User Experience Design, or UX as it is commonly referred to, is the practice of designing a website or application or product or anything that is intended for a person to use with the usability of the thing being designed at the forefront of the design process. Research, Information Architecture, 2 dimensional treatments or mocks, prototyping, user-testing and QA testing all help to create a good User Experience.
Defining the User Experience is of key importance as it allows the designer to visualise the intended users and the key demographic. User scenarios will assist the structural design of thestructural design of the site and allow the visitors paths through the site to be mapped. Analysis of the competition will allow you to see what they do well and point you towards better Information Architecture and Sitepaths by spotting opportunities they may have missed and using them to help visitors achieve their goals.
Questions which I often ask in the UX Design Process include:
- What is the purpose of your site?
- How will you measure the success of your site?
- Who do you want to come to your site?
- What image or persona do you want the user to pick up from your site? or; What is your site’s character?
- Why will the user use your service or purchase your product?
- What is your USP likely to be?
- What functionality do you wish the site to have?
- Who are your competition?
- What do your competition do well/badly?
- Is there a design style you are keen to explore or a metaphor for your site you would like to use?
These are only a number of examples I use but you may have more to contribute.
