“Socrates said, “Know thyself.” I say, “Know thy users.” And guess what? They don’t think like you do.”-Joshua Brewer
And guess what? You are not the user. It is easier said then done. Over the week BDW (Boulder Digital Works) got to work hand and hand with Copper Mountain Ski Resort assessing their Sherpa App.
The Sherpa App is an on mountain audio guide that enhances your experience through user interaction. As the ski day progressed I kept catching myself saying “I don’t like this” or “I really like this” and almost getting frustrated with the app because it didn’t do exactly what I wanted it to do.
But guess what they didn’t design this app for me. They designed it for there season holders, family vacationers, and Front Range weekend warriors.
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This UX phrase has been exceeding prevalent over the decade because of the book written by Don Norman titled “Design of Everyday Things”.
The biggest thing a designer needs to know is that when designing a product you need to take the time to understand your user through primary and secondary research.
Knowing how someone will use something is essential. This allows you to be subjective in your design decisions. It also allows you to see the bigger picture of your project through the eyes of an outsider (who is not emotionally attached to a concept or idea).
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