Harvard i-lab | Why You're Over-Thinking Your UI/UX with Rohan Puri

In this workshop we will take you through the steps in thinking about (and preempting) user interaction and user experience design. Then we will outline ways in which we can evaluate, test, and analyze interactions to pivot designs leanly. This session will be highly interactive and will use examples from real startups.

[@nofavors]

App testing and feedback is great when you have something tangible. In the early stages, you can save a lot of time when you follow a proper UX process to design the UI, informed by usability principles, user personas, natural flows and efficiency, and most important - user testing using mock-ups. You are not over thinking UX, it is the job of your UX Architect to think about it. Leave the UX to your UX guy.

[@evm6177]

@Franco Sinatra Do you even have a clue? Forget them, lets see how much you understand about any of this.

[@olababs2048]

I was about to say same thing.

[@debasis8523]

Everybody deserve this type of free education material and of course ad free. Thank you Rohan.

[@Aprilforevergreen]

Rohan Puri is a great presenter.

[@rotempetrovets8838]

Dear Rohn, it is pleasure to listening to you. Great speaker and charismatic. Thank you for the video

[@onedorki3boi]

The shaker with 1 hole is the salt shaker. A research study was done (I don't remember the authors) where they tested individuals who used salt shakers with 1 hole vs multiple holes and counted the number of times they would shake the salt shakers over their food. They found that the numbers of shakes was not dependent on the number of holes and therefore not dependent on the amount of salt used. The salt shaker usage was more of a ritual or compulsion. So as a measure to help reduce salt intake, they started putting only one hole on salt shakers. However this can vary from country to country.

[@MicaelBolognini]

Ri Le My wife learned me how to distinguish whats salt or pepper. The word Salt has one vowel, pepper more.

[@salamista]

Ri Le Interesting, where I come from the pepper has always one hole and salt has multiple holes. I've never questioned this until seeing this video.

[@josephtalbot5271]

+salamista Sound like where you come from they're trying to give you salt poisoning ;-)*)

[@dichebach]

(1) Not stupid design S versus P Impossible for any competent adult user to get it wrong. -=-=-=-=-=-=- (2) Stupid design * versus * * * Possible for many competent adult users to get it wrong -=-=-=- It is more important for your user to rarely (ideally never) "get it wrong" than it is for you to be clever. There is no such thing as "good design" because there is no design that only has one user who never changes.

[@ITSTAKING]

same here. I was actually surprised to see people were confused about it.

[@jboyd2891]

Great introduction. Right to the point

[@a.castley7796]

You are amazing. Engaging speaker. Great stories, tips and attitude towards technology. I will do what I can to connect you with those who may have the hardware you are looking to bring to India... keep it up!

[@variablenumber2]

Great talk, thanks for sharing!

[@KagimuBrian]

This is a very educative talk, Thank you for sharing , i loved it, the einstein quote, the dollarshave video but most importantly the content. Thank you

[@1995yuda]

What a great teacher !! You guys are lucky. Thanks so much ;)

[@aberry24]

great talk !!! very knowledgeable speaker :)

[@scottmilburn]

Great talk, and I'm leaving a comment because it's 'extremely' good.

[@MarwaKalloub]

That looks great lecture. I will visit it again after i get back from work. thx for u

[@MaxWeir]

great presentation, would love to hear more from you on this topic if possible

[@EmadElSammad]

Thank you for the great talk. Was worth my time

[@jovellealfeche]

Thanks Rohan , I love it the tips!

[@imanb3704]

Amazing talk, thank you!

[@shahinkhandaker2011]

It's best idea vector & best knowledge area

[@manikhundgenn]

Good to hear. But a lot of things you say are hard to predict can be thought of to a great extent. UX definitely takes care of that. And while it comes to trends of why some apps are popular, its the cashing on from the young minds. Some people know a need, make it into a nice built and they surprisingly do good .

[@aniovakimyan3258]

Loved this video so much

[@mitchqqqqqq]

great talk

[@Tubingonline1]

This is really awesome.

[@jaewooshon1197]

Nice presentation! thank you :)

[@MrAbrahamMarley]

Career change soon! Like August of 2017 I graduate from college. We're studying this now.

[@michaelcullinan2109]

great talk! Thank you!!!

[@paolodamu5719]

Great talk! Super Rohan ;)

[@sarandavaa]

very insightful!

[@lalakuma9]

The thing is Reddit and Craigslist's "ugly aesthetics" work because the concept of anonymity is what drives their communities. When you hear someone say that they bought something or met someone from Craigslist, the first thing you think of is how it shady that sounds, because the ugly half-assed-looking pages in Times New Roman is the first thing that pops into your head. Your design needs to match your brand image & status. But yes, of course even low-status brands, like Costco and Walmart, can be incredibly successful.

[@sandy12484]

Nice presentation

[@gotogymsportwear]

Grear video, Many thanks

[@hungjaketranquang4365]

I wish I came for this video sooner. For the 1st time, somehow, KZbin algorithm does a great job. Kudo to KZbin algorithm.

[@TheCHUR86]

UI design has always been in practise, for as long as graphic design has been around as user interaction / user interface with print and physical products has always been a focus, it just now days designing digital assets allows for more comprehension of the interface and interaction and allows for rapid iterations and quicker feedback. As back in the day it just was not backed and geared by whats common and proven UX methodologies that are in practise today. Instead designers for early digital design took to basic analytical data and design theories/ principles and design hierarchy from print and assumptions into their approach. Don't over complicate this new boom, have a methodology that tests the of best user experience and validates any assumptions or removes them, then design the interface on user feedback . Tips When testing consider contextual format of inquiries Samples sizes for testing 8 per segment is safe Ensure you SUS score the design, to gain a baseline THEN ITERATE AND REPEAT Simple - Simplicity always prevails.

[@PHlophe]

at the end of the day you just swipe and click

[@TheJunChen]

Good speaker

[@jillpandya2232]

great talk!

[@itsmeroky]

What a brilliant mind! Typical Harvard brilliance.

[@Gangnam0803]

Thank you!

[@evanglerm4374]

Nice one.

[@sj6257]

Good One !

[@naveennagar4163]

It was great..

[@den-yimmoli7983]

Researching UX/UI I make it a point to check IF their case study is still around - to see how far the UX has got them up to present time. Guess what the domain name is now parked and the tool they were promoting is under another domain name already. Significance? UX would be making sure users don't go to your domain URL and find it down OR missing ;)

[@great567]

Very informative

[@shirleyxu4620]

I really like the way you present! you should totally do a presentation tutorial lol

[@bharatbagmane2952]

Great! Lot of real world insights into UX design

[@felabooty]

That's not an actual Einstein quote. It's actually a quote from E.F. Schumacher's book "Small is Beautiful".

[@1995yuda]

Ah, the old 'Einstein said it' trick. It's almost a Meme now.

[@tspaziovirtuale3615]

You don't have to underestimate UI to give attention to how important UX is. What essentially you are talking about is not an efficient UI design change anyway. You don't have to underestimate one part of the field to speak about the other.

[@jamesstables6636]

at approx. 24:00 he shows data about a communities most favourite feature of the bus timetable app. I really do not believe that shows accurate data since there is no inquiry as to WHY people chose that feature. He admits that he was unprepared for that unpredictable answer and I believe that the reason why he was astonished was because there was no inquiry or contextual reference to the data from the behavioural patterns of the user. Data and statistics are great for marketing, however, a UX designer knows that statistical data does not explain WHY users behave in the pattern that gets recorded in the data. "You can not predict this" - I totally disagree. By diligent and effective user research and inquiry, a UXD predicts and satisfies the users needs while achieving business goals. That is why UX designers are extremely useful in the implementation of a successful project and the communication between UXD and Developers is paramount especially in reference to communicating UX discovery and analysis.

[@demovidtest]

25:44 - great example of how limited this approach is. Quantitative data will tell you quantities of WHAT but will not tell you WHY. That is the job of UX Design. Usability testing and UI design represent a very narrow spectrum of the tools offered by a UX Design process. Developers tend to think they can do "UX" by reducing it to these simple elements, because to them, UI = UX... I would not hire a developer who doesn't understand the value of UX Design, nor any developer or designer who gathers quantitative data and can't provide a WHY behind the data.

[@Ludvio]

can you explain that further?

[@SamSam-yx4xq]

Numbers aren’t a conversation it’s pretty simple….how do you get to know someone? Do you send them a survey or do you sit down and talk….

[@evm6177]

@@SamSam-yx4xq I'd definitely prefer the latter if it can be engaging. 🍷

[@honewhetstone1732]

I respect his views it just so happens as a CX designer who has to oversee both UX and UI, I disagree with him majorly.

[@samuelmorkbednarzkepler]

On what spesifically?

[@andriciandu]

Yeah, really not on board with the whole "entrapment" approach. * Users were able to go through the entire process, only to find that they have to sign up or they would lose their progress. -- this is the equivalent of a street scam, where someone comes up to you and gives you a "gift" and right after you take it, you are forced to pay. * Users were not allowed to uninstall until they provided a reason -- the equivalent of any cable company out there, where you can sign up in minutes, but the process of discontinuing the service is set up that it takes weeks, and its there just to discourage the user from doing so, in the most slimy way possible. * User were getting a discount only if they were about to leave, especially regardless of the reason given -- what does this say for the users that are regulars? That they are suckers, that's what. Top-notch customer "care" right there. Great talk, very nice inputs, but if you use any of these approaches in your business model, then you are quite a pos. :)

[@YourMajesty143]

Yeah it sounds like Marketing Design, more than UX Design. These actions are considered "dark patterns" in the industry and should be avoided. Anybody who implements these isn't doing UX, bc they're just focused on conversions and clicks, not on the interests of the user. It's bull crap.

[@coderookie4983]

Before I commit to this lecture, is it recommended for newbie UX Designers? I've just started researching into this field for a career change. Thanks!

[@moOnB0w]

As a recently graduated newbie, I would say this is not really a good place to start if you havent yet learned the basics of UX/UI design. Its important to grasp the processes for evaluating your target audience, and how they will use the product you are designing for. It seems to me what this video is trying to convey is the K.I.S.S. protocol (Keep It Simple, Stupid) meaning that usually the most obvious and straightforward idea is the best, and trying to "over-design" in most cases will make things more complicated than they need to be. But its still important to utilize the industry standard processes such as Demographic Personas, Scenarios, wireframing, prototyping, and of course Test and Repeat. ;)

[@TheOmar]

Thanks, distortia. Where would you recommend I could start?

[@kmk2555]

update the open courseware course for UI/UX :)

[@sinanshakeri-mp7cd]

love u:)

[@peterxsal3802]

Thanks Rohan! You changed my life! - Peter

[@KareemRifai]

The users choose to use the list instead of the search because sometimes you don't know the spelling of the stop...

[@user-uu3us9ys4q]

same thought. And I also hate sites where search don't work properly, so you try 3 times and then still go to list. They definitly should check their search and analyse most typical mistakes and add them to search.

[@cosato22]

Thanks for the talk! What is the name of the speaker, and where can I read more of his work?

[@XxSharmsxX]

+Colby S it says it in the title, Rohan Puri

[@ziailvino6796]

ahahah of course the one with 3 holes is the salt, you wouldn't want that much pepper in your food! anyway great video :)

[@uneed2calmdwn659]

he's so cute and fluent

[@SuperStevestan]

Single hole for salt, always more for pepper. :)

[@vmartirosian]

If you have to think about it, then it isn't designed good enough. Steve Krug said - Don't Make Me Think (his book)

[@iamrobert505]

34:00

[@KT-ue2mx]

Three holes for salt because salt granules are bigger than pepper's.

[@weicai6595]

At 20:32 he mentioned a tool "bosanmic"..... what indeed is it??? anybody know

[@robholt2734]

+Wei Cai Here is a link: balsamiq.com/ the tool is used to mock up visual UI's quickly and effectively.

[@cosybarn7942]

+Rob Holt Thank you Rob!

[@arjunpxl]

balsamiq is quick mockup designing tool.. you will need it in the stage when you're just getting ready to implement the idea of the app.

[@abqsky5338]

Overthinking comes from lack of experience. Next!!!

[@begsbegsbegs]

Should rename the video to ‘why you are under-thinking your ux/ui’

[@IremGokceYldrm]

It seems it is not a quote from Einstein, it is Schumacher's. Link: en.wikiquote.org/wiki/E._F._Schumacher

[@slyfoto1]

start 8:11

[@jamesrochabun]

3 holes salt one for pepper

[@MichalAnnStrahilevitz]

If you consume more salt (most Americans do) that is the way to go. If you consume more pepper (me and a few people I know), then the reverse makes sense, assuming it is just you and others like you who will use the shakers. The problem is if you share shakers with guests (like most of us do) you have to explain what is what to them. Too much work. Who wants to have to explain something so simple to every guest as what has salt and what has pepper , especially in a world where so many guests also ask you what has gluten and/or dairy and/or whatever other thing they are allergic to? Too much work. Give me an old fashion set any day. : )

[@morthim]

"what are your immediate reactions" disgust. should have tested if there was a market before making it.

[@asiamaung1431]

But which one was the pepper shaker?!

[@allenwixted1992]

+Asia Maung it's funny, I'm from Ireland and it's pretty much ubiquitous here that the single hole is for salt. I didn't even know it was an uncertainty for others. damn users, eh!? haha ;)

[@SuperStevestan]

+Allen Wixted I agree. Im from England and it's something I've learnt in childhood. But it does highlight the issue perfectly though. :)

[@pedroelton7040]

6:28, the on on the right is for salt, or salt and pepper... The other one with just one whole is for the stick. hahahaha

[@mtxrawkus]

"Anyone remember Digg? Only a few of you..." LOL

[@111tapan]

59:27 The great Indian head nodding... I love it :)

[@vladymyrnazarenko3002]

Actually Amazon, Reddit, Craiglist have good product design. Of course if you consider UI and UX only in terms of dribble "cool"looking and gloving icons Craiglist and Reddit use almost zero visuals and it serves their purpose. They know they users and why they use these services There is nothing to distract user from viewing posts. Good presentation, but he didn't do real research Product design is about knowing who your users are, their pains, needs and what they want to do with your product. It's definitely not about thoughtlessly following design trends and adding more cool buttons

[@luanmaia]

This guy have a very narrow understanding of design, ui and ux. He couldn't articulate the difference between ux and ui once in this lecture and keep analyzing something that he don`t understand.

[@MrMarjai]

agree

[@user-uu3us9ys4q]

agree, they stick to classic very recognisible design, I'm tired of people who invent a new picture for everything, instead of just give me the word, so it became some stupid game: guess what of this pictures is one you need.

[@IrfanKhan-ze4yx]

Casually disagree. I’ve always avoided the Reddit site because they interface is awful. Using it on the Apollo app makes it much better. I never get on reddit on a PC due to the terrible design. It may work for you because you are familiar with it but it likely puts off many new users.

[@pdalencour]

Haven't gone through the whole thing. But the adage, "what got you here won't get you there" comes to mind... Show me a new offering where design UI/UX isn't core? At this point, the expectation is design. It is a differentiator. That Craigslist or these others are still working well, the fact is, it's installed and nothing coming across has understood or articulated it well enough. They were built at a time when design wasn't expected. Or design was a series of links. Google undid this. While they had a great product, they also started at design. So it's a bit off. Looking forward to the rest of the talk.

[@mickinoz2005]

Salt is always 1 hole pepper is three.

[@user-gr7lk4dx3q]

as

[@user-gr7lk4dx3q]

a s d

[@DeepakRai-tf8un]

who came here in March 2019 ?

[@bipinmood1740]

But why are you mixing the terms UI and UX? And its on Harvard Innovation Labs channel? The day you will realise what UX is, you will be embarrassed of this presentation.

[@MrDubzein]

You shouldn't put ui and ux with slash in a same sentence, there's a huge difference between these two professions. It's hard to follow your adviced because of your attitude about ui and ux. This guy is a developer. Leave the UX to your UX guy.

[@Tbland0930]

+MrDubzein Yeah, we he said something like 'logo and color scheme don't matter', I knew he was a UX guy, not a UI designer.

[@javiertrevino5535]

they can be separate fields, HOWEVER they are highly related in app/web design.. because one of the main ways to do UX is to improve the UI through mockups, prototypes, feedback, etc. .. it's not the only way but since we're talking about 'digital products' meaning websites and apps, UI design is extremely relevant for UX

[@honewhetstone1732]

The user experiences both these disciplines UI and UX in one singular experience. One cannot exist without another. I always believe that it should be practiced together because it should be designed as one experience. So I don’t feel that they are THAT separate.

[@tomorrow.]

Yeah, even I felt the same. A logo is very imp soo is colour.it's not just the content but the way it is presented to the audience matters. but then there are companies where a Ux designer does both the Ux and UI together.

[@kittens3029]

Butthurt UI guy

[@DefaultName-qn9qp]

You can't merge two separate disciplines into one. There is no such thing as "UI/UX." Without going in depth here is why. UI (User interface) design is the process designers use to build interfaces in software or computerized devices, focusing on looks or style. UX (user experience) is much wider - it is the interaction between the product and a user. It can be bad or good. UX design is the process of making this interaction more delightful, functional, and usable by (1) observing user and understanding the problem, understanding the needs of users and the business, building requirements (research); (2) creating wires and prototypes to test validate ideas early in the process to avoid architectural rework later; (3) apply the feel and look of the brand and design meaningful interactions (UI design); (4) work with dev to do pre-launch QA and conduct post-launch research in collab with analytics to then learn, iterate, and repeat. Which means - you can't really overthink UX, it is the process of product development, and underrating or ignoring UX will cost your business a ton of money in the long run. I've been in the industry for about 15 years.

[@hussainawardhawala7348]

Very insightful. You're cute. :p

[@SebastienChartier77]

I disagree with this guy, often times he ask the crowd "does that make sense" and you could ear a fly fly... One example ~17:30

[@dichebach]

Good stuff. One correction. It ain't about "making people feel smart." It is about not annoying people by shoving dumb designs in their face. You designers need to understand that your users ARE smarter than you. They pay you. You're there to give them what they want/need, not patronize them. ADDIT: I would go so far as to say: There is no such thing as "good" design. There is design which offends more often than not, i.e., stupid design. There is design which manages to offend less often than it is tolerated, i.e., Not-Stupid Design.

[@samuelmorkbednarzkepler]

Nah, users are dumb as shit. Any design needs to account for the lowest common denominator. Which means that you literally have to assume the entire group is as dumb as the dumbest member of that group. Good design is about being at peace with that and designing towards it - not pretending it isnt real. What reason they have to pay me for is not relevant for that fact.

[@AdrianTheThug]

El coco

[@coppersense999]

30:00 where credit is due: his audience really does think TOO much! Dang: it's a shopping app, period. Wth with the complicated suggestions? Social product review? Shopping wishlist with friends?? Killing me lol SIMPLIFY Harvard, get those big bad brains on a leash damn.

[@Cubannerd]

IU =/= UX His solutions are actually what is done in the UX phase. :/

[@Grahfx]

it's funny how all these illustrations, which were state of the art in 2014, look completely outdated now.

[@cjbolton]

"Don’t worry about your logo, don’t worry about your name, that doesn’t matter at all" - Are you insane?

[@parthsavyasachi9348]

He is right though. No matter how good name and logo are if they can't do what you want they are useless. However if it does what you want the name logo etc wouldn't matter at all. Take for example google. Google is not google because of logo and colours. They are google because of their search bar that worked good.

[@minz05]

Parth Savyasachi then you completely misunderstood purpose of graphic design

[@areftoo]

Why people in this industry always thinking about earning money!!!!! It's not a good intention. You can earn money if you solve people's problems anyway! Beside that, Letting someone use your website and at the very point of getting result asking for money or login is not moral if you understand, especially when you say it's free, but you ask for credit card number. Talking about the Skillshare.....

[@jwvandegronden]

I stopped at 9:29. Not one reference to the user in either the examples nor the design approach. Ridiculing eBay users is not UX. Eloping to Reddit is not because they changed the design, the users lost functions and ergonomic processes designed over years of collaborating and providing feedback. They simply lost functions and key functions at that. Same happened to MS with their huge user base from the WinCE community; they lost market share because they simply abandoned their sponsors. Same almost happened to dailykos, who changed their interface and changed the way users linked and promoted articles, comments and local identifiers for the user base. They almost destroyed the community who had developed their own language, culture and interactivity! It is about experience, hence the X in UX.

[@Darej]

Great stuff, except for this ridiculous comment "Use 99 designs....don't spend too much time with your name or you logo....turns out that stuff doesn't matter much..."

[@judybenardete]

+Derrick Johnson I have to disagree. Logos and names are distractions. Focus on the customer first then the value. How many logos do you know of companies worth $5,000,000 or less? The customer base makes the logo. Not the other way around.

[@Darej]

A logo is an important element of a marketable brand, a jewel on the crown, but not THE element. To say it's a "distraction" or "doesn't matter much" is an absurd remark. Just as absurd as it would be for me to say that it is the end all be all. But regardless, I'm simply saying that it's well worth the time to do it right. Do you need a kick ass logo out the gate? Heck no! But you'll be much happier down the line, if you give your visual identity some thought...at least more than basement Joe over at 99 Designs.

[@judybenardete]

I love a good logo. I agree it is important down the line. As a VC I have just seen so many management teams paralyzed or certainly too distracted by choosing their new office space, furniture color scheme so their office gives the perfect impression for every prospective visitor. Same with logo. It does reflect on you. But as a customer and VC, I've seen it time and again, that users want something that has value. How many MIT or Stanford startups had no logo and no color coordinated furniture or sleek loft space but they killed it with their understanding of the market and their attention to the use cases they need to focus on. If you are spending more than 5% of your time or money on a logo or furniture or office space before you have revenue and a solid business case you may be misplacing all that energy. If I hadn't seen it so often I wouldn't be so outspoken about this. Truth is we would probably agree on a case by case. Great comments though. thanks for the conversation.

[@fajleyrabbe2930]

27:00 einstein Qute

[@1995yuda]

It's not a quote by Einstein. It's by E.F. Schumacher

[@user-gr7lk4dx3q]

@@1995yuda a s d

[@johnseabrook1029]

Desparation lecture. UX is about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike.

[@kashish0123]

He is wrong about users doesn't like to scroll... If user gets value in return of amount they have scrolled they will keep scrolling... To achieve this people add delightful scroll based microinteractions... also we are living in 2020 people are well educated about scrolling

[@yangguo402]

It’s very annoying that the speak says “OK” so much times.

[@user-gr7lk4dx3q]

ashf

[@brainleisure2231]

This guy has clearly no idea of what UxD is about :)

[@PHlophe]

unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

[@chickenjoy]

Why are Americans' handwriting stays consistent from kindergarten to adulthood?

[@luanmaia]

This guy clearly have no ideia over the difference between UI and UX. Most of what he is talking is not relevant when you understand the difference, like "there is sites that are not beautiful but are great. Beautiful = UI, works great = UX. LOL

[@adultbroker1319]

Anybody wanna Show this to Hillary?