Intuition FactorsThe User Experience Design Process

Alex Shirazi March 3, 2014 @ Redwood City, California

User Interface Design

User interface design is a combination of data collected from user testing and research and intuition.

UI Design =

- Part Data- Part Intuition

Intuition is subconscious

Define: Intuitivein·tu·i·tiveinˈt(y)o͞oitiv/adjective1. using or based on what one feels to be true even

without conscious reasoning; instinctive.

Define: Intuitionin·tu·i·tionint(y)o͞oˈiSHən/noun1. the ability to understand something immediately,

without the need for conscious reasoning.

Intuition FactorsPersonal Instinct

- What seems right to me as a designer?Experience Driven

- What has been successful in the past?Learned Usability

- What has become a standard within the software user base.Perceived Usability

- What do I think the user will do in this scenario?

Personal Instinct

Example: When creating events, a user will want to select the type of event first.

Subconscious Reasoning: I think of the event type first.

Experience Driven

Example: When selecting restaurants from a list, the users want to have the ability select multiple items.

Subconscious Reasoning: I have seen users want this feature in the past product I have designed. Note: May be deduced from past user testing or research.

Learned Usability

Example: The button at the top right of a screen advances the page forward.

Subconscious Reasoning: Users have known the top right button to advance the page forward in the past, and expect the new software to do the same.

Perceived Usability

Example: Users will separate business accounts from personal accounts in banking software.

Subconscious Reasoning: Users will expect the same separation to be in place with new forms of banking related software (excluding relation to core competency of product).

Closing

Intuition Factors help designers achieve better design.

Intuition paired with research will yield the best results.

Alex Shirazi@alexshirazi