We learned about UX design, the purpose and creation of different user personas. Jakob’s Principles, research such as how to conduct a competitive and comparative analysis, experts testing, user testing, and how to make a usability test plan and heuristic evaluation based on Jakob’s Principles, as well as different types of wireframes, and the creation of prototype on figma.
The deliverables of the UX process are user personas, storyboards, customer journey maps, brainstorming, user flow, site map, wireframes, style tile, and prototypes. User personas are a fictional representation of users that we predict will interact with the product. They are a targeted demographic based on typical users, their motivations, background, pain points, skills and more. Storyboards show the user’s interaction with the product over time which help indicate what would be the pain points, visual scenarios to see how the user’s feel with the overall experience. Customer journey would be seeing the user experience of the product and taking notes as they progress through. Brainstorming sessions allow creativity and innovative ideas in the design team. User flows map out the steps users take to achieve specific tasks. Site maps organize the page with hierarchy. A wireframe is a basic blueprint or outline that shows where different elements like buttons, text, and images will go on a webpage or app. Style tiles serve as a hybrid between mood boards and detailed mockups, offering stakeholders a clear view of the proposed visual style while avoiding distraction from specific layout details. Prototypes come in various types, each serving specific purposes in product development. Low-fidelity versions provide basic visual concepts, while wireframes outline layouts without design details. Interactive prototypes allow user interaction for testing, high-fidelity versions resemble the final product closely, and functional prototypes demonstrate actual operations. Digital prototypes are created digitally for easy sharing and collaboration.
The UX process, supported by tools like user personas, storyboards, customer journey maps, wireframes, style tiles, and prototypes, significantly enhances design projects. It begins by deeply understanding user needs through personas and journey maps, which inform creative brainstorming and concept visualization. User flows and site maps then clarify interaction pathways, while wireframes establish foundational layouts. Style tiles ensure visual consistency design, and prototypes allow for iterative testing and refinement. This collaborative approach ensures designs are user-centered, intuitive, and aligned with both user expectations and project goals from inception to implementation.
I think assessing the UX process would improve the client blog assignment because constructive criticism of a service or product helps improve it. Since users or experts may see something, a developer that is tasked to do a product or service for a client may not see it from the user’s point of view.