What I can do, what I do, what I have done, and what I do not want to do
UX is an abbreviation for User Experience. We use services and products every day. When things work smoothly, we become happy. When it is slow or does not work at all, we get frustrated. A good user experience is important. At least, that is what I think!
UX means User Experience. It is about how it feels for a person to use a service or product, such as a website or an app. My definition: “UX, or User Experience, refers to the overall experience a person has while using a product such as a website or a computer application, particularly in terms of its ease of use and enjoyment”.
UX is about understanding user behaviors, emotions, goals, and contexts. The purpose is to create better products and services. Someone who works on designing services is sometimes called a service designer. It is a part of UX. To create a smooth experience, you need to listen to the user. Then you can create a good interface that helps the user achieve their goal.
UX and UI have a lot in common. UX is a broader concept. Usability is an important part of UX. UX encompasses research, analysis, behavioral science, communication, and sometimes technology. A UX designer must be able to empathize with the user’s situation.
UI stands for user interface design. UI and UX are closely related because both are about user experience. But they also differ. UI is about the visual design and the visual aspect of apps and websites. A UX designer can work with both digital and physical products. A UI designer focuses on the graphical elements, such as typography, colors, buttons, animations, and images.
The web is now used for much more than just text and images. Web technology is an important part of many of our everyday tools. For example, you can not read a newspaper, use an app, or navigate with a car’s GPS without depend on web technology. These tools must work for everyone.
In Sweden, there is the “DOS law” (the law on accessibility to digital public services) which states that government digital services must be accessible. Similarly, EU countries have adapted to a directive called the European accessibility standard (EN 301 549). Other countries also have similar laws, such as Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act in the USA. This law requires accessibility for IT technology used by government agencies.
There is similar legislation for other parts of society - the Accessibility Directive. The directive covers, among other things, computers, ATMs, card readers, ticket machines, media services (TV, radio, film, music, video games), e-books, banking services, and e-commerce. I think this shows that our decision-makers take digital accessibility seriously.
When design, usability, and technology work together, the user experience is plesant. Then communication works. A simplified way to divide the code is that the frontend is what is displayed and runs in the browser, and the backend is the part of the code that stays on the server side. When you combine the two parts, it is called “full-stack”. Coding for the web and app means constantly learning new things. It helps if you are familiar with a framework and follow standards. The different programming languages and frameworks in the coding world are sometimes called a “stack."
This website is built with Jamstack. More specifically, Hugo with the WD Hugo Theme – this is a theme that I have developed. Technical challenges make the work stimulating. Often, complicated technology is something that simplifies for the end user if it is dressed with a well-crafted interface.
To succeed in UX, it’s essential to listen to the user. When you do that, achieving success becomes easier. Additionally, you learn from working with skilled people. Over the past few years, I have worked in several teams that use agile methodologies. If the team requires a coach or mentor, I would be happy to help. Although I’m capable of taking a leadership role, I would only do so if it’s necessary and requested.
Did you search for something that was here before? The old web is archived here. Do you want to look at some old jobs? Some are described here. Some fun with exploring AI and generative images with prompts.
