UI/UX Articles and Interesting Tidbits of the Week
February//2//2024
Here are some interesting finds on UI/UX of the week!
1.
Dice Tech Salary Report 2024. Very thorough and interesting Tech Salary Report from Dice, based on over 6,000 survey answers they collected between August and October of 2023. It’s worth going through all the drilldowns the report offers, as they give insight into various professionals feelings towards all that occurred in 2023 and what they expect to happen in 2024. The report has many interesting quotes, but this one is well worth point out based on the decimation of roles that took place then (and are still trickling to this year): “Ten percent of our respondents were laid off themselves, and 25% are still worried about layoffs at their companies.” Well worth reading and clicking through. Highlight of the article includes:
“The tech industry was roiled by layoffs throughout 2023, leading to dissatisfaction among tech professionals; many are newly interested in jumping jobs, or even leaving the tech industry for another sector of the economy. As a result, we predict that 2024 will be a year of significant turnover as tech professionals act on their dissatisfaction and jump to new roles, possibly in new industries. What does this mean for tech professionals? It’s potentially good news: recruiters and hiring managers are aware of tech professionals’ interest in jumping jobs, and will do their best to put together interesting offers. In addition to salaries and stock options, a multitude of companies across various industries are seeking to attract specialists with a range of career-boosting benefits, including additional education and training.”
2.
UX Analytics and Why They Matter. While this article isn’t necessarily something revolutionary in terms of content, it does serve the point of compiling referential information on the topic of research, and how it informs the Design process (in which I also include the Customer Experience perspective). The article provides contextual information on Quantitative and Qualitative research, alongside the different methods that support it, including brief descriptions on Focus Groups, Ethnographic Research, Cart Sorting, A/B Testing, Diary Studies (they do leave out other types of testing such as Eye Tracking and Tree Testing), to name but a few. Worth reading through. Highlight of the article includes:
“Quantitative research looks at numerical data and statistical analysis to investigate patterns and relationships. Focusing on measurable variables, it aims for objective, numerical findings to draw statistical inferences. On the other side of the table, qualitative research studies non-numerical data. It seeks to understand complexities and contexts, emphasizing subjective interpretations. Qualitative research involves analyzing narratives, observations, and interviews to reveal deeper insights into user behavior, preferences, and opinions. In an ideal world, researchers have access to both quantitative and qualitative data in their UX research. It’s difficult to get the full picture of the user experience without both. In order to explore the different types of analytics available to UX teams, we’ll look at them through the lenses of both qualitative and quantitative methods.”
3.
The Importance of Tooltips in Web Accessibility. Another great article from Taeke Reijenga for the A11Y Collective on the topic of web accessibility, this time around focused on tooltips. The considerations in this article also include very pragmatic recommendations on how to tackle tooltips, including the following: Clear Content, Color Contrast, Using Reader-Friendly fonts (and awareness of scaling for fonts), Location, Keyboard-friendly, to name but a few. It’s a very pertinent article with a plethora of information worth studying and remembering. Highlight of the article includes:
“When tooltips are clear and adequately placed — for instance, not obscuring other essential elements or information, they offer a smoother navigation experience. In considering accessibility, tooltips are even more critical. They become invaluable tools for users with cognitive difficulties, helping them better understand the function of web elements and empowering them to interact with web content. For example, a user with memory impairments might benefit from a tooltip that offers a reminder of what a particular icon does.”
