UI/UX Articles and Interesting Tidbits of the Week
July//14//2023
Here are some interesting finds on UI/UX of the week!
1.
AI written Reviews. Very interesting article hailing from The Next Web and author Callum Booth on the topic of voluminous reviews that are being generated by AI engines and the potential impact they hold for businesses in general. One of the interesting questions and reflections the author poses focuses on the reality that online purchases of products are very much driven by reviews that users take the time to generate. If AI is indeed changing the rules of the game, it can do so on different levels, and not all of them being ethical and correct. Well worth reading through and understanding concerns and the need for some guidelines and restrictions when it comes to these types of social proof. Highlight of the article includes:
“The trust we have in reviews is about to be shattered. Nealon from Bazaarvoice says the use of AI at scale could have “serious implications for the future of online shopping,” especially if we reach a situation where “shoppers can’t trust whether a product review is authentic.” The temptation to use computer-generated reviews on the business side of things will also only increase.“We all want our apps to be at the top of the rankings, and we all know one way to get this is through user engagement with reviews,” Simon Bain — CEO of OmniIndex, an encrypted data platform — tells me. “If there’s the option to mass produce these quickly with AI, then some companies are going to take that route, just as some already do with click farms for other forms of user engagement.””
2.
How AI is Altering Web Design. Interesting article from The Web Designer Depot and author Joe Mac on the topic of AI and its impact on Web Design itself. The author goes through a variety of ways in which AI impacts the craft, namely the user experience (where he references chatbots), personalization, site performance, user data, cost efficiency, to name but a few. He also lists some of the best practices when it comes to AI Web Design, which includes aspects such as SEO and performance. The article also features some considerations on automation and the challenges that it still holds (for instance on creativity, risk, privacy, ethics, to name but a few). Well worth reading through. Highlight of the article includes:
“AI web design refers to using artificial intelligence algorithms to help automate and streamline the design process. AI web design tools typically utilize machine learning algorithms to analyze design trends and user preferences. This allows the software to generate web pages that meet the needs of both the user and the brand. With AI web design, designers no longer need to spend countless hours developing and refining prototypes. Instead, they can focus on more creative tasks such as branding, content creation, and strategy development. This also allows companies to improve their website’s functionality, user experience, and overall performance. Increased attention to these areas can result in increased engagement and conversion rates.”
3.
Building Lean, Sustainable Teams. Another great article from People Nerds, dScout’s design/research blog, this time around featuring a great interview conducted by dScout’s own VP of Research, Ms. Julie Norvaisas, who discusses the process of building research teams with Ms. Loi Sessions Goulet, herself a leader in the research world, currently working at Material Bank. It’s a great conversation which also references different professional experiences and UXR teams Ms. Goulet has crafted and guided, and also includes some considerations on the current state of Research and the job market itself. Well worth reading through. Highlight of the article includes:
“I know it’s working when I don’t have to think about evangelizing. To be honest, I’m kind of over that word and the pressure we’ve placed on researchers to do that evangelizing — so I will say it another way. I know it’s working when I’m not asking permission. When the trust is there that the team can correctly identify what decisions need to be made, and what data is needed to make a smart decision. Sometimes this looks like people advocating to increase the team size or scope, but the most important indicator to me is that people are asking, “How can I help make research happen?” In terms of a more concrete measurement of impact on the business, in the past I’ve gone as far as tying each A/B test to a research insight in order to draw a line between research output and revenue (acknowledging a margin of error there!). But I try to avoid performative ROI tracking. I’d prefer to assess the insights and their outcomes on a quarterly basis to make sure the value is there.”
