Let’s be clear here, when I talk about UX, it’s something that we all serve. This may come from different pipelines, whether your consumer or a provider. This has always been a two-way street with anything you design or develop.
Google definition
Consumer:
a person who purchases goods and services for personal use.
Provider:
a person or thing that provides something.
When we think of products or services, we want the best customer experience, and when “we” buy or experience something, we want to have the same experience every time. We must not forget every project that is different and at every stage of the design process. The important part is not performed simply to do it, but to start and learn as you go.
In the Nielsen Norman Group article “UX Research Cheat Sheet” he explains the four sections:
Discover
Explore
Test
Listen
Each section is meant to help with your process and how to get your design project off the ground. Discover is where you talk to different people and get people expert opinions. Explore is how you give users control and don’t have errors. Test comes from protecting your information and keeping data safe. Listen, helps pay attention to your future users and how to communicate. Various methods can be practical, and it is often unnecessary to do everything at once.
Better still, what do UX and marriage have in common, well, I’m glad you’re asking or thinking about it. When I look at each word, discover, explore, test and listen. This reminds of marriage. Comparing the two, you do both. When you are married you discover new things about each other. You both explore new places on a trip. Both of you will put each other to the test. The most important one you have to listen.
Let’s go back the year 1958. 1958 The year significant different things happened, the U.S. launched the Explorer 1 satellite during January, a loaf of bread cost 20 cents, a house cost $12,750. Music was popular with Elivs and Chuck Berry singing on the radio. After school, the kids are playing with legos as the Lego company patents their design of Lego bricks, still compatible with bricks produced today.
People living in different areas, families and singles. It was 62 years ago when it was 1959. I mention this because my parents “marriage has survived most human life.” Over their marriage has lasted more than programs or software. They definitely beat out flash. The same UX principle still stands today as in 1959. The life-cycle of product and design has always been as simple as marriage. It brings together consumer and provider.
I have learned to be patient and listen more than ever. You never enter into a dialogue with another person when errors happen. We have to think about each other and avoid missing communication like faults in our products. Have a plan if we miss a step if we have to deliver bad or good news . We must remain present in life to benefit everyone.
In the 62 years that I have known my parents, they have each gone through the life cycle of product and design during their marriage. I can say with good reason they have survived all this by working together as a unit.
