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Ch-Ch-Changes

12/6/20

Ch-Ch-Changes!

As I am writing this at the end of the year 2020, we all know what a year it's been.  A pandemic was declared at the beginning of this year, just as I decided to enter a UX/UI Design program.  It was perfect timing, and it was a decision that I spent much time making.  This year I learned how quickly things can change in our lives, and oftentimes those changes are not necessarily in our control.  The world of technology moves quickly and things change rather rapidly, as we advance in our use of technology and the use of AI becoming more and more commonplace.  As I am writing this, we are on the precipice of some major changes that we all know is happening. As a person desiring to work in this field, I am often left with many questions on what this career will look like as we enter 2021.  

I feel that oftentimes the general populous is left in the dark on what all newer computer systems and AI are capable of. I often think that we are the ones left in the dark about what computer systems are capable of, and if those systems can take the place of many jobs.  I know I am not the only one to think of this.  When it comes to design, I wonder how those implications could affect our careers and what we do.  If an AI could design something quickly and more intelligently, would that be the direction that we move in?

This question leaves we with this answer on an intuitive level.  We will still need to test what is created on users, and the only ones who could do that would be the UX designer. Our humanness is what is important and is what we are testing for.  An AI could compute or figure out certain placements for buttons or patterns in design that work best, but I would bet at the end of the day humans are the best ones to figure out and test these solutions for products. At least that is what I am telling myself now. Additionally, AI can acquire information but not so much experience, which is what we are actually testing for.  AI is not technically determined as having consciousness and therefore not able to catalogue having human experiences.  

This knowledge and synthesis lends to provide more validation in the importance of this career and the work we do as designers attending to our fellow humans.  It will be interesting to see how we develop and what our year 2021 has in store for us as humans and as user experience designers.  Despite some fears that pop up, I believe we are going to be surprised what the next years have in store for us, and technology is going to be a huge player as it already is, but in more advanced ways as we go into this next age. 

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I Do What I Want!

I do what I want!

11/28/20

I named the title of this blog post, “I do what I want,” because as a designer it’s something that has apparent pitfalls in this industry.  We all have probably experienced some part of our rebellious natures during some point in our lives. It could be when we were becoming teenagers, or for some political aspirations, perhaps even when we hit our “mid-life crisis.”  But to be a good designer, you have to be wise in how you channel this energy because it does have a place, but not when it comes to your audience.

This thought came through to me in a very odd way.  I ordered my favorite burrito meal from a local restaurant, of course to-go as we are still in a lockdown for COVID-19.�� It is a burrito, along with rice and beans on the side.  It is also smothered with sour cream, and salsa.  Wow, you say, this sounds really good, and it is! However, of course thinking as a designer, sometimes it isn’t that user friendly.  In the to-go meal it’s all in one package so the burrito is all smashed against the cooked black beans and rice.  And the sauces are spread all over the top of the burrito unless you specify you don’t want that. If I put this into designer terms, I am the user and I don’t find this set up to be user friendly.   This is where we run into a problem.  Most people hold their burritos when they eat them. With the burrito being smothered with sauces, it makes it nearly impossible to hold the burrito without getting sauce all over.  Therefore, you have to resort to cutting the burrito, which is not very intuitive for most people.  Additionally, the burrito being forced to smash up with the beans makes it another issue.  

This is a new restaurant, and I find that as a user they miss the dots on these simple things, which I think is very important.  During my school we were asked to research items that had good design and not good design, it could be anything.  I found that exercise to be very valuable as we interface with so many different technologies during our daily lives.  This would be a great example of how important it is to be a designer and what we can do to help fill in the gaps of things that people miss because they are focused on various other aspects of the business.  The “users” that go to the restaurant or the only ones that experience what it's like to go through this process, and oftentimes they are left to grumble to themselves with no audience.  Such as myself, grumbling about how to eat my burrito pleasurably without making a mess.

UX/UI designers are that bridge that gap to put those pieces together to make products even that better and customers happy.  It’s a hard thing to do too!  How many times have I really liked a design element only to find out it doesn’t work.  There is no room for being stubborn and “do what you want” if it's not working for the overall user experience.  In the burrito I just purchased, the burrito designer, if you will, put so much sour cream and chives on top ( which is a new thing) that it was relatively impossible to eat it without utensils.  I imagined this person creating this artistically beautiful burrito, which as designers we can get caught up in, and then the product looked good, but was super frustrating for the user.  So we have to get out of our own way, look at our users, and marry usefulness and design.  We are the ones who are the architects of the whole experience and who can help to positively enhance the experience of users and businesses.  What a great thing to help with!  It’s a great thing to help humanity in whatever ways we can, even when it comes down to our interfaces because as we become more digital, it will be imperative.  

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Color!

11/21/20

Color!  We all love color.  It can give life to a seemingly dull landscape, it can influence our mood, and create ambience.  Interior designers are aware of how to use color and what colors fit those environments the best.  In digital design, we can find and apply the same methods.  Branding is another way we can make connections with our user audience through symbolism, font, and of course color.  There are many psychological uses for color and the way we use it needs to be strategic.  As designers, it is imperative that we ask ourselves, what is that we are trying to communicate?  

Blue:

What does blue evoke in you?

Peacefulness, calm, regal, professionalism, higher values.

Black:

What does black evoke in you?

Classic, timelessness, emptiness, vastness, power.

Yellow:

What does yellow evoke in you?

Joy, happiness, positivity, health, optimism, buoyancy. 

Orange:

What does orange evoke in you?

Health, social, friendly, vibrancy, creativity.

Red:

What does red evoke in you?

Action, aggression, movement, fire, anger, survival.

Green:

What does green evoke in you?

Health, nature, acceptance, serenity, jealousy, organic

Purple:

What does purple evoke in you?

Regality, creativity, eccentric, difference, depth

White:

What does white evoke in you?

Purity, clarity, cleanliness, light, reflection, softness

The list can go on and on, and of course with variations in hue.  As we evolve with design and in our consciousness maybe there will be a step away from the traditional meanings of these colors and how they are used. Now that we can select different background colors and with the use of more dark UI patterns the use of color may find different contexts.  As a fundamental base, these meanings can help steer us in a direction that is most useful for our users and communicates to them.  

At the end of the day, the colors form to create an experience.  As designers if we tap into the “experience” we are wanting to create the colors should come through, perhaps even in unconscious ways and influence our overall direction.  Connecting the dots between psychology and design continues to inspire me and help inform us.  User testing also can report back much information that is both helpful, practical, informative, and may also help point us in the direction in the way we use color as we evolve in designing.  

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Gestalt and Design

During my internship at Flatiron school for UX/UI Design, I had the opportunity to interview a very intelligent and experienced designer.  During his user testing with our project, he continually commented on gestalt theory and its importance in design. As a psychology major, I had a knowledge of this concept but more in a therapeutic setting. I have to admit, due to my love of psychology, I was happy to hear him make this reference.  In study, I find this to be a very interesting topic for design as well as keeping the fundamentals of this theory in mind when designing.  For example, to make a CTA a red color as opposed to a blue color.  Red indicates action, a go-to item.  The meaning of red is often associated with action, movement, and aggression.  

“The term Gestalt means unified whole,” according to Creativbloq. (https://www.creativebloq.com/graphic-design/gestalt-theory-10134960) When applied to design it is the way that humans look at something in its entirety.  It is the way the pieces are put together to create the whole and what that experience lends to the viewer.   As a designer, it is my goal to create a pleasant experience for the user.  Some of what is found in gestalt theory for design is rather intuitive or maybe even unconscious.  However, a fundamental understanding of its principles is valuable in furthering your eye for design. 

Ideas, such as similarity, proximity, figure, and order when applied, enhance the overall visual and psychological harmony of your design.  With the insurgence of technology in our everyday lives creating this harmony for users is imperative as we move forward in our technological evolution.  How often do we disregard, or quit using programs based on their usability and design alone.  I know that I have done it plenty.  In the end, we want to design to make things better, to make us better, to make our interactions easier and enjoyable.  We can do that studying Gestalt theory, and its implications in design.  Overall, these concepts take our designs to the next level and reiterate the importance of psychology in creating useful interfaces. It helps us to be more intentional and empathic to our users by allowing us to incorporate these concepts into our designs to effectively communicate to our users on how to use our programs and also to create a sense of harmony.  The last thing we want to do is give our users a headache after interfacing with one of our designs.  This is also where user testing proves to give us helpful feedback. 

In the end, I believe the Gestalt is old in concept but there is so much more we can do to study its implications in design and how that will shape the future and evolution of designing. If we want to make it intuitive, Gestalt theory practices are a great foundation to structure our designs.  

Below are some great resources that illustrate some of the Gestalt principles in practice. 

https://designshack.net/articles/inspiration/design-science-what-is-gestalt-theory

https://www.creativebloq.com/graphic-design/gestalt-theory-10134960

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Working on my portfolio afforded me the time to contemplate who I am as a designer and allowed me to recognize patterns that may have been not entirely conscious in the process. While learning how to design, especially in a bootcamp, the time to sit back and think over your work seems less time efficient as the program moves at a very fast pace.  Less time for contemplation and more time to make it through the assignments and content.  

Now that I have completed the program and have more time to reflect, I see some places where I tend to design a certain way or lean toward color patterns or design elements which can keep me in a certain box. I know I like dark UI and really vibrant colors, however, I am not certain that it’s helpful for me to showcase this bias.  

As a designer, it’s important to prove that you are flexible, and more so, design for the user.  I see so many interfaces changing, and all for the better.  LinkedIn recently did a great upgrade to their interface and so did facebook (although it’s still arguable if users enjoy the change).  There certainly are new patterns emerging from these new interfaces, and it is a learning experience to notice the changes they are making and how that is influencing my experience as a user.  

Overall, some patterns are “trendy” or moving with our evolution in design, which it’s important to keep in keep in step with.  However, as far as your personal design style, I can see that it is good to cultivate that and define yourself in a way.  At the same time, it is extremely important to become aware of your biases in designing and your personal preferences.  Much of what we do at times can be rather unconscious, so as Carl Jung the psychologist recommends, “you must make the unconscious, conscious.” If we do not, then we are left with it guiding us and maybe not in the best of ways. (http://thelawofattractionsceptic.com/until-you-make-the-unconscious-conscious/)

As a designer, I see where I need to spend more time reflecting and really getting into the experience of the user and keeping in line with the goals of the brand or platform.

Designer bias, the way I am discussing it here, maybe more to do with our preferences as designers.  To conclude, I realize how important it is to define my style but also allow for flexibility and expansiveness. I think it’s a fine line to walk, but probably one of the most important things to do as I move forward in this career path.  I am glad I have been afforded the time to reflect on my work and integrate that awareness into my future designs. 

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Wow Factor

10/30/20

“Wow factor!”  What is it?  You know that feeling you get when you look at something really inspiring, aesthetically pleasing, or advanced in some regard.  In design, this happens frequently.  We get “wowed” by something we see, whether it be a design element, a function, or someone’s exquisite portfolio.  

As a beginning designer, currently working on my portfolio, it is easy for me to experience this “wow factor.”  It’s really easy when you are exploring different portfolios while Googling “best UX/UI portfolios” to experience this feeling.  I like being wowed with the UI of someone’s amazing portfolio.  They have all the stops, interaction elements, modernized layouts and images, even some implore music! And yes, I am left with “WOW.”  

As I explore these portfolios more, the “wow” factor starts to lessen as I struggle with knowing how to move around the site, or I am not left with clear exit options. It’s easy to feel a sense of “wow” and be inspired by someone else’s design work, but if you are left feeling lost in their site it can be very debilitating and keeps me from seeing their work. So yes, I am left with feeling not completely “full.”  

This experience reiterates the importance of functionality and designing in a way that is clear for the user to experience your work fully.  So when I Google these amazing portfolios and feel somewhat inadequate in the wake of all the “glitz and glam” of a person’s portfolio site, I can’t help to be left with the impression that it must be functional and intuitive to navigate.  It doesn’t necessarily need to be traditional design, but it must be intuitive.  To me those things are very different.  

If a site has too much “glitz and glam” and you are left wavering on how to move forward or backward, it can lessen the experience.  But if there are clear labels, a structure to the design elements which a user can tap into then, I believe that is geared to be way more useful than show stopping design elements.  

Now I am not AT ALL one of those people that say the navigation and exit points must all be the same, as I am one to really enjoy figuring out an interface and experience something novel in a design.  It’s exciting for me to be interfaced with a new element or something that takes me a second to figure out, but there is reward when you do. The design must connect on the meta level with its users.  If people are left wondering in a frustrated way, then that is not a useful aspect of a design.  However, if they are instead left with curiosity, excitement, pleasure, or it helps them think a different way, then you have successfully navigated the “wow factor” because you have met that concept with intuitive functionality. 

So, at the end of the day, it's a fine line to walk and to do successfully.  As a designer, it’s something that I hope to master one day, and it can be displayed on my portfolio.  Not only do I want to “wow” people, but I want them to leave with a feeling of success, inspiration, and maybe like they learned something new.  As we advance in our abilities and how we utilize technology we will be constantly looking to expand and redefine what works in design.  Like so many things in design, we must continually iterate to fit the design needs of our time. 

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Intuition and Design “Do I go left, or do I go right?” This is a literal and metaphoric question that we are all faced with in our lives.  Oftentimes when we are unsure about a decision, we will seek guidance from someone who we perceive wiser than ourselves.  I would bet that many of us have probably had that wise person respond with a simple statement, “trust your gut.” 

“Trusting your gut,” well it’s just that simple? However, for many it is not as easy as it would seem. It appears that some just have that natural ability to function from this mysterious center of wisdom with ease.  While for many, it is more a struggle to listen and act on what their “gut” is telling them.  Human beings were created, as it seems, to have this inherent emotional guidance system to help navigate ourselves through our lives.  However, It remains a mystery. What exactly is our intuition?  Where does it come from?  These questions may have been attempted to be answered through science, psychology, or other studies.  But truth be told, no one really knows exactly what it is.  

When we are unsure, feeling like we are lacking direction, or confused, it's often what we dial into to make decisions. Whether it be done consciously or unconsciously.  We all also know distinctly when we don’t, as we often will experience the consequences for ignoring it.   For example, when we say yes to something or make decisions even though it seems incorrect or “off.” We probably have all had the experience of saying to ourselves in hindsight,  “I knew not to do that, or I should have listened to myself.” 

The price we pay for not listening to our gut feeling can lead us down the “wrong”path, impacting our financial, emotional, and physical worlds.  And in the end, there is always a lesson to be learned, and perhaps that is the beauty of it.

Personally, I tend to have a whimsical personality and be a bit in my head.  To get into my “gut,” listen to it, and act on that is a practice. I am also willing to amidst that it is not as easy as the simple statement may imply.  Listening to our “gut” is a process in and of itself, and one can experience several obstacles in doing so.  

Starting a career in UX/UI design, I can tell you that it’s forced me to listen to those instincts and trust them.  If I am unsure about an element on a design, I find that it is immediately pointed out, validating my gut instinct.  Then I am often left saying to myself, “I knew not to do that.”   

The great thing about design is that it can always be worked out and iterated on.  I would say similarly to the practice of trusting your gut instincts.  There will be moments that I will be faced with this dilemma in creating designs and I hope each time that I do, I can pause, step back, and get in touch with that intuition. Additionally, each time I listen to my intuition, I begin to trust myself more.  It will not only make me a better designer, but also will help me in my personal growth and development.  

So next time you are unsure about something in a design, it is a prime opportunity to step back, go within and consult our inner guidance system on what direction to take.  It’s easy to get impulsive, with time constraints and other extraneous variables, but to get the best product it’s imperative that you hone your intuition and learn to trust it.  It is not only a design lesson but a life lesson.