At UX24/7 we are fortunate to work with our network of international UX researchers within our Accredited Practitioner Programme.
We decided it would be great to talk to our researchers and get an insight into their industry experiences as well as find out what is unique about UX in their home countries.
In this blog series, we have shared our conversations with each of our researchers from here in the UK, to Brazil, China and many more countries worldwide.
I was fascinated by understanding how people behave and how we can design better for users
How did you get into the [UX] field?
I studied ergonomics at university. I was fascinated by understanding how people behave and how we can design better for users. I then fell in love with research after my final year at university and did a PhD in human computer interaction. Following this, Paul Blunden hired me and gave me my first job as UX consultant. I’ve been in UX for the past 10 years now and love it!.
Any advice for people wanting to get into the [UX] field?
Be proactive! Stand out from the crowd by doing pro bono work. Practice research, watch people and try and unpick why they do certain things. Also, keep abreast of new technologies and trends and read lots!
What do you enjoy about working in the UX industry?
I learn a lot about people and technology. I have the opportunity to improve people’s lives in many different ways.
What has been your favourite project to work on?
Research and design of a state of the art radiotherapy user interface system.
What is the most common usability issue you encounter during your testing?
Poor form design.
What is the one piece of advice you would offer brands to improve their UX?
Don’t overwhelm users with content.
What future UX trends do you envision?
- More interconnectedness between devices and technology (smart technology)
- Anticipatory Design – user interfaces which predict behaviour and act on it before user chooses to.
- Tech that helps users make informed decisions rather than expecting users to fill lengthy forms and make complex decisions from lists of options.
If you would like to join our growing international roster of freelance UX professionals get in touch at hello@ux247.com