Some people are in a race to “keep up with the Joneses”. Some people are in a race to “keep down with the Cohens“. As for hats…

[today’s offering from xkcd]

What is User Experience (UX)? It’s not just a fancy way of describing your latest greatest web page design…

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Last summer, while in Washington DC for Adaptive Path UXWeek, I hailed a taxi. Not just any taxi, as it turned out, but an old Oldsmobile, just like the one my Grandpa Morris had when I was just a little girl.

My notes at the moment: 

The quilted vinyl seats, the width of the bench, the low headrests of the front split-bench seats. The power window controls and the little noise they make. The sound of the air conditioner, of the gear shift… It’s like traveling back in time.

The sliders for the AC that aren’t sliders but arcing switches, the shape of the back windows. It’s incredible how extensive and redolent the design vocabulary of the car is. It’s spoken by the door locks, the handle grips, the ceiling fabric, the horizontal speedometer, the seatbelt buckle. Every single element was designed, and reveals it’s common source/culture.

I am transported (in more ways than one) and astonished, as well. It’s like getting a flood of memory from an olfactory stimulus… but visually.

That is what User Experience means. That is its power.

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User Experience is the interaction, the interface, the feel, the sound, the smell, the brand, the advertising, sales attitude, the customer service, the subliminal associations. And yes, the visual effect and (hopefully) lack of frustration. Experience is a result of everything, and it is also the core, the goal, the hinge of everything.

Now you understand why one of my personal mottos is:

Experience is Everything. 

Seen Los Angeles:

Pretty funny, huh? You have to look closely to be sure there isn’t actually a golf ball half-way through the rear windshield.

Seen in Jerusalem:

Great café; nice decor. The whole facade is plate glass, including the sliding front door (maximizes usable interior space). Someone neglected to put any cushion or spring on that door. It shuts glass against glass. Ouch. I cringe every time it shuts (including when I’m the one shutting it). It already has some chips and dings.

Light is wonderful. Glass lets in the light, and connects the spaces. I’m delighted (sorry) to be seeing more and more glass used in architecture and interior design. Too bad it isn’t yet perfect.

Some of you will have noticed that the arrow in the top sign is pointing the wrong way (it’s pointing to the open direction, not the shut).  

Some interface problems stem from just plain carelessness (click the image to zoom):

“Please fill in the form below and press “Submit” to email it to us, or email us at…”

The only button on the form is labeled “Send”.

Is that a crazy logo or what? (The name doesn’t do anything for me, either.)

History leaves a trail, but no where moreso than in financial institution names. My great-uncle was a partner in a large NYC law firm. He’d send me letters written on his corporate letterhead. All through my childhood, that masthead (top margin banner) grew and grew. Every senior lawyer in the firm had to have his name incorporated; at its peak, I think that lawfirm’s name comprised five lines.

My uncle has passed away. The firm now has just two names (”Doe & Doe”). I hope it’s an indication of sanity, not an epidemic.

Historical baggage and ego baggage all proudly on display in one (bloated) logo.

[*Nystagmus: Rapid rhythmic repetitious involuntary (unwilled) eye movements. Nystagmus can be horizontal, vertical or rotary.]