UI/UX Articles and Interesting Tidbits of the Week
July//30//2021
Here are some interesting finds on UI/UX of the week!
1.
User Personas: Creation and Usefulness. Interesting article hailing from author Nick Babich, on the topic of Personas (to read more about Characters, click here) specifically focusing on defining what they are, their importance, and how to use them effectively. The article details such fundamental items, including crafting personas based on actual data (obtained through surveys, customer interviews, to name but a few methods), identifying behavioral data, adding pertinent details, involving multiple team members in crafting these personas, among other very relevant aspects pertaining to this rich topic. Well worth the read. Highlight of the article includes:
“User personas help designers shape their strategies for the product. It’s much easier to understand what features will bring the most value to users when you evaluate them based on the persona’s needs. This approach allows product teams to prioritize feature requests. For example, when someone proposes an idea about introducing a new document scanner feature in an email mobile app, the team will evaluate this feature based on how well it addresses a persona’s needs, or whether the scanner will make the app more valuable to its users. At the same time, it’s important to mention that the user persona can’t be used as the only tool for prioritization. It should be used along with other tools for user research like user journey maps and user flows.”
2.
If You Value Creatives, Pay Them That Way. Very interesting article hailing from The Fast Company, and author Katie Klencheski on the topic of compensating creatives. The author, who also owns a Design Agency of her own, specifically addresses aspects such as the fact that Creatives are always expected to work for free, at least until they prove their value, or at times are offered assignments in exchange for the currency of “exposure”. It’s a very relevant article, and much of what is described here resonates profoundly, since when I worked in the Ad/Interactive Agency world, the struggle to get compensated properly was very real, as was for instance, the unpaid creative work that was produced during the hiring process, all with sole purpose of being used as a “test”. Well worth a read. Highlight of the article includes:
“Demonstrating that creatives are valued isn’t necessarily just about dollars and cents, but about making sure that they feel valued at all times. That means that employers should be accountable for providing a clear path to growth, giving the necessary feedback to help nurture creative talent and show that they’re invested in their career. Don’t settle for companies that act like they are simply borrowing your time for a while. Too often, creative work can be very transactional when it should really be a part of a larger creative journey. When I hire somebody, I tell them how I’m going to be accountable to them and what they should expect to get out of their employment, including how I see them growing within the company.”
3.
Soft Skills for the Hybrid Workplace. Interesting article from The Fast Company, focused on 3 very important soft skills one must possess, particularly as people embark on Hybrid Workplace strategies. These include Emotional Intelligence, Leadership & Social Influence and Taking Initiative from the Inside. Realistically, these are skills professionals should aim to attain, independently of the regimented workplace system they find themselves in. Having a high EQ for instance, enables people to diagnose & understand situations or challenges, as they present themselves, and respond in ways that are far more effective, contemplating even teams responses. Being self aware, principled, focused & deliberate goes a long way. Well worth a read. Highlight of the article includes:
“Developing our EQ is important to understand how our actions and behaviors might affect others. If we learn to understand our emotions better, we are at less risk of emotional hijacking (a physiological response where emotions override reason) and therefore, saying or acting in a counterproductive way. We are also able to better balance social awareness with relationship management. For example, we start to understand how empathy feeds into tough conversations (because we can put ourselves in the shoes of someone else), and we focus on clarity of communication and explanations.
When we speak virtually, we need to pay extra attention to our tone, explaining context, and develop awareness as to how we are coming across. There is a reason why texts and emails sometimes get misconstrued. It’s because context and how we present something is often just as important as what we say.”
