Comments on: User experience of links http://configures.sarahelkins.org/2007/03/14/user-experience/ Figure it out ... with me! Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:42:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: DrFaulken http://configures.sarahelkins.org/2007/03/14/user-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-28 DrFaulken Thu, 15 Mar 2007 21:31:02 +0000 http://www.sarahelkins.org/wordpress/?p=22#comment-28 Configures, in my experience, technical (user assistance, as JS neatly pointed out) writers are often attached to V&V groups, and marketing writers typically exist in, as you said, marketing. Sometimes, particularly in agencies that specialize in copy writing and editing, you'll have everyone mixed in, but technical vs marketing writing is specific enough that most specialize. I can imagine a team configuration similar to what Jared Spool suggested. In my career experience, I've never worked for or with an agency that had writers in the same team as UI designers, UI developers, usability testers, or IAs. It's not to say it doesn't exist, but I'm not familiar with a team setup that includes writing, whether it be marketing or technical in nature, in UX as I have defined it. Personas should be the responsibility of the "business," part of the project, whether that be defined at your company/client/agency as marketing, product development, product management, or analyst. I never think a user experience expert should be in charge of building personas, although they will need to understand these usertypes intimately in order to be successful. Again, I have yet to work at or with an entity that purposefully tasked UX members with persona development. It happens all the time, including at my current employer, but that's because of a process breakdown and other things I won't go into here. Jared Spool, please do not take offense at our disagreement. I agree with you that these items are crucial for a great "user experience," I just happen to define the roles and responsibilities differently than you. I can also appreciate how your examples [i]do[/i] exist and I just haven't come into contact with them yet. Configures, in my experience, technical (user assistance, as JS neatly pointed out) writers are often attached to V&V groups, and marketing writers typically exist in, as you said, marketing. Sometimes, particularly in agencies that specialize in copy writing and editing, you’ll have everyone mixed in, but technical vs marketing writing is specific enough that most specialize.

I can imagine a team configuration similar to what Jared Spool suggested. In my career experience, I’ve never worked for or with an agency that had writers in the same team as UI designers, UI developers, usability testers, or IAs. It’s not to say it doesn’t exist, but I’m not familiar with a team setup that includes writing, whether it be marketing or technical in nature, in UX as I have defined it.

Personas should be the responsibility of the “business,” part of the project, whether that be defined at your company/client/agency as marketing, product development, product management, or analyst. I never think a user experience expert should be in charge of building personas, although they will need to understand these usertypes intimately in order to be successful. Again, I have yet to work at or with an entity that purposefully tasked UX members with persona development. It happens all the time, including at my current employer, but that’s because of a process breakdown and other things I won’t go into here.

Jared Spool, please do not take offense at our disagreement. I agree with you that these items are crucial for a great “user experience,” I just happen to define the roles and responsibilities differently than you. I can also appreciate how your examples [i]do[/i] exist and I just haven’t come into contact with them yet.

]]> By: configures http://configures.sarahelkins.org/2007/03/14/user-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-27 configures Thu, 15 Mar 2007 03:34:10 +0000 http://www.sarahelkins.org/wordpress/?p=22#comment-27 I had the idea that "copy" had to do with marketing, but on the other hand one of my sisters used to be a copy editor at a newspaper (now she's the editor at another paper), and I know that was a broader job than just working with the ads. Does "copy" in the UX context pretty much refer to text and formatting? A quick hunt comes up with these: Job ad to do with editor positions and UX: http://www.uxmatters.com/about_uxmatters/joining-uxmatters-team.php Copy length and UX: http://www.seobook.com/archives/001986.shtml I had the idea that “copy” had to do with marketing, but on the other hand one of my sisters used to be a copy editor at a newspaper (now she’s the editor at another paper), and I know that was a broader job than just working with the ads. Does “copy” in the UX context pretty much refer to text and formatting? A quick hunt comes up with these:

Job ad to do with editor positions and UX: http://www.uxmatters.com/about_uxmatters/joining-uxmatters-team.php

Copy length and UX:
http://www.seobook.com/archives/001986.shtml

]]> By: Jared Spool http://configures.sarahelkins.org/2007/03/14/user-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Jared Spool Thu, 15 Mar 2007 03:09:33 +0000 http://www.sarahelkins.org/wordpress/?p=22#comment-26 DrFaulken said: <blockquote><em>However, UX doesn’t cover everything, such as help/instructional text, good copy, or proper project development artifacts such as personas.</em></blockquote> I'm not sure I agree with the good doctor. As I see it, user experience deals with every "touchpoint" the user comes in contact with, so copy, instructional text (or user assistance, as is now the term-in-vogue), and design artifacts like personas and patterns are definitely part of the ux world. DrFaulken said:

However, UX doesn’t cover everything, such as help/instructional text, good copy, or proper project development artifacts such as personas.

I’m not sure I agree with the good doctor. As I see it, user experience deals with every “touchpoint” the user comes in contact with, so copy, instructional text (or user assistance, as is now the term-in-vogue), and design artifacts like personas and patterns are definitely part of the ux world.

]]> By: configures http://configures.sarahelkins.org/2007/03/14/user-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-25 configures Thu, 15 Mar 2007 00:43:55 +0000 http://www.sarahelkins.org/wordpress/?p=22#comment-25 Thanks for explaining a little more about usability v. UX! Thanks for explaining a little more about usability v. UX!

]]> By: DrFaulken http://configures.sarahelkins.org/2007/03/14/user-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-24 DrFaulken Thu, 15 Mar 2007 00:26:45 +0000 http://www.sarahelkins.org/wordpress/?p=22#comment-24 Nifty link. I liked the concept of "scent," it's a more holistic approach to stickiness than just content alone. "User experience" covers more than just usability -- UX is the cross-disciplinary efforts of user testing, user interface design, user interface development, and information architecture. All of these things are necessary for good usability. However, UX doesn't cover everything, such as help/instructional text, good copy, or proper project development artifacts such as personas. Nifty link. I liked the concept of “scent,” it’s a more holistic approach to stickiness than just content alone.

“User experience” covers more than just usability — UX is the cross-disciplinary efforts of user testing, user interface design, user interface development, and information architecture. All of these things are necessary for good usability. However, UX doesn’t cover everything, such as help/instructional text, good copy, or proper project development artifacts such as personas.

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