9. 9 | 9
Something that looks great but is difficult to use is
exemplary of great UI and poor UX.
While Something very usable that looks terrible is
exemplary of great UX and poor UI.
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UX design process
Research
To create a great user experience, developers must first take the time necessary to understand their end users.
Conducting research helps developers get into customers’ mindsets. Common modes of research include
listening to and observing customers; interviewing; and offering online surveys.
Design
Once enough research is collected, developers can then begin to think about how to design their products. In
the design phase, developers begin to structure their content and think about the “customer journey,” or the
series of steps the end user will take when using the product.
Prototyping
In the prototyping phase, designers create a draft version of the site or product. Aspects of prototyping may
include:
•Experimenting with designs
•Repairing inconsistencies and errors
•Developing data and using it to improve upon original ideas
•Demonstrating products to management
•Checking to see that products are functional and usable
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UX design process
Testing
After a solid prototype is built, developers are then able to test their product. In UX, tests can be as simple
as observing customer/product interactions or as complex as presenting different versions of a product to
the public to see which is better received. Developers may offer questionnaires and surveys or even do
further interviews with customers to identify spots of difficulty or confusion.
Measurement
Just because a product officially launches doesn’t mean the UX work is over. In fact, UX is an ongoing
process that continues for as long as a product’s in use. Developers must continually test product
performance to see if it meets customer satisfaction and if any improvements can be made.