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      We’ve discussed various design processes such as design thinking and design feeling, but we have yet to discuss the design process that focuses on the user from beginning to end. While this may seem silly to state, often time the design process is focused on trying to convey a certain message or goal, and the way in which the user can interact with that sometimes falls secondary. This isn’t for lack of interest in the user, this often time happens because the design process is fueled by peoples creative ideas and creating emotionally meaningful concepts. So how do we effectively tighten the reins on this creative process to make sure that the user remains the focus?

      Technology has created an era of immediacy within our society: users expect their interfaces to give them immediate indicators that they are on the right track or their task has been completed. If users are unable to get that immediate feedback, they can become frustrated or abandon a task. Additionally, users like feeling engaged when they interact with an interface; rather than just interacting with a rigid interface. Creating small moments of interaction between the user and the interface helps to create an overall enjoyable user experience. How can this be accomplished through something so small that it does not take away from the overall interface? This is where microinteractions come into play.

     Many people will look at a UI design and think that the color choice comes from the preference of the designer- what they thought would look the best for the given project. While sometimes this may be the case, colors are often chosen carefully and with intention. Why? Color has been proven to have a great impact on the mood and behaviors of individuals and as a result, the overall success of a product, design or web page can rest on the colors that are chosen.

“Scrolling is a continuation, clicking is a decision.”- Josh Porter, Designer

     At the beginning of UX, users typically did not scroll vertically, simply because they just weren’t used to it. During the mid-nineties, scrolling was something that was still a new concept in regards to the development of user experience design. As a result, user’s would oftentimes just make their selections based on the information they could see without having to scroll further down, which set forward one of the biggest UX myths ever: the idea that people don’t scroll. This UX Myth has been around for a while and has impacted UX design as well, leading to the “above the fold” UX best practice- the idea that users will only pay attention to information that is “above the fold” and therefore all the important content for the user to make their decision should be available in that space without the user having to scroll.

At its core, linear UX focuses on allowing a user to complete a task or a goal in a smooth, simplified process. As a result, this method ends up taking away a lot of unnecessary fillers or complications, thus making the user experience super streamlined and seamless. Overall, linear UX focuses on creating a goal-oriented user experience.

AI and Zero UI are on the rise and are increasingly being used in all different kinds of industries. Part of this move is that a large part of making devices more accessible to all kinds of users is incorporating a way for them to interact with their devices in a way that does not rely on a screen (ZeroUI). It is clear that in 2018 there will be more of a focus on creating interfaceless designs in an effort to create simple, innovative and engaging user experiences.  However, looking towards the future, interfaceless designs will become more and more integrated into our daily lives. It is estimated that by the year 2020, 30% of all web browsing will be done through screenless designs and through interactions such as voice commands, gestures and eye tracking (Gartner https://www.gartner.com/).

          Traditionally, designers have relied on a method referred to as “design thinking” when they are engaging in the creative process. Design thinking is a methodology that is often used by designers in order to solve problems and find solutions in an effective manner. Design thinking incorporates logic, strategy and systemic reasoning into the design process in order to achieve the best possible design solution for the problem at hand. It involves an organized process that helps the designer reach an end result: designers begin by empathizing with the user, defining the problem, ideating solutions, creating a prototype, testing, and finally implementation.  Design thinking methodology is used to create experiences that ultimately will benefit the end user, whether that be creating a streamlined experience or allowing them to complete tasks with minimal fuss.

In collaboration with Levi Warvel and Mariano Rodriguez.

A lot goes into a designing a good conversational UI; it needs to have a personality, it needs to adapt, it needs to be able to engage with the user and it needs to be natural for the user to interact with. The challenge for designers is to design this UI to be as intuitive and simple as possible, but without a traditional on-screen UI. When designing a conversational UI experience, it is essential to try and capture the flow of a conversation so that the interaction between the device and the user is seamless. In order to do this, it is essential to understand the basics of human conversation.

Maybe you remember the small, keychain virtual pet called a Tamagotchi, the hugely popular and must-have toy of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Tamagotchis were  essentially small egg-shaped computer with an interface usually consisting of three buttons, and inside this small device lived a little creature that you would care for from it’s birth to its death. Tamagotchis ultimately required a great deal of attention in order to prosper, they must be fed, cared for, entertained, and even taken to the restroom. If you did not care for your Tamagotchi well enough, you were greeted with an untimely death. If you took really good care of your Tamagotchi, you were rewarded with being able to watch them provide offspring or grow to old age. By 2010, there were over 76 million Tamagotchis sold worldwide.

“Looking to the future, the next big step will be for the very concept of the ‘device’ to go away.” - Sundar Pichai, Google C.E.O

In a world where we rely on screens for everything from contacting other people, taking photos or videos, to finding our way around town, it is hard to imagine a world without screens. Currently we use our screens to complete the good majority of our day to day tasks.  What would it be like if we could complete all these tasks without the use of screens? How would that change the user experience? More importantly, how would it change the way we interact with our technology on an everyday basis?  So as a result, what should you know about ZeroUI?