This is the talk I'm hoping to give at DrupalCon in the UX and Design track. Looks like there are lots of very exciting talks already planned for theming and visual design, so I'm excited to focus my discussion around the topic of User Experience. It's great for me, actually, since it's the stuff I do best and I believe there is a lot that might be gleaned from a discussion between both designers and developers alike on both the site building and Drupal development sides of the spectrum.

Looks like it'll be a great conference. I look forward to meeting my tribe--the many people I've been acquainted with for years, but have never met, who've put their sweat into this tool which I love as equally as I do OmniGraffle and Photoshop. See you in Bean Town.

SESSION OVERVIEW

We all want our customers to be satisfied with our products and for them to sustain their use of them. But have you ever wondered if the design of your product is on the right path towards getting that satisified user? The process of crafting successful user experiences that help achieve these goals isn't rocket science, and need not be painful or difficult. What it does require, however, is: 1) empathy for users, 2) the ability focus design discussions around specific problems and the details that matter in those contexts, 3) the willingness to be open to solutions that are unconventional and which may come from anywhere, and 4) the willingness to edit and remove when necessary.

What we can do to ensure we're on the path to usability and satisfaction is to really take a look at how we might support our design efforts by devoting a wee bit of thought on user centered design process and practices. It's simple stuff and anyone can do it.

TRACK

Design and User Experience

AGENDA

This talk will focus on the following:

1) Respect them or they're out the door: How to bring the user into the design process
2) Make 'em beg for more: How to research, craft, and communicate (sell) ideas that are appropriate to the problem
3) Prove your love: How and when to test and iterate designs
4) Staying for breakfast: How to keep user satisfaction in mind after the product's out the door

You'll forgive the cheekiness, Valentine's Day is around the corner. :)

GOALS

You should come away with a sense of how user centered design principles can fit into your product development life cycle, and a plan for developing a strategy for keeping it there.