Many people still don’t understand the different roles we play as Designers. Some people think “Visual Design”, while others think “HTML Coders”. “Web Designer” is a term that should only be used to describe what you do to your grandparents. While in the past we’ve had distinct roles, the trend is to move towards “User Experience”, someone who understands many different aspects of the design and development process.

1. Who feeds an experience?
(Let’s limit this to the web...)

2. Many
people still don’t understand
the different roles we play as Designers.
Some people think “Visual Design”, while others
think “HTML Coders”. “Web Designer” is a term that
should only be used to describe what you do to your
grandparents.
While in the past we’ve had distinct roles, the trend is
to move towards “User Experience”, someone who
understands many different aspects of the
design and development process.

3. Design Interactions
Information
Usability
Architecture
"Easy to Understand"
"Works in my browser"
The
"Wow"
Experience
"Love the look"
"Easy to Use"
"Intuitive"
Front-End Development
Web Standards, XHTML/CSS, Accessibility, Degradable JavaScript, Frameworks

4. Design Interactions
Information
Usability
Architecture
"Easy to Understand"
"Works in my browser"
User
The
"Wow"
Experience is made
Experience
up of many different
pieces, but can be broken up
"Love the look"
into roughly five
"Easy to Use"
different roles...
"Intuitive"
Front-End Development
Web Standards, XHTML/CSS, Accessibility, Degradable JavaScript, Frameworks

5. Information Architect Visual Designer Interaction Designer Usability Expert
Structure Look Interactions Usable
Order Style Prototypes Functional
Labeling Colors Behavior Testing
Wireframes Proportions Use Research
Business Fonts Context HCI
Findability Emotions User Goals
Technology
XHTML JavaScript APIs
Front-End Developer
CSS Accessibility DOM

6. This
new role of User
Experience is made up of
multitalented people who enjoy a
range of topics, and has passion for
many aspects of design,
development and technology.

7. Structure Look Interactions Usable
Order Style Prototypes Functional
Labeling Colors Behavior Testing
Wireframes Proportions Use Research
Business Fonts Context HCI
Findability Emotions User Goals
Technology
XHTML JavaScript APIs
CSS Accessibility DOM

8. Structure Look Interactions Usable
Order Style Prototypes Functional
Labeling Colors Behavior Testing
Wireframes Proportions Use Research
Business Fonts Context HCI
Findability of
Here
is an example Emotions User Goals
Technology
someone who has a
range of interests...
XHTML JavaScript APIs
CSS Accessibility DOM

9. And
more often then
not, these “Designers”
are well versed in Front-
End Development.

10. Structure Look Interactions Usable
Order Style Prototypes Functional
Labeling Colors Behavior Testing
UserProportions UseDesigner
Experience
Wireframes Research
Business Fonts Context HCI
Findability Emotions User Goals
Technology
XHTML JavaScript APIs
CSS Accessibility DOM

11. Structure Look Interactions Usable
Order Style Prototypes Functional
Labeling Colors Behavior Testing
UserProportions UseDesigner
Experience
Wireframes Research
This
Business User
is why Fonts Context HCI
Findability is in such
Experience Emotions User Goals
high demand. People with
Technology
multifaceted skills
produce work that is
more balanced.
XHTML JavaScript APIs
CSS Accessibility DOM

12. It’s
not just about the
“Look”, or the “usability”
of a product - it’s about
the entire experience*.
* I know I’m simplifying... (what about cross-channel?)

13. “Our groups goal is to "make things work for people", and that
usually encompasses the UI and Front-End Development. We use a
series of tools and processes to develop and test an experience, to
make sure it's usable, useful, and if we've done our job right, a
pleasure to use. Our team is made up of Designers, Information
Architects, Interaction Designers, and Front-End Developers.”
This
is how I’ve explained
what our User Experience
team can do...

14. Dig Deeper
The six species of Information Architect
http://www.disambiguity.com/the-six-species-of-information-architect/
UX Roles & Titles: Trend or Profession?
http://www.challishodge.com/ux_titles2.html
What term do you use for ‘user experience’?
http://www.adaptivepath.com/blog/2006/09/12/what-term-do-you-use-for-user-experience/
IA Summit: IA’s Role in the Optimal Design Team
http://www.lukew.com/ff/entry.asp?313
User experience design resources
http://www.deyalexander.com.au/resources/uxd/
What Is User Experience Design?
http://www.paradymesolutions.com/articles/what-is-user-experience-design/

15. Thanks!
Jeremy Johnson
User Experience Lead
Sabre
http://www.jeremyjohnsononline.com