User Experience (UX) focuses on the research to understand what users want and how to create a great experience for them. Information Architecture (IA) focuses on focuses on organizing and structuring content on a site so that users find information easily. User Interface (UI) focuses on arranging interface elements on the screen in a way that makes it easy for the user to navigate the site. All three of these work hand in hand to create a seamless experience for the user.
After reading about dark patterns and the portfolios last week, I see websites as complicated. My perception of websites before were pretty basic, post content and have navigational bars so people can click-through the site. Now websites seem to be about psychology and understanding human nature and merging that knowledge with technology to sell a product or share information.
The terminology used in the coding world is pretty interesting. Learning about AGILE and WATERFALL project management was a great way to understand how teamwork and good communication lead to successful projects. The term agile suggests flexibility whereas waterfall suggests a fixed drop, I’m not sure which came first, but by name alone the agile management style just sounds like a winner.
The most challenging experience this week was out first group project. There needs to be a balance in hearing everyone’s ideas and making decisions that best suit the project. Doing this in a timely manner is important as ideas can sometimes be runaway trains.
I’m certain the UX process would have improved the work I did on the client blog. It would have influenced what questions I asked the client and helped to have a better understanding of the effect the blog should have.