Comments on: Surviving a user experience design critique http://jonhung.com/blog/2009/09/06/surviving-user-experience-design-critique/ User Experience, design, etc Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:09:57 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Zachary Forrest y Salazar http://jonhung.com/blog/2009/09/06/surviving-user-experience-design-critique/comment-page-1/#comment-146 Zachary Forrest y Salazar Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:53:52 +0000 http://jonhung.com/blog/?p=673#comment-146 Hey Jonathan. I didn't know that yesterday was your last day, and I apologize because I would have come by to say "good luck" or something else equally trite. So good luck. The first few years out of college were the hardest for me, but I hope your experience is better. I've followed you on twitter. Keep in touch. Hey Jonathan. I didn’t know that yesterday was your last day, and I apologize because I would have come by to say “good luck” or something else equally trite.

So good luck. The first few years out of college were the hardest for me, but I hope your experience is better. I’ve followed you on twitter. Keep in touch.

]]> By: jon http://jonhung.com/blog/2009/09/06/surviving-user-experience-design-critique/comment-page-1/#comment-118 jon Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:24:55 +0000 http://jonhung.com/blog/?p=673#comment-118 @Fred: There's no doubt that understanding human psychology is crucial to becoming a good designer. I totally agree with your article (<i>Nine Essential Characteristics of Good UX Designers</i> http://bit.ly/B6rRa) where you list it as your number one characteristic. However, a psychology education does not prepare you for the reviews designers face. I love my psychology education & exams, but I wish I had experienced more face-to-face criticism. @Sorin Listening to the mp3 now. Thanks for the link! @Natalie Thanks for the invitation! Looks like there are just as many uncertain anthropology students as there are psychology students ;) @Kim I actually like criticism. Except for the type of criticism that comes in the late-stages when I'm powerless to change anything. In a way, it shows that people care about the end-product and your personal development. btw, the theme is called miniBlog @Zeiber That's a great attitude. btw I love your page & am eager to see what it looks like when it's completed! @All Thank you for your encouraging words! It seems like many designers let their failures die quietly, so its a pleasant surprise to have support for being vocal about it. Your words are helping me take this experience in a positive light. Thank you In the future, I want to take positive ownership of failure, and be dedicated to the design process, as well as the product. Hopefully I'll fail less, too ;) @Fred: There’s no doubt that understanding human psychology is crucial to becoming a good designer. I totally agree with your article (Nine Essential Characteristics of Good UX Designers http://bit.ly/B6rRa) where you list it as your number one characteristic. However, a psychology education does not prepare you for the reviews designers face. I love my psychology education & exams, but I wish I had experienced more face-to-face criticism.

@Sorin Listening to the mp3 now. Thanks for the link!

@Natalie Thanks for the invitation! Looks like there are just as many uncertain anthropology students as there are psychology students ;)

@Kim I actually like criticism. Except for the type of criticism that comes in the late-stages when I’m powerless to change anything. In a way, it shows that people care about the end-product and your personal development. btw, the theme is called miniBlog

@Zeiber That’s a great attitude. btw I love your page & am eager to see what it looks like when it’s completed!

@All Thank you for your encouraging words! It seems like many designers let their failures die quietly, so its a pleasant surprise to have support for being vocal about it. Your words are helping me take this experience in a positive light. Thank you

In the future, I want to take positive ownership of failure, and be dedicated to the design process, as well as the product. Hopefully I’ll fail less, too ;)

]]> By: Zeiber http://jonhung.com/blog/2009/09/06/surviving-user-experience-design-critique/comment-page-1/#comment-115 Zeiber Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:41:31 +0000 http://jonhung.com/blog/?p=673#comment-115 Great post, Jon! My first design critique went much the same way. 12 years later I configure my reviews to maximize the discovery and exposure of my design's weaknesses. Without the fail, there is nowhere to go next, nothing to improve. This is how craptastic designs get published - not enough of the right critiques during the design stages; no course correction. The fact that you so humbly acknowledge the shortcomings of this first critique and react appropriately is a healthy sign. Don't beat yourself up. When someone calls you on a (truly) bad design move, buy them a beer and go to them with your next design. Good luck! Great post, Jon!
My first design critique went much the same way. 12 years later I configure my reviews to maximize the discovery and exposure of my design’s weaknesses. Without the fail, there is nowhere to go next, nothing to improve. This is how craptastic designs get published – not enough of the right critiques during the design stages; no course correction.

The fact that you so humbly acknowledge the shortcomings of this first critique and react appropriately is a healthy sign. Don’t beat yourself up. When someone calls you on a (truly) bad design move, buy them a beer and go to them with your next design.

Good luck!

]]> By: Kim http://jonhung.com/blog/2009/09/06/surviving-user-experience-design-critique/comment-page-1/#comment-113 Kim Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:49:36 +0000 http://jonhung.com/blog/?p=673#comment-113 Way to put yourself out there. If you can learn early in your career not to take criticism personally and to use it to improve the end product, then you're far, far, far ahead of the game. That's a lesson I'm still learning. Over and over. BTW, like the new blog format. What are you using? I'm considering a switch. Way to put yourself out there. If you can learn early in your career not to take criticism personally and to use it to improve the end product, then you’re far, far, far ahead of the game. That’s a lesson I’m still learning. Over and over. BTW, like the new blog format. What are you using? I’m considering a switch.

]]> By: Natalie Hanson http://jonhung.com/blog/2009/09/06/surviving-user-experience-design-critique/comment-page-1/#comment-108 Natalie Hanson Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:07:47 +0000 http://jonhung.com/blog/?p=673#comment-108 Hi Jon, I came across your post from a Twitter post earlier today. I really like the honesty of your post and what you have to say. Plus it was funny. :) There are lots and lots of resources out there that you can turn to to learn more about User-Centered Design. You might enjoy a listserv that I manage called anthrodesign (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/anthrodesign/). The list has about 200 members who talk about our work at the intersection of social sciences and design practices. There are also periodic get-togethers if you want to commiserate (or celebrate!) in person. Best, Natalie Hi Jon,

I came across your post from a Twitter post earlier today. I really like the honesty of your post and what you have to say. Plus it was funny. :)

There are lots and lots of resources out there that you can turn to to learn more about User-Centered Design. You might enjoy a listserv that I manage called anthrodesign (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/anthrodesign/). The list has about 200 members who talk about our work at the intersection of social sciences and design practices. There are also periodic get-togethers if you want to commiserate (or celebrate!) in person.

Best,
Natalie

]]> By: Sorin Stefan http://jonhung.com/blog/2009/09/06/surviving-user-experience-design-critique/comment-page-1/#comment-105 Sorin Stefan Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:54:39 +0000 http://jonhung.com/blog/?p=673#comment-105 "I know that studying cognitive psychology doesn’t exactly prepare me for this type of work" It will help you a lot, you'll see ;) Regarding failure you might want to listen to this podcast. Scott Berkun - "Why Designers Fail and What to Do About It" http://www.uie.com/BSAL/ui13/ui13_berkun.mp3 I'm sure you do and you'll be doing an amazing job ... All the best, Sorin “I know that studying cognitive psychology doesn’t exactly prepare me for this type of work”

It will help you a lot, you’ll see ;)

Regarding failure you might want to listen to this podcast.
Scott Berkun – “Why Designers Fail and What to Do About It”
http://www.uie.com/BSAL/ui13/ui13_berkun.mp3

I’m sure you do and you’ll be doing an amazing job …

All the best,
Sorin

]]> By: Fred Beecher http://jonhung.com/blog/2009/09/06/surviving-user-experience-design-critique/comment-page-1/#comment-102 Fred Beecher Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:53:39 +0000 http://jonhung.com/blog/?p=673#comment-102 This is a Great Post, Jon! Don't be so hard on yourself, though. Failure is an *excellent* design tool and one of the best ways to learn. I fail often and enthusiastically, and I've been doing UX design for 11 years! The trick, though, is to fail early on in the design process. You've learned the value of constant critique, and early on. That will serve you very well in your career. Add in some iterative prototyping (paper > interactive wireframes > interactive mockups) & user testing and you'll get real feedback from real users. Each time you fail you will improve your design AND your design skills! This is a Great Post, Jon! Don’t be so hard on yourself, though. Failure is an *excellent* design tool and one of the best ways to learn. I fail often and enthusiastically, and I’ve been doing UX design for 11 years! The trick, though, is to fail early on in the design process.

You’ve learned the value of constant critique, and early on. That will serve you very well in your career. Add in some iterative prototyping (paper > interactive wireframes > interactive mockups) & user testing and you’ll get real feedback from real users. Each time you fail you will improve your design AND your design skills!

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