UX Evolution Lead by Microsoft
For those of us who have spent precious time searching for basic menu commands in Word (then tried to retrace our steps or explain to a colleague how we turned off smart quotes) it's kind of ironic that Microsoft is pioneering so many tools -- WPF, Silverlight, Expression Blend -- that enable developers to take user experience (UX) to a new level.
Technology, the Web, the popularity of Apple and the move to bring RIA to the desktop, point to a phenomenon that can't be ignored: Developers need to start paying attention to UX. You may be noticing the hiring trend here.
UX development is a lot more than user interface design. There's connectivity with backend systems, Web services, navigation, interactivity, consistency across platforms (RIA and browsers), UI libraries, user testing and feedback, collaboration with designers, project leads and business stakeholders.
Some early proponents in this field have become household names. Jesse James Garrett wrote a landmark book, "The Elements of User Experience." If you thought UX was something that only Web designers needed to pay attention to, check out Garrett's diagram. Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon professor who gave the last lecture, specialized in human computer interaction and design. I was reminded of that when I checked out the Microsoft Jobsblog recently, and read an interview with a former student of his, Cheryl Platz, a UX designer for System Center Configuration Manager.
Pausch piqued her interest when he talked about design, programming and psychology on her first campus tour. "It's a complex problem space, and I love solving these problems and improving the user experience for a group of users often taken for granted," she said.
As many developers look to Silverlight, not investing in UX defeats the purpose of the technology. Earlier this month, Microsoft announced its annual Phizzpop Design Challenge, which requires use of Microsoft Web Platform Installer and Silverlight. The $50,000 prize winner is slated to be announced at MIX10 in March.
This year, Microsoft wants participants (professionals who work for U.S. based companies offering Web services) to revamp the Boys & Girls Clubs of America site. It's a great non-profit and an exciting challenge. The deadline for the presentations, which need to outline "strategy and design elements" is February 19, 2010.
If you haven't had much exposure to UX, how can you learn about basic patterns? Infragistics sponsors Quince, a free community-based UX Patterns Explorer for searching public UI designs and sharing experiences. This week the company launched Quince Pro, a collaboration tool and repository for private UI libraries, hosted on Amazon Web Services.
Share your experiences with UX or links to sites that in your view have raised the bar. Should Microsoft provide more guidance for Silverlight and WPF developers? Express your thoughts below or drop me a line at krichards@1105media.com.
Posted by Kathleen Richards on 01/22/2010 at 6:08 PM