1. You Can UX Too:
Avoiding the Programmer's
User Interface
Eryn O'Neil
Northeast PHP – Boston (Cambridge!), MA
August 16, 2013

2. Hi, I'm Eryn.

3. I make websites.

4. I'm not a UX professional.

5. Why me?

6. Because programmers need to
care–deeply–about the
interfaces they write.
Why me?

7. Front End
vs.
Back End

9. Today, we'll talk about:
● Practical ways to make your
UX experience better
● How to work with the UX
professional in your life
● Why you should care!

10. What is the
“programmer's interface”
anyway?

15. Why care?

16. The best software happens
when everyone on the team
feels ownership of the user
interface.

17. How can we do better?

18. How can we do better?
The programmer's interface
happens when you try to design
an interface at the same time
that you're writing it.

19. How can we do better?
UX First.

20. How can we do better?
UX First.
And third... and fifth...

21. How can we do better?
User-Centered Design
“A process in which the needs,
wants, and limitations of end users of
a product are given extensive
attention at each stage of the design
process.”
Wikipedia, “User-Centered Design” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User-centered_design

22. How can we do better?
User-Centered Design

23. There is no one true universal UX.
Facebook:
● Universal
● Human
● Clean
● Consistent
● Useful
● Fast
● Transparent
HTC One:
● Make it Mine
● Stay Close
● Discover the Unexpected
Luke Wroblewski, “Developing Design Principles”, http://www.lukew.com/ff/entry.asp?854

24. How can we do better?
Don't Reinvent the Wheel.

25. How can we do better?
Pattern match.

26. Pattern Match Usefully.

27. Pattern Match Usefully.
Llama
Lemon
Lemur
Orange
Olive
Orangutan
Ocelot
Licorice
Octopus
Labrador
Lollipop
Lynx

28. Pattern Match Usefully.
Llama
Lynx
Lemur
Ocelot
Labrador
Orangutan
Olive
Licorice
Octopus
Orange
Lollipop
Lemon

29. How can we do better?
Protect your users.

30. How can we do better?
Don't expect people to read.

31. How can we do better?
Avoid Surprising Behavior.

32. How can we do better?
Watch people use your software.

33. How can we do better?
Watch people use your software.
...and believe your users.

34. How can we work better with the
UX professionals in our lives?

35. The developer's job is to think
about how the implementation
will affect the UX.

36. How can we work with UX pros?
“Yes, But.”

37. How can we work with UX pros?
Know your limits. Defer.

38. How can we work with UX pros?
Know your limits. Defer.
(Don't have UX people? Usertesting.com)

39. Thanks!