Small Details, Big Impact: How UX Researchers Ensure Accessibility for All
Communication and Interpretation in UX Design
If Batman’s suit requirements were misinterpreted, he might end up with a pink suit and a knitted green mask. Can you imagine the Dark Knight cruising around Gotham in a bright pink suit, accompanied by the sounds of knitting needles clicking away? He would probably have difficulty striking fear into the hearts of criminals with his new ensemble, despite looking fabulous.
As a UX researcher, I’ve learned that interpretation is key to shaping a great user experience. It’s not just about the tech and design but also about how users subjectively perceive and interact with a product. Small things like language and imagery can greatly impact a user’s experience. For example, in one research project, two users had vastly different interpretations of the same feature.
“The responsibility of the UX researcher goes beyond conducting research and creating designs. It also includes making our work accessible and understandable to all decision-makers and team members, ensuring that everyone is able to make informed decisions and work together effectively.”
Unfortunately, I’ve seen projects where the UX team only focused on the client’s wants, neglecting user needs, resulting in a product that didn’t meet users’ expectations. But when we consider interpretation, it leads to user-centered designs that succeed. I’ve seen projects where UX research yielded insights into user perspectives and created accessible, intuitive designs that received positive feedback.
It’s important to remember that we can’t rely solely on quantitative data in UX research. The power of interpretation can easily be lost in data analysis. That’s why we must include all stakeholders in the equation and use a variety of research methods to gain a comprehensive understanding of their perspectives. As UX researchers, it’s our responsibility to account for interpretation in our designs, continuously reflect and iterate, and communicate its potential dangers to the client and team.
Here are five examples of how interpretation can go wrong and how we can mitigate these risks:
- Conflicting perspectives: One of the biggest dangers of interpretation is that it can result in contradictory perspectives between the UX team, the client, and the users. For example, the client may prioritise the product's aesthetic appeal over its usability, while the users may prioritise its functionality over its appearance. As UX researchers, we must help all parties understand the different perspectives and find common ground that meets the needs of everyone involved.
- Miscommunication: Interpretation can also lead to better communication between the UX team and the client. For example, the UX team may believe they have understood the client’s requirements, while the client may have a completely different interpretation of what they want. This can lead to frustration and delay in the project. As UX researchers, it is our job to facilitate clear communication and ensure everyone is on the same page.
- Incorrect assumptions: Another danger of interpretation is that it can result in false assumptions. For example, the UX team may assume that the users will understand a particular feature in a certain way, while the users may have a completely different interpretation of it. This can lead to a poor user experience and negatively impact the success of the product. UX researchers must continuously validate our assumptions through research and testing.
- Lack of accessibility: Interpretation can also lead to a lack of accessibility for specific users. For example, the UX team may use language or imagery that is not inclusive to users with disabilities or from different cultural backgrounds. This can result in a negative user experience for these users and negatively impact the success of the product. As UX researchers, we must be mindful of the power of interpretation and ensure that our designs are inclusive and accessible to all users.
- User disengagement: Finally, interpretation can lead to user disengagement with the product. For example, the UX team may create a design that could be clearer and more convenient for the users, resulting in a negative user experience. This can lead to users abandoning the product and negatively impacting its success. As UX researchers, we must be aware of the power of interpretation and strive to create designs that are intuitive, accessible, and enjoyable to use for all users.
It is our responsibility not only to ensure that the end product is accessible to all users but also to make our own work accessible to all decision-makers and team members. This means effectively communicating our findings and recommendations in a clear, concise, and understandable manner. This allows the client and the team to make informed decisions and helps to avoid misunderstandings and misinterpretations.
Interpretation is key to shaping a great user experience. It’s not just about the tech and design but also about how users subjectively perceive and interact with a product.
To accomplish this, UX researchers must use a variety of methods and techniques to communicate their work effectively. This can include using visual aids, such as diagrams and graphs, to explain complex data and patterns. Additionally, we must also be able to explain the results of our research in plain language without relying on technical jargon or complex terminology.
By making our work accessible to all decision-makers and team members, we can ensure everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals. This helps to build trust and credibility with the client and the team and reinforces the value of our research in the design process.
In short, the responsibility of the UX researcher goes beyond conducting research and creating designs. It also includes making our work accessible and understandable to all decision-makers and team members, ensuring that everyone is able to make informed decisions and work together effectively.
Are you ready to take the user experience of your digital products to the next level? Then it’s time to get in touch with a UX researcher who understands the power of interpretation in shaping the user experience.
As a UX researcher, I have seen the positive impact of considering interpretation on a product’s success. From avoiding conflicts between stakeholders to creating inclusive and accessible designs, the benefits are countless.
Don’t leave the success of your digital product to chance. By considering the power of interpretation and communicating effectively with all parties, you can ensure a positive user experience that exceeds all expectations. So why wait? Get in touch with me today, and let’s work together to create a truly exceptional user experience.
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