Hi Ambrose:
That is wonderful! We need many more software architects and developers with passion for UX. I think that what you are saying is on-target. I would only add a couple of points: 1. Some aspects of product development are, and probably always will be, "waterfall." I was trying to make that point in another thread. For example, you have fund --> design/build -->release in almost any business. There are Ux elements in all of them. So I think that we will always be dealing with some form of hybrid models with waterfall elements and agile elements. 2. While I understand your distinctions among the various professions: Ix designers, visual designers and usability pros. (And I realize that for some people they will always want to fit into one of the boxes), I would encourage us to think about these as elements or dimensions of UX and not as separate professions. I do them all and think of all of them as essential tasks within the larger design picture. I don't do them all equally well (my visual design skills have limits -- probably because I failed fingerpainting in Kindergarten). And I often call in others to perform some of the tasks. But they are still all part of a unified whole. Just as there are sub-specialties within technical development, I see these all as sub-specialties within human-centered design or Ux engineering (use whatever term you prefer for the meta-profession). One of the oddities of UX is that originally, many of us came into the field through cognitive psychology. I was a programmer who studied psychology and I identified with the usability profession since in the 1980's that's all there was. Now many Ix Designers come to the profession through the MFA/design route. They have a different perspective from those who come from computer science (developers) or cognitive psych (usability pros). So perhaps some of the distinctions are more artifacts of history then anything else. As you rightly point out: "...we need to figure out how to work together and learn from each other rather than perpetuating stereotypes about each other." I endorse that 100%. I hope that we can all see ourselves as members of a single profession with slightly different backgrounds and vision and draw strength from those differences. We all have a lot to learn from each other. I look forward to welcoming many more developers and software architects into the HCD/Ux community. Only when we all focus on the user experience will we realize our full potential. Best, Charlie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=25824 ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
