The document provides tips for designing user experiences without a dedicated UX designer. It recommends having a clear vision, thinking like the intended users by researching who they are and what goals they are trying to achieve. It also recommends wireframing designs quickly using tools like pen and paper, creating throwaway prototypes to test designs, gathering user feedback to evaluate work, and being willing to scrap ideas that are not working and start over. The overall message is that iterative design and usability testing are important to create great experiences for users.

1. The hitchhiker’s guide
To UXing without a UXer

2. Chrissy Welsh
Creative Lead & Director

3. Why do this talk?

4. The ELEPHANT in the room!

5. “I want to build great
things... I start out with
good intentions but it
always turns out rubbish...
what happened?”

6. A B
Great Experience
Easy Interfaces
Happy Users

8. What will you learn?
• How important it is to have one vision
• How to think like a user
• Why you should wireframe and how to do it
• How to make a throwaway prototype
• How to evaluate your work
• & Finally when to scrap it and start again

10. The Vision

11. The Vision - Do you have one?

12. Print this out...
“What one thing do
you want it to do well?”

14. The User - Who are they?
• Really think & write out
who will use your app/
website
• Write out their age,
education job etc.
• Name them - for
example Arthur Dent

15. The User - What are they doing?
• Where are they going?
• What are they trying to
achieve?

16. Why, crazy lady, are you
making me name
imaginary people?

18. Example “I just want to buy what I want and get out”
James Dent
32 years old
Product Manager
Key Goals
Knows what he wants to buy
Doesn't want to browse
Behaviors
Gets bored quickly
Wants quality products
We Must
Clearly show key features
Show only relevant offers
We must never
Provide fluffy product descriptions
Overwhelm with choice

19. What does it look like in real life?

20. This?

21. ...or this?

22. Wireframes

23. Why wireframe?
• Fast layouts
• Easy to see if you have everything you need
• Fast to iterate on
• Cheaper than changing code

24. Why wireframe?
Having one
idea is great
Iterating on an
idea is better
Trying multiple
ideas gives you
the best solution

25. What does it look like... really?

26. What does it turn into?

27. What if I want to use software?

28. Some Tools - listed
• Pen & Paper - Super Fast
• Balsamiq Mockups - Fast if you’re scared of paper
• Axure - Less fast but High Fidelity
• Photoshop - Use if a client is going to look at it
• Illustrator - If you dont like Photoshop
• InvisionApp - Link those bad boys!

29. Prototypes

30. Prototypes - also for mobile!

31. Real Examples

32. What if I want to use software?

33. Other ways to gather data?

34. ...another cool way

35. “Greatness doesn't
take shortcuts”

36. What if I can’t evaluate it fairly?

37. Find a friend!

38. Here’s what it looks like

39. And when it doesn’t go as expected?

40. Keep it or bin it?

42. The end?

43. • How important it is to have one vision
• How to think like a user
• Why you should wireframe and how to do it
• How to make a throwaway prototype
• How to evaluate your work
• & Finally when to scrap it and start again
What we have covered

44. Chrissy Welsh (@chrissywelsh)
Question Time