The following is nothing more than a 'thinking aloud' process that I am throwing out there. No doubt, it will be all covered in the course (indeed, a lot already has), but I found a site that states UX is the overlap between form and function and wanted to comment.
That design of a website needs to go beyond just the graphic look of the pages presented is well accepted. Sites need to be smooth and fast, with a clear concise code that ensures that the whole process works as expected every time.
Form and function balanced together encompass the whole usability of a site, contributing to the overall experience.
(Idler, 2012).
'Usability includes methods of measuring usability, such as Needs analysis and the study of the principles behind an object's perceived efficiency or elegance. In human-computer interaction and computer science, usability studies the elegance and clarity with which the interaction with a computer program or a web site (web usability) is designed. Usability differs from user satisfaction insofar as the former also embraces usefulness'
(Wikipedia, 2012)
The 'Form' of the site is broadly the look of the design. However, it goes a lot further than that, as the form also encompasses the feel of a site. To extrapolate, the form of the site is visceral and emotive.
As emotive responses to certain stimuli and imagery can be affected by cultural, personal, educational, religious and any other variety of demographic influences, it poses the question;
Does UX design also rely on an inevitable degree of unpredictability; the user? I am therefore asking (anyone who wants to comment), shouldn't UX design consider a 3rd balance point as equally important?
Idler states;
'Design is very emotional, which often keeps designers from being rational about something they have created themselves.'
I'm suggesting that care needs to be taken to ensure that the form, function and the user are considered in a balanced fashion.
References
Idler, S, 2012, Usabilla, Form & Function Go Hand-in-hand, [online] http://blog.usabilla.com/form-and-function-go-hand-in-hand/ [accessed 3Apr12]
Wikipedia, 2012, Usability, [online] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usability [accessed, 3Apr12]
Hi David,
ReplyDeleteyou've raised a very good point on form and function. " Form and function balanced together encompass the whole usability of a site, contributing to the overall experience."
This highlights that both form and function need to go together to create a good site and UX design, and perhaps a third element could be added - "users" as their point of view, (taken from personas) will help the designer and developer create a very friendly UX site or application.