4 Reflection

4.1 Lessons Learned

UI design requires both detail-oriented and big-picture vision: Over the course of the semester, each of us came to learn that the UI design process is a delicate one. Every detail matters, but it is also important to establish a goal and direction early on in the design process – and also make sure to remain goal-oriented throughout.
Usability testing is an involved process: Standardization is important and necessary in order to obtain valid and accurate responses from potential users. A key skill is knowing how to interact (and remain silent) with users during the testing process; there is a fine line between too little and too much when explaining the interface to the user. Additionally, it is important to test a variety of users, as some may be more experienced or knowledgable about a certain topic than others.
Less is more: Throughout this process, we came to understand the importance of simplicity and minimalistic design. When an interface is crowded with several features, each of them loses significance – we decided to focus on a few important aspects that eventually created what we believe to be a successful product.