• Essential videos on documentation and resources.
• Follow for Part 2 for additional insights!

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