I believe that successful user interface design and research is far more simple than many usability experts portend. We are ALL users. The simple act of watching your co-worker use your company's website can be very revealing. Great examples of usability enhancements can be made clear by putting one's self in the shoes of the user.Sounds pretty simple, since we are all users by default. It's just that some of us (myself included) happen to be practitioners in computer and web technology. And then our knowledge and expertise somehow comes in the way of looking at things like the "outside" user would (and for whom we are creating our web applications).
An ability to "abstract" one's viewpoint can be helpful. Imagine shifting rapidly between the forest and the trees. This is what I try to do in my creative and development processes.
Good usability information can be gleaned far more easily, if one can basically forget everything that went into its making. The average Joe or Jane user has no concept of the business requirements, strategy, goals, mockups, wireframes, prototypes and the rest. They just want things to work.
Like all the rest of us.
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right on!
ReplyDeleteWhat a bunch of hooey, this blog author needs to get his act together and "abstract" something useful instead of sucking other people in to this black hole of a web-site. I only say this as your loving sister and I care.
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