How do I define ‘UX’?

In short UX is a very large territory, albeit a very super specialised one too. Obviously, for me UX is about design. Secondly it’s about something functional that serves a good purpose, and is easy to use. Growing up in Jeddah, i was constantly surrounded by people from many different cultures since I went to an American School, had a very-multicultural experience. Meanwhile, exploring Europe in my childhood, visiting so many landmarks and museums has heavily influenced by taste and judgement. I always believe that a person’s social and cultural exposure is also highly important in design. Personally i always try to simplify things, because makings things more complicated is very easy to do. I always try to reduce to the essentials. I believe that good design in practical, and user-centric.

When do I get involved with UX project wise?

Almost immediately, starting with pre-sales process and later on in software development. I work on concepts that visually validate projects. UX is become a highly important part of projects, and ever since the boom of smartphones and tablets, almost all clients understand the value of UX. I usually don’t like to argue about UX requirements, because very few people are aware of the details of this area. UX is the thread that connects all parts of a project visually. Therefore Non-UX professionals must be very careful when altering or suggesting something. Better to do invest some time, do some subject specific research in the right way from the beginning, and finish it all the way. That’s how i work, i invest time in the beginning, by asking a lot questions, which can sometimes backfire.

Is it hard to transform a design brief into a user experience?

Well it depends on the nature of the work, and mostly on the personality of the person you are dealing with. It’s all about alignment, if you are aligned with the needs of the project, then the UX should be far easier to implement. However, in my experience most of the time, the people who are involved themselves are not quite sure of how the UX should be, this can be a lot of fun sometimes due to the confusion it can create. This is where experience is thrown out the window and imagination comes in, but i always prefer to have some sort of clear guidelines from the client, which usually doesn’t happen. I believe its about solving problems within a certain set of restrictions or framework. I sometimes have to re-read the requirements many times, then i visualise what the design could possibly look like. Then i move on to a visual prototype, that’s when we have something tangible to discuss and improve upon.

Are style guides important in UX?

Yes and No. I personally don’t like them. Main page layouts clearly communicate what the proposed design looks like. A set of good wireframes, are easy to read by almost anyone, so style guides are good only when too many people are involved in a project. But it can also mean that your team doesn’t really understand some basic design fundamentals such as continuity etc.

Current UX trends

Everyone seems to have their own opinion regarding UX, but personally i dislike UXs that are created with the intention to the sole impress, rather than functionality. Such projects can look dated quite early. I view things from an interactive and utilitarian perspective. For me as a designer, it’s easy to spot the faults in design, rather that the beauty in them. I feel most management professionals used to look at UX as an an afterthought, now the industry is changing quite fast, and everyone appreciates a UX that is pleasing to look at and easy to use. Clarity, and alignment with functional requirements is the highest priority.

What is the future of UX?

I think individual User Experiences will ultimately create a brand experience.When more than one user experience is churned out of a company. The simultaneous reflection of all of them will create a brand experience.Thats where the value of Brand Architecture falls in.

I have written about that previously and you can find it here on the following URL

The Value of Brand Architecture and Employee Diversity