Meghna Prakash

The year has been very exciting for the UX community, a year of learning and unlearning. Here's a forum to share with and learn from the who's who of the HCI/UX community of practitioners, academicians and students across India and the world. The industry case studies track for the India HCI 2024 is now open for submissions! Achyutha Sharma

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Are you looking for what design hiring managers look for in your resume and portfolio? I had a wonderful discussion with Yashodhan Deshmukh on what he expects from #uxdesigners while hiring. Key topics covered: - Important skills as a #ux #designer - Common #uxportfolio mistakes and how to avoid them The full video can be seen at https://lnkd.in/dmEKADpB

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Design paradox: Design educators want to save the world; they study how to change policy, organizations, communities, systems, etc. Professional designers want to be more relevant in organizations; they master changing and influencing forms, products, and users. Design students just want a job when they graduate; they are trying to expand their portfolios.

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Excited because I get to co-present with my long distance BFF and fellow researcher and fellow-ex-IBMer, Tyler King! This talk is about ensuring you and your research gets heard in a room of diverse functions and people. Tyler and I talk about this a lot in our voice notes to each other and you can get a sneak peek into some of the tips and tricks that have worked for us so far! See you there. #userresearch #designresearch

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🔢 Quant for objectivity and generalization 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Quali for analyze and understand “why” and “how” ➕Include data review and research to complete a strong triangulation —————————————————— 🔢 Pesquisa quantitativa para entender o geral 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Pesquisa qualitativa para analisar e entender o “porque” e “como” ➕incluir dados e pesquisa para completar uma triangulação precisa

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Design in Complex Systems: Doing Community Engagement Right How often do you communicate your design research findings to the end users? I’ve heard many experienced researchers talk about the importance of circling back, especially in communities with a higher likelihood of respondent fatigue. This hadn’t quite hit home for me. One of my current tasks is understanding the social, psychological, and environmental influences of how health data is reported and used for decision-making. There are multiple systemic influences, one of the biggest being the health financing structure and its ripple effects on reporting. Finding ways to package and disseminate learnings from our immersive research and prototyping activities in a way that enables strategic design but also minimizes the natural concerns of the potential negative impact on funding, training, and recognition has been a constant question.   This week, I participated in an experience-sharing workshop. Hearing end users explicitly ask for more in-depth findings to help them improve their day-to-day data quality and use activities has been such a strong signal that circling back, no matter the complexities, is always an effort in the right direction.

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🥌 Tone Mapping Tone mapping is a strategic tool that helps UX writers choose the correct tone for different contexts. To create a tone map: 1. Start by considering the key points in your users' journey. If you have a journey map — user actions with thoughts and emotions in a timeline — use the different stages written out in it. 2. Next, choose the dimensions that can represent your range. The easiest way is to choose two dimensions and draw a grid with two intersecting lines, where each axis represents a dimension. The dimensions in the example are fun/serious and concise/detailed. Keep in mind that the choice of dimensions will depend on your product. 3.Finally, plot each stage of the user journey onto the map. - Refer to a journey or empathy map and consider asking yourself the following questions: 1. How much space will those words take up on a screen? 2. Is it vital to have a complete comprehension of the message? 3. Is there a destructive action at stake? 4. How do you want users to feel at this point of the journey? All tone options should match your desired voice. If your brand voice is inspirational, it should stay consistently so. However, the tone will vary depending on the context, from serious to fun or concise to detailed. #UX #Mapping #UXwriting

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🧠 Q&A: The Role of #Empathy in #UXDesign 🌟 Q: Why is empathy important in UX design? A: Empathy allows designers to step into the users' shoes, understanding their needs, frustrations, and motivations. By empathizing with users, we create solutions that are truly user-centric and effective. 🌍 Q: How does empathy lead to better design? A: Empathy helps us anticipate user needs and design with intention. It ensures that our products are not only functional but also resonate emotionally with users, leading to improved satisfaction and engagement. 💡 Q: What are some practical tips for fostering empathy in design teams? A: Swipe below. How do you incorporate empathy into your design process? Share your thoughts below! 👇 #UXDesign #UserExperience #Empathy #DesignThinking #UserCentric #Innovation #OneSourceLabs

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Allowance either in cash and/or time to spend on fitness or related activities. The reason a lot of people claim for not being fit, and in turn healthy, is that they don’t have time for it. Their job takes up most of it. I’d say time is more important than cash. So, a good workplace in my opinion, should aim to keep their employees healthy. Some companies provide gym memberships, reimbursements, subscriptions to random nonsense. But what’s the point if you keep your employees working from 9am to 9pm? Instead incentivise them or remove any barriers that could keep them from pursuing some form of physical fitness. Be it the gym, pool or badminton. Even the richest of folks struggle to maintain a healthy lifestyle because of stress/lack of time. So I don’t think money is actually an issue. It’s the motivation + having time + the right kind of people around you. As a company you can’t control point 1, but you can definitely provide point 2 and foster point 3.

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One of the most important aspects of UX design is affordances and signifiers. It helps users know what they can interact with and how. Sriharinath GP has a great overview on this: https://lnkd.in/gUH5uicV

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My LinkedIn profile describes me as a successful design leader, but that's not even half of the story. Behind the scenes is a rollercoaster of job rejections, lack of self confidence , financial setbacks, navigating industry switch, balancing college and freelance assignments and countless lessons on professional and interpersonal skills with each year. Learning to be a good manager was totally another feat. The most challenging of it all was seeking an entry into the product design field while studying graphic design from National Institute of Design, two totally different things but here I was, pushing the boundaries! All of these shaped me into who I am today. From self-support to enduring over 15+ interviews in preparation for Product Design opportunity, All I was doing was striving for more. Now I realise nobody has all the answers, even if it may seem that way. So just believe in yourself and put in your best efforts. Pushing ahead is the only key to this game. My advice to anyone starting their career journey is to stay in the present and give your best efforts to achieve what you really believe you can :) #productdesign

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🚀 Exploring AI & User-Centered Design: Where UCD Falls Short 🤖🔍 AI is transforming our world, but is User-Centered Design (UCD) keeping up? In my latest blog, I dive into my experience and challenges of integrating UCD with AI, covering key points like: 🔹 The Dilemma of Unknown Unknowns: How AI introduces new, unpredictable issues. 🔹 Data Gaps: The impact of missing data on inclusivity and fairness. 🔹 Big Data Complexity: Why designers need new skills in data analysis. 🔹 End-User Complexity: Making AI understandable for users. 🔹 AI Behavior: The need for ongoing maintenance and refinement. Drop your thoughts and experiences in the comments—I’d love to hear your perspective! 👇📢 https://lnkd.in/g9yAHQ5p #AI #Design #UserCenteredDesign

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Overcoming the fear of uncertainty is key for designers. My workshop at uxindiaconf (ux-india.org) focused on helping creatives recognize the link between ambiguity and innovation to drive positive outcomes, acknowledge their emotions, adopt a growth mindset, and develop strategies to navigate uncertainty effectively. Leaders, listen up! Neglecting your team's input can lead to a toxic environment. I want to thank Kaladhar Bapu, Jabeen Shaistha, and all the wonderful volunteers of UX India 2024 for helping to make this workshop a success! #design #innovation #uncertainty #ambiguity #psychologicalsafety #UXIndia2024

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As a designer, I value smooth, user-centered experiences, especially in critical financial interactions. My recent experience with HDFC Bank payment and customer support system highlights a series of UX breakdowns that ultimately led to a frustrating, unresolved situation. Here’s the journey, step-by-step: 1. It all began when I tried to make a payment through HDFC’s gateway, but the transaction failed with no explanation. I was left wondering why it happened and what steps to take next. (UX Principle: Error Prevention) – Users need clear feedback on why an error occurred and what to do next. 2. After a successful second attempt, I received a WhatsApp message that didn’t specify which transaction it was about. (UX Principle: Clarity in Communication) – Every message should be relevant and easy to understand. 3. The message didn’t specify which transaction it was referring to, and the language made it unclear what action I was supposed to take. There were two options, but neither provided an “acknowledgment” or “all is well” option to confirm my successful transaction. (UX Principle: Flexibility and Simplicity) – Users should have all relevant options for a smooth experience. 4. Unsure of what the options actually meant, I selected “NO” as my response. To my surprise, this action led to my card being blocked immediately! There was no warning about this outcome, which was unexpected and disruptive. (UX Principle: Predictable Outcomes) – Users should know the consequences of their choices. 5. The message mentioned that I would receive a call “SHORTLY” to assist with the issue. After waiting for over 15 minutes with no call, I felt stranded and without support. (UX Principle: Reliability) – Communication about wait times should be accurate to avoid frustration. 6. Encountering Outdated Information Frustrated, I decided to call the customer support number provided in the message, only to be informed that this number had been changed. I then had to note down the new number and start again. (UX Principle: Consistency) – Contact info must be up-to-date. 7. I called the new number, and the automated system prompted me to explain my issue. It then offered me the option to speak with a representative. But when I opted for it, the system informed me that representatives were only available during “working hours”—without specifying what those hours were. The call was disconnected, with no apology or further guidance. (UX Principle: Effective Communication) – Systems should provide clear options based on availability. 8. In a critical situation, I was left without card access and no clear path for support. (UX Principle: Empathy) – High-stakes services require empathetic, accessible support. For a brand as established as HDFC, it’s crucial to avoid these UX gaps. Banking needs trust and transparency—this journey fell short. I’d love to hear thoughts from others on improving service design in industries where reliability is key. #servicedesign

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Here are five succinct tips to improve your design skills as a product designer: 1. **Stay Updated**: Continuously learn about the latest design trends and tools. 2. **Practice Design Thinking**: Use design thinking to create user-centric solutions. 3. **Diverse Portfolio**: Showcase various design projects in your portfolio. 4. **Seek Feedback**: Get feedback from peers and iterate on your designs. 5. **Develop Soft Skills**: Improve communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

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Artificial Intelligence is about to make mincemeat of the current practice of Information Architecture and completely change how we look at technology. However, Information Architects and other UX disciplines remain essential in bringing balance to the Force. As Ombudsmen of Innovation, it is our job to reconcile the needs of humanity and the capabilities and costs of AI and help ensure AI is used to empower and elevate humanity, not to enslave it to its basest instincts. Fortunately, we can take inspiration by standing on the shoulders of giants: https://lnkd.in/gSpf7ebE #UXforAI #UX #Patents #AI

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🌟 Enhancing User Experience through Heuristic Evaluation 🌟 As a UX intern who interned at Arm this past summer, I’ve been diving deep into the complexities of creating intuitive interfaces. One methodology that has proven invaluable is Heuristic Evaluation, which helps identify usability issues early in the design process. 🔍 What is Heuristic Evaluation? This method involves reviewing a product against established usability principles, allowing us to pinpoint areas for improvement. In my role, I focused on the UI, which contains a lot of technical terms that users may find challenging to navigate. 💡 Key Insights from My Experience: ⭐ Help and Documentation: To assist users in understanding commands, I advocate for incorporating additional documentation and tooltips that provide explanations when users hover over info icons. This aligns with the 10th heuristic principle, ensuring users have the support they need. ⭐Error Validation: Implementing validation messages and suggesting potential solutions when errors occur can significantly reduce user frustration, making interactions smoother and more enjoyable. ❔ Why Other UX Interns Should Consider Heuristic Evaluation: 1️⃣ Quick Identification of Usability Issues: It allows you to catch problems early, saving time and resources in the long run. 2️⃣ Structured Feedback: Provides a framework for evaluating designs systematically, helping to ensure all key usability principles are addressed. 3️⃣ Collaborative Learning: Conducting evaluations with peers fosters discussion and learning, enriching your overall understanding of user experience. For a deeper dive into heuristic evaluation, check out the resources from the https://lnkd.in/dCmXFxqU. Their guidelines are essential for anyone committed to improving UX practices. As I continue to grow in user experience design, I’m actively seeking placement opportunities where I can apply my skills and contribute to user-centered products. If you know of any openings or are looking for a passionate designer, please feel free to connect! Let’s create exceptional user experiences together! 💬✨ #UserExperience #HeuristicEvaluation #UXDesign #NielsenNormanGroup #JobSearch #DesignThinking #Usability #Internship

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Nine contributions designers are making to health system transformation.

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Highlighting my newest article on Making Research outputs actionable. https://lnkd.in/eS48shQz #design #designthinking #designbuild #designstrategy #product #producctdesign #productmanagement #productstrategy #designprinciples #innovation #designers #digitaltransformation #ux #uxdesign #uiux #uidesign #designinnovation #application #software #softwaredesign #usability #userresearch #research #usercentereddesign #productleadership #uxwriting #designsystems #empathy #interfacedesign #usabilitytesting #userexperience #productdesign #accessibility #ui

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