Hello, my name is Adriana. Here I will jot down my learning experience throughout the Adobe Education Exchange course, User Experience Design: UX to UI.
Orientation
My name is Adriana and I am from Miami. User interface and User experience means being able to easily and quickly source information with fluidity and convenience .
Week 1
Homework Assignment: Identify a problem that you would like to solve as part of this UX course. Over the course of this week, find time to conduct some observations or chat through some questions with people who would be users of this.
This week, I researched users and their food apps. For this course, I have created personas based on food life style choices. I have surveyed a handful of people and created these two personas to convey the challenges and problem solving a food app can have the potential to solve.
WEEK 2
App Concept: I am creating an app for the picky eater. In my previous post, I included two different personas with specific food eating habits. The purpose of this app is to strategically be able to choose locations or cuisines based on a review- from 5-star rated restaurants to new locations. The app will learn the users food favorites, habits, spending limits, location, etc. I want this app to manifest into a personal concierge at the tip of the user's fingers. The app will have seamless accessibility and will "learn" the users eating patterns- making the possibility for endless foodgasms come true.
I have included the site map post-it strategy below as images. Using this method helped me physically create the wire frame to my app. It's amusing to see how one can mentally try to figure a map out vs. actually physically being able to connect words and phrases to a working layout.
I have completed my site map using Adobe Experience Design CC. It was interesting to use the prototyping capability of the program. I am very excited to begin building and designing using XD. Link to my XD Site Map can be viewed HERE
WEEK 3
Class 3 assignment : Creating the proto type
What was your experience of trying to produce a wireframe? What was easy? Hard? What surprised you?
This week, we had to create a paper prototype and have it tested on three individual users and and record one user’s interaction. Creating a site map served as a significant stepping stone to creating my app prototype. I did find myself reverting back to the site map several times while I was creating the prototype. It definitely helped me stay organized while I went through my creative process. I included frames in the sequence I envisioned my app needed to be presented in. It was easy for me to envision the aesthetic I want my app to look like, but hard to sketch out my layout in such a crude way. It started to look like a diamond in the rough, so to speak. I was surprised that I had to go through three rounds of layout sketches before being content with what I had finalized. I also learned that there are multiple themes that may take part in creating an app such as, it may contain editorial, objects for sale, or points of information. Therefore, these apps may be classified as ecommerce, blog/portfolio, and/or media. In my app creation, I would ideally like to harmoniously merge all three themes to create a unique interaction between user and product. Below, I have included a link to my video and images of my prototype sketches. I am really excited about taking this to XD to begin the design process.
WEEK 4
Class assignment 4: Create moodboard, Style tile and layout
I always find the creative process to be my favorite. The Mood board and style tile helped me create my layout mock up. I felt that i got more help from creative the mood board. I have attached the Style tile, mood board and layout for review.
I began by creating my logo variations on paper before creating and finalizing in illustrator. Then i used the graphic elements and transferred them in photoshop before attempting to put everything together in XD cc. I find the learning curve to not be as steep as I anticipated, but it did take me a moment to understand the different elements and features that XD has to offer.
I am excited for what is to come. Stay tuned
WEEK 5
Assignment: Create your interface either in XD to get a higher fidelity prototype of the design. Record this testing process using XD and upload one of the tests to Vimeo. Fix any problems in the interface, then reflect on the design iteration process stating how you feel the final design has been improved by the testing process.
I have created my user interface using Adobe XD. You may the video to view the user experience with "The Dish" app below. Throughout my creative process and user prototyping with the design, it has come to my attention that the placement of buttons and the use of language is very important. I reworked my design to have less complex verbiage and more symbol buttons. I believe that my end result was a great turn out considering that this is my first time using and creating using Adobe XD.
What has been difficult to understand about the user experience design process?
The most difficult concept to understand about the user experience design process is the act of being able to orchestrate an intuitive functioning interface design while still retaining the user’s interest and visual engagement. There are many factors that a designer must consider before, during, and after the interface design process. I asked the following questions to myself throughout the process: who am I appealing to? Does it make sense? Is it necessary? How will this design alleviate complexity in the ‘everyday’ task? I realized that there is a grand concept of behavioral psychology that is also involved. Such as which shapes, colors, layout and language that requires to be used. These concepts are a vital component to the way a human will interact with the design. Therefore, we have the user experience. I also learned the importance of trial and error within the design itself. In order to execute a functional interface design, you must create a prototype and have a user experience the design. Trial and error is a key step to a successful user’s experience with the design. Elements such as, words can even alter the decision making of a user when using an app or a website. It can determine whether the user judges the design work as effortless versus confusing and frustrating. The over all goal is to understand the user and have the capability to ‘have a conversation’ with the user through the design as opposed to having the user feel like they are being given demands.