{"id":2369,"date":"2019-03-01T14:54:27","date_gmt":"2019-03-01T19:54:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dfpdigital.com\/?p=2369"},"modified":"2021-08-28T18:37:25","modified_gmt":"2021-08-28T22:37:25","slug":"user-experience-the-term","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dfpdigital.com\/user-experience-the-term\/","title":{"rendered":"Designing with a Collective Understanding of People"},"content":{"rendered":"
By Heather Fox<\/h5>\n

The term \u2018user-experience\u2019 was at one time revolutionary, state-of-the-art term when coined in the early 1990\u2019s by then Apple Fellow Don Norman. \u00a0And, before he even came up with the distinct term to describe such a complex interaction, computer and technology pioneers had already been discussing the need to move the focus<\/a> from solely the technology specialist to the average daily user. Don Norman put the idea into words we could relate to.<\/p>\n

He said, \u201cI invented the term because I thought human interface and usability were too narrow. I wanted to cover all aspects of the person\u2019s experience with the system including industrial design graphics, the interface, the physical interaction and the manual. Since then the term has spread widely, so much so that it is starting to lose its meaning.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

We couldn\u2019t agree more. Once, it was a succinct way to describe joining human beings with technology.\u00a0 Now, it seems a bit over used and also a little cold and technologizing relative to the idea of what it really means. We think it\u2019s important to remember that \u2018user<\/em>\u2019 = \u2018human<\/em>\u2019 and \u2018experience<\/em>\u2019= \u2018feeling<\/em>\u2019.<\/p>\n

So, how do we make this \u2018human feeling<\/em>\u2019 collective and not subjective? And, if you noticed, we didn\u2019t say \u2018objective<\/em>\u2019 and not subjective. Being \u2018objective<\/em>\u2019 simply means \u2018unbiased<\/em>\u2019 or \u2018impartial<\/em>\u2019. When we are designing for human beings, we are designing for ourselves as well, right? Designing for our collective<\/em> experience, something universal is the ultimate goal.<\/p>\n

So how do we do this?<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\u201cI decided at one point the word \u2018user\u2019 <\/em>was a bit degrading. Why not call people \u2018people?\u2019 \u201d <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/blockquote>

Don Norman<\/strong><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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In his TED Talk<\/a>, a persuasive Sueng Chan Lim tells us what he has learned in order to know when he\u2019s on the right path to accomplishing this kind of creativity. He calls it \u201crealizing empathy\u201d.<\/em> In his talk he describes his attempt to help a friend struggling with depression. \u201cI thought of her as a problem to be solved. And I, myself, as a problem solver. Thinking that a problem solver could not be part of the problem.\u201d<\/em> He went on to describe how trying to sell her on his idea (that she should try harder to cheer up) was the exact opposite of a solution. He was seeing her objectively. Yes, without bias, but without empathy as well. And when he realized this, he had the insight to become truly empathetic. She wasn\u2019t the problem to be solved. The lack of understanding and empathy was the problem.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s create with a collective understanding of people<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>