Module 2: Design Best Practices Flashcards
Interaction designer
Scaling accessibility across googles design system
3 ways to put Users first in designs
1) universal design
2) inclusive design
3) equity-focused design
Universal Design
The process of creating one product for users with the widest range of abilities and widest range of situations
> one-size fits all approach
Designers propose one solution for everyone
Down side:
>designs lose effectiveness
> intention of being inclusive excludes a lot of people
Inclusive Design
Making design choices that take into account personal identifiers like
> ability
>race
>economic status
> language
> age
> gender
“Solve for one, extend to many”
- includes researchers + designers from traditionally excluded populations in process to provide unique perspectives during all phases of design process
Accessibility
The design of products, devices, services or environments for people with disabilities
Example)
> closed captions
> enlarged fonts
Equity-Focused Design
Thinking through all aspects of a designed product and making sure the product is both accessible and fair to all genders, races, and abilities
- goal = uplift groups that have been excluded historically
Equity-Focused Design
Designing for groups that have been historically underrepresented or ignored when building products
- goal = uplift groups that have been excluded historically
Equality vs equity
-Equality: providing the same amount of opportunity and support (everyone gets same thing)
-Equity: providing different levels of opportunity and support for each person in order to achieve fair outcomes
Platform
The medium users experience your product on (desktop, mobile web, mobile app, tablet, wearable, tv, smart display, etc)
Average mobile session
72 seconds
Average desktop session
150 seconds
How do mobile users use their devices?
They’re goal oriented
> focused on completing a single task
>tapping/swiping helps users move around the screen
*UX designers + mobile users connectivity limitations (mobile trafficking)
Responsive web design
Allows a website to change automatically depending on the size of device
(Desktop vs phone screen)
Best practices for mobile UX
1) call to action buttons placed ‘front
and center’ -> allows users to
complete desired task
2) navigation menus short + simple
3) use gestures that users already do
(tapping, swiping)
4) Design for both directions a phone
might be held (horizontal + vertical)
5) reduce visual clutter
Why is it important to be centered on the user?
> user buys/uses product
solve problems people actually experience
“There’s no substitute for personally watching + listening to real people” -Larry Page
User-centered Design
Puts the user front-and-center
> considering their story, emotions, and insights gathered about them
User-Centered Design Process (4-steps)
1) understand - understand user experiences product or similar product (research)
2) specify - specify end users needs (based off research)
3) design - design solutions to the end-users problems
4) evaluate - evaluate design against end users needs
User
Someone trying to solve a problem and is looking for a product/service to help them solve it
User experience
Journey user takes with that product/service
Initial research
-getting to know the user (characteristics, goals, pain points)
The user empowers you to design experiences that are helpful/easy to use
Digital Literacy
The ability to use information + communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information requiring both cognitive + technical skills and
How are my users accessing the product/service?
- due to cost + availability, not all users experience product the same way
-limited access to internet, network coverage, data
ALWAYS TAKE OFFLINE EXPERIENCE INTO ACCOUNT
Where are my users accessing the product/service?
-maybe designing for products intended to be used worldwide
> local languages
> cultural norms
- Multilingual keyboard
- universally recognized icons
Assistive Technology (AT)
Any products, equipment, and systems that enhance learning, working, and daily living for people with disabilities
> color modification
voice control
screen readers
alternative text
(XBOX - accessible gaming on Xbox + windows -> controllers/inputs)
Color Modification
High contrast mode or dark mode on device increases contrast of colors on a screen [black text on white bg vise versa]
- high contrast makes pg easier to see for people with low vision
- helps anyone who might experience eye-strain (me)
Voice Control + switch devices
Help people with limited dexterity; can service as a keyboard/mouse
>navigating devices with only your voice
Switch= assistive technology device that replaces the need to use a computer keyboard or a mouse
Screen Readers [text] <Menu
Most common assisted technologies for people with limited vision
> works on mobile + web devices
reads out loud any onscreen text
read buttons + non visible text
Alternative Text [ALT TEXT]
Helps translate a visual user interface into a text space user interface
> helps say what’s on the image without needing to see image
also helpful for those with ow bandwidths and image fails to load
Speech-to-text
Uses speech to text into phone (example dad)
Brand Identity
The visual appearance and voice of a company
Call-to-action (CTA)
A visual prompt that tells the user to take action, like a click button
Framework
Creates the basic structure that focuses and supports the problem you’re trying to solve
Ideation
The process of generating a broad set of ideas on a given topic, with no armor to judge or evaluate them
Insight
An observation that helps you understand the user or their needs from a new perspective
