Usability, within the user experience field, refers to the " ease of access and/or use of a product or website." A design's features and content determines it's level of usability. As a UX designer, it is my job to design for usability. Stephen Krug argues that the only way to ensure a site, application, or product is useful is by testing:
“If you want a great site, you’ve got to test. After you’ve worked on a site for even a few weeks, you can’t see it freshly anymore. You know too much. The only way to find out if it really works is to test it.”
When working on any project, Krug argues we should test as often and as soon as possible. Testing too late or even too early could pose potential threats to the usability of the design. Krug also argues that as a UX designer, I should never make usability design decisions off the basis of my own judgment. If I believe a user will prefer one design decision over another, the only way to be sure is by A/B testing. That will settle any confusion and dismiss any prolonged design decision arguments.
Life Update
So the coronavirus has seriously derailed everything - graduation, job searching, grad school, etc.As of right now, my plan is to simply finish school here @ Baylor and hopefully find a UX job in Austin, Seattle, or Las Vegas (fingers crossed).
Meanwhile, I'll be working on the interactive album project and the Seidel Interest web application project as well.
Once those are finished and complete, I'll update my portfolio with the appropriate case studies.
Let the madness begin.
