Talk and Think like a UX designer

Question 1

What is the difference between the user and the end user?

Answer 1

A user is any person who uses a product. The END USER is a SPECIFIC AUDIENCE a UX designer creates something for. An animated movie about talking cars is DESIGNED with the END USER 5-7 year old in mind BUT there are also USERS like teenagers and adults in the theater.

Question 2

What is your goal as a UX Designer?

Answer 2

It’s to think about problems and needs from the End Users PERSPECTIVE and design and EXPERIENCE to MEET THOSE NEEDS (problem solving).

Question 3

What is a USER EXPERIENCE?

Answer 3

UX is how a person, the user, feels about interacting with, or experiencing, a product. Answering YES to the key questions are all GOALs of a good user experience.

Question 4

What are the KEY QUESTIONS to examine when EVALUATING user experience? UX designers are constantly asking themselves these questions to create great user experience?

Answer 4

(1) Is the product easy to use?
(2) Is the product equitable?
(3) Does the product delight the user?
(4) Does it solve the user’s problem?

Question 5

What do you focus on as a UX designer?

Answer 5

You will focus on the end user, acting as the user’s advocate, and balancing business needs.

Question 6

What are some goals other team members may prioritize?

Answer 6

Other team members may prioritize other goals like sales and marketing. Some stakeholders may forget the fact that THEY ARE NOT THE END USER.

Question 7

Why do you as the UX designer need to keep the end user as a priority?

Answer 7

You need to keep the end user as a priority because some stakeholders may forget the fact that THEY ARE NOT THE END USER. Other team members may prioritize sales and marketing.

Question 8

Give an example where the stakeholders may disagree because they forget about the end user.

Answer 8

If you were designing a children’s toy, the marketing and sales teammates may focus on how to get the parent to buy it, BUT ultimately you need to design the toy so it appeals to the child (who is the END USER).

Question 9

What is USER CENTERED design, i.e. why is it important the design is centered on the user?

Answer 9

This is because THE USER BUYS and uses your product. And it’s important to solve problems that people actually experience RATHER THAN only solving problems YOU PERSONALLY experience.

Question 10

What reduces designer BIAS?

Answer 10

Focusing on real user problems reduces the impact of designer bias.

Question 11

How did Larry Page, founder of Google, highlight just how important user-centered design is?

Answer 11

“There is no substitute for personally watching and listening to REAL PEOPLE.”

Question 12

Which core value of Google has Larry Pages statement on listening to real people morphed into?

Answer 12

FOCUS on the USER and ALL ELSE will FOLLOW.

Question 13

How does the User centered design put the user front and center?

Answer 13

By considering their story, their emotions, and the insights gathered about them. By using a four step process, Understand, specify, design, evaluate.

Question 14

What are the four steps (plus secret one) of the USER-CENTERED DESIGN PROCESS framework that helps us build products people actually want to use?

Answer 14

(1) UNDERSTAND (how the user experiences the product or similar products. A lot of research).
(2) SPECIFY (the end-user needs by narrowing down which user problem is the most important to solve).
(3) DESIGN(solutions to the end user’s problem and start building the product).
(4) EVALUATE (your design against your end user’s needs to see if it really solves the problem by testing your product with real people).

(Bonus) ITERATION: This is the key attitude in the process, where you do something again, by building on previous versions and making tweaks.

Question 15

What is an example of user-centered design in the real world?

Answer 15

About 5 years ago we designed Google Photos to store phones. Over time we noticed end users like to revisit memories and relive moments. We redesigned the process so users can easily search and find memories.

Question 16

What is a FRAMEWORK?

Answer 16

A framework creates the basic structure that focuses and supports the problem you’re trying to solve. They are like the outlines for a project.

Question 17

What are some other common User Experience DESIGN FRAMEWORKS and their purposes?

Answer 17

The FIVE ELEMENTS framework and DESIGN THINKING framework. There are many UX design frameworks. Many evolve and then become obsolete because of the fast changing nature of technology.

Question 18

What is the Five Elements of UX design framework? What are the five elements/floors of the building (5 ELEMENTS FRAMEWORK)?

Answer 18

It’s a framework a UX designer takes to turn an idea into a working product. The 5 layers, from most abstract to most concrete, involved in creating the user experience are:

(1) STRATEGY(define the users needs and business objectives).
(2) SCOPE (determiner what you’re building, features and content to be included in the product).
(3) STRUCTURE (figure out how to organize your design and how the user will interact with it).
(4) SKELETON (this is the layout that helps details how the design works, similar to how the layout of our bones shape our skin. Just like our bones the user does not see these inner workings, but sees the surface.

(5) SURFACE (the top level of the user experience, how the product looks to the user).
EACH LAYER IS DEPENDENT ON THE ONE BELOW IT.

Question 19

What is the DESIGN THINKING FRAMEWORK and what are the 5 steps in the design thinking framework/process?

Answer 19

This is framework to create solutions that address a REAL USER PROBLEM and are functional and affordable.

(1) EMPATHIZE (discover what end users really need, learning how to think and feel like them. Conducting surveys, interviews, or observation sessions to paint a clear picture of who your end users are and the challenges they face).
(2) DEFINE (the problem by creating a clear problem statement which is a clear description of the users need that should be addressed. The problem statement should be based on user research and FOCUSES THE TEAM on a CLEAR GOAL).
(3) IDEATE (once you’ve defined the problem we can brainstorm solutions, aiming to come up with as many ideas as possible. By focusing on THE QUANTITY, not the quality, you’re more likely to come up with innovative solutions. Eventually we need to narrow down to a few ideas we need to prototype.
(4) PROTOTYPE (is a scaled down version of the product that SHOWS important FUNCTIONS. You should have a clear goal for your prototype in mind).
(5) TEST (we test the prototypes with users. Testing keeps users front and center as it gives users an opportunity to provide feedback before the product is built. Based on user feedback you can make changes or improvements or come up with a completely new idea).

Question 20

What is the LEAN UX DESIGN FRAMEWORK and what are the THREE STEPS of the process?

Answer 20

LEAN UX process is iterative and focuses on reducing wasted time and resources, and producing a workable product as soon as possible. The teams are cross functional.

(1) THINK: explore problems users are experiencing and how you could solve them.
(2) MAKE: start designing by creating sketches, wireframes, prototypes to create a minimum viable product (MVP).
(3) CHECK: find out how users respond to design and gather feedback from the project stakeholders. Make adjustments accordingly.

Question 21

What are the LEAN UX design frameworks’ SIX PRINCIPLES?

Answer 21

6 PRINCIPLES: It’s all about staying open to constant feedback and revisions throughout collaboration.

(1) MOVE FORWARD (Focus only on design elements and features that move the design process forward toward a particular goal. Don’t get distracted by “nice-to-haves”).
(2) STAY CURIOUS (Continuously seek feedback to understand why specific design choices work or don’t work).
(3) TEST IDEAS IN THE REAL WORLD (using real users outside of the conference room asap).
(4) EXTERNALIZE YOUR IDEAS (instead of internally debating and analyzing ideas, TURN YOUR IDEAS into something physical, viewable, and testable, while still FRESH in your mind. This way you will get feedback on your designs in the EARLY stages when DIVERSE perspectives and feedback are MOST HELPFUL.
(5) REFRAME DELIVERABLES AS OUTCOMES (for end-users. focus on creating USABLE, ENJOYABLE products that users ACTUALLY WANT and NEED. Always keep in mind you are designing for your users first-and-foremost, NOT the project STAKEHOLDERS.
(6) EMBRACE RADICAL TRANSPARENCY (Feel comfortable being honest with everyone on the team, and expect it in return, since you will depend on each other’s insights. This way everyone can make informed decisions about how to move forward and avoid wasting time and energy.

Question 22

What is the DOUBLE DIAMOND DESIGN FRAMEWORK and the two phases with two steps in each, for four steps total in the process?

Answer 22

The two phases are Research and Design. It is ITERATIVE not linear. Each SPRINT leads to improvements.

(1) DISCOVER THE PROBLEM (gather information about potential issues users are facing).
(2) DEFINE THE PROBLEM (filter through the data, and focus on the main issue your product aims to solve).
(3) DEVELOP SOLUTIONS FOR THE PROBLEM (begin designing your product as a work in progress. This is where wireframes and prototypes come into play).
(4) DELIVER THE PRODUCT (review and TEST your product to prepare it for release).

Question 23

What are the four principles that inform the Double Diamond process:

Answer 23

(1) FOCUS ON THE USER (As is always the case in UX design, the user is the top priority).
(2) COMMUNICATE (Communicate visually, through imagery and design choices that supplement the text. You should also be sure that the communication of your design is equitable and accessible, which you’ll learn more about in this part of the program).
(3) COLLABORATE (One of the unique features of the Double Diamond process is that it encourages creative collaboration and co-creation with your fellow team members).
(4) ITERATE (Accept that the design is a work in progress and isn’t going to be complete right away. The magic is in the revision. With every iteration, you give the user a new experience).

Question 24

Google UX Design Certificate was built with the design process in mind. What are the progression of these steps?

Answer 24

Each course follows the progression of these steps: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test.