Reflections on User Research - Smoke and Mirrors

UX vs Englightenment

It is clearly evident that the author was trying to explain that techniques and methodologies of gaining user insights on User Interface (UI) or User Experience (UX) so to say, is not restricted by boundaries, concrete or scientific. With this, I kind of understand the joke that my lecturer (Reddy) shared with us. Be it the story of the person seeking englightenment or the samurai trying to become one, it just saying that such insights could be there but yet not. It might sound a little confusing but I guess it is saying it that the data collected might be right or wrong depending on circumstances and the methods (though the same) could likewise be right or wrong in gaining an insight to UX. Similar to englightenment, UX can be felt but not defined or quantified. Thus, it is important for qualitative research. Nonetheless, research does provide a direction for creators of UX to go in. As a Buddhist might say, all roads led to englightenment but it depends on how you walk it.

The Journey

As from the author, research gives us the direction but it is what we put in that matters just like the depth of a novel. It is impossible to be right at all times, what one interpret will be different from another. Just as what the creators of UX wants might not be what the users felt. Hence, the journey of UX starts with knowing the target group and general traits of such a group through research. With the general direction, UX creators might have to trial and error plus incorporate their ideas for a UI to have the body and flavor for users.

The Goal

I understood that UX is subjective like an art piece. One will never get it 100% right nor would he be totally wrong. Just like the creators, users will never be wrong as it is their unique experience. Experience is subjective and if it could be defined, love could be as well.