The Art of Hiring Coders: How to Hire a Coder without Knowing a Thing about Programming (Startup Nation) by Landon Bezos

Author:Landon Bezos [Bezos, Landon]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi, pdf
Published: 2015-01-11T08:00:00+00:00

Sample of the file architecture to help users navigate through a program

Typically the way that a UX designer will convey the information architecture plans is through a file structure diagram, or wireframe. The wireframe looks exactly like the image above, and shows how the information required is split up and navigated. It can be a very simple system like index cards and string on a corkboard, a modified Excel spreadsheet, or one of the dozens of wireframing tools available via open source or commercially. When choosing any of these methods of displaying and sharing the information required, be sure it can be shared remotely if that is how the team is established. Outside of that, it is best to go with whatever method or tool the UX designer is comfortable with. A good UX designer will surprise you with an extraordinary amount of insight into how data can be arranged to facilitate the natural flow of information.

Another word of note at this point: it doesn’t necessarily contain the information needed, it just shows how the information can be categorized and accessed. The human brain thinks in terms of hierarchies, so once the information is categorized and organized in such a way, it goes a long way to easing the frustration that may be encountered during a session.

Once the file architecture is established, a UX designer will start outlining where each information component will visually go in order to best service the user’s needs. This is a component of usability, which is separate from the user experience design. The usability aspect ensures the user can navigate through the application with ease, while the user experience is not only focused on that, but also the experience they feel and perceive while they’re doing so. For example, an application can have complete information and functionality, be easily accessible and very user friendly, but if the user perceives it as a low-budget, poorly designed site, that perception will quickly turn into something else.

The key to a successful visual design is to put together something that conveys the visual concept, yet is very quick and easy to manipulate as you move through iterations in design. Believe it or not, one of the most successful methods of accomplishing this is with a whiteboard and pieces of Post-It notes and index cards. There are also commercially available software packages that range from very expensive to free, and each one has its advantages and disadvantages. There really isn’t a wrong way or a right way to pull together a mockup of an application; however, it needs to happen, and it needs to happen with the UX designer and graphics designer in the room, physically or virtually. Additionally, there should be a minimum of two completely different mockups in order to spur creativity and help facilitate a discussion of which one is the best to create a rich user experience.

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