User Experience Design Research

"Start Instantly" UX

Instagram, a very popular app, is a good example of Apple's "Start Instantly" recommendation. Even though Instagram users require an account to use the app, one isn't asked to log in straight away, they're brought to a grid of interesting photographs. A direct competitor, EasyBib, found @ http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/easybib/id436768184, also does this.

I have updated my design to reflect this better model.

'Reminders' App



Apple's Reminders app has been a fantastic reference in my design iteration process; the user flow is particularly similar to that I've designed for GoReference and so the navigation and UI can be drawn from as key inspiration.

"Design with the User in Mind"

Apple's human interface design principles codify several high-level aspects of human-device interaction that have a perceptible effect on the user experience. As you design your app, keep in mind the following principles of HI design:

• Aesthetic integrity
• Consistency
• Direct manipulation
• Feedback
• Metaphors
• User control

Source:
http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#referencelibrary/GettingStarted/RoadMapiOS/HumanInterfaceDesign/RM_iHIG_Station/Fundamentals/Fundamentals.html

"iOS HCI Guidelines"

http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/MobileHIG/UIElementGuidelines/UIElementGuidelines.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40006556-CH13-SW1

Of course, I would not be anywhere without the iOS Human Interface Guidelines and I have the entire document open in a tab of my browser to flick to per each design iteration I make. It has been invaluable to this process.

"Tasks And Techniques Of UX Designers"

UX designers perform various tasks at various points in the process. Here are a few things that they deliver.

• Wireframes and Prototypes
• User Flows
• Design Patterns

These points come straight from the article and are all things which I'm employing as part of my design process; in fact, design patterns are up in the next post - stay tuned.

Patterns provide consistency and a way of finding the most effective “tool” for the job. With user interface design patterns, for example, picking the right UI elements (e.g. module tabs, breadcrumbs, slideshows) for certain tasks based on their effectiveness leads to better and more familiar experiences.

Source: http://uxdesign.smashingmagazine.com/2010/10/05/what-is-user-experience-design-overview-tools-and-resources/