What is UX?
In the broadest sense possible, user experience (UX) refers to any interaction a user has with a product or a service. — Career Foundry
This definition is a great launching point for our exploration into the wide world of UX. UX is a complex, interdisciplinary field — and a rewarding, growing field to work in. In order to better understand UX and its context, it’s important to get a grasp of the history of UX — more specifically, how the field got to where it is today.
By reviewing the videos, lectures, and slides on this page and throughout the entirety of this module, you’ll obtain a more thorough understanding of the definition of UX, the history of UX, and the importance of it all.
Additionally, as we progress through this module, you’ll see me break down the bolded terms in the definition above. What constitutes an interaction? Why the term user, and what are the connotations of such a term? What kinds of products and services are we referring to, anyway?
Above all else, my goal is for you to understand why UX matters. Who knows? Maybe you’ll end up loving UX, too!
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Just for Fun: An Example of Outrageous UX
This is from the Comedy Central show Nathan For You. Nathan is a small business consultant who uses unexpected tactics to grow small businesses, to put it mildly.
This is an exemplar of poor UX because people, obviously, don’t want to be treated like this!
You will not be tested on Nathan For You, obviously!