What is UX?
As part of my MA in User Experience Design, I completed a module called UX Design.
This blog post was originally published as part of the reflective piece I wrote throughout that module.
I think halfway through a Masters in UX is a good time to be asking this question…
Jokes aside, it’s always good to reflect on this question. I have been working in the related field of e-learning design for over 10 years. In that time, the industry and my role within it has evolved. So I’m still questioning what exactly it is that I do!
The question “what does UX mean to you” was a starting point for discussion during the first week of the UX Design module. I decided to share my thoughts and reflections here.
My initial thoughts
For me, UX is very holistic. It can describe any experience that a user has when they interact with something. The user can be anyone and doesn't even need to be human. The thing can be digital, non-digital or a hybrid. For example, it could include:
My cat using his cat flap
Me turning my shower on
Me using my phone to transfer money
My friend and I navigating our way out of the Barbican a few weeks ago :)
I know this definition is extremely broad and encompasses a lot of things. It includes lots of things that would normally be thought of as separate areas such as product design and architecture. However, what they have in common, from a UX perspective, is:
Interactivity - doing a thing with a thing
Centering the design of those experiences around the user (rather than the thing being interacted with)
So with that definition in mind, UX design is thinking about how to influence (for better or for worse) those experiences. In what ways should we influence those experiences? Perhaps I want to make it quicker and easier for my cat (Haribo) to use his cat flap. But perhaps I want to place obstacles in the way of transferring money and slow down that process to reduce errors/force me to think about whether I want to do what I'm doing.
I realise I am putting all of this in the context of my own experiences and we are not our users. But reflecting on my own experiences as a user has been what's inspired me to want to design better experiences. Not just for myself!
Other students’ thoughts
After thinking and writing about what UX means to me, I decided to look at what my peers had written in the module community discussion boards. How did my thoughts compare?
When I read my peers’ responses, I noticed a few common themes:
Intersection of business and user needs
Seeing users as customers
Balancing organisational/business needs with the needs of those who use products and/or services
Designing the best experience possible within given constraints
Reflection
There was a much greater focus on UX from a business perspective in other people’s responses. Many people on my course are returning to study, after having worked in business for a few years. So it isn’t a surprise that most view UX within a very practical, business-focused context.
I found it really useful to read these other perspectives. Even though there were overlaps, everyone wrote something different. As someone who has felt like an imposter to be studying UX, I found comfort in seeing these differences.
I plan to continue reflecting on what UX means to me throughout this module, and comparing my thoughts with what others say. I wonder whether UX will mean something different to me by the time I finish this module?
Thank you for reading.
