UX -The Bruce Lee WayUX -The Bruce Lee WayJoseph Dickerson

@josephdickerson

Hello!

• 2 years at Microsoft

• Author of two UX books

So, what does Bruce Lee have to do

with UX Design? Quite a lot…

But first, let’s define our terms.

What is UX?

User experience (UX or UE) involves a person’s emotions about using a

particular product, system or service. User experience highlights the

experiential, affective, meaningful and valuable aspects of human-computer

interaction and product ownership. Additionally, it includes a person’s

perceptions of the practical aspects such as utility, ease of use and efficiency

of the system. User experience is subjective in nature because it is about

individual perception and thought with respect to the system. User experience

is dynamic as it is constantly modified over time due to changing

circumstances and new innovations

What is UX?

ISO 9241-210[1] defines user experience as:

“A person’s perceptions and responses that result from the use or

anticipated use of a product, system or service.”

“I invented the term ‘user experience’ because I

thought human interface and usability were too

narrow. I wanted to cover all aspects of the

person’s experience with the system including

industrial design, graphics, the interface, the

physical interaction, and the manual.”

- Don Norman

Walt Disney

Bruce Lee Image

(UX) Lessons

from Bruce Lee

“Expose yourself to various

conditions and learn … Absorb

what is useful, discard what is not,

add what is uniquely your own.”

Understand your users and

customers –

do research, embed yourself into

their workplaces – Absorb and learn

“It’s not the daily increase, but daily

decrease. Hack away at the unessential.”

Stripping away the unnecessary

elements allows users to focus on

the task at hand

Provide the appropriate amount of

complexity - no more, no less

Simple

Is

Hard

“Awareness is without choice,

without demand, without anxiety; In

that state of mind, there is

perception.”

Be aware of context and

surroundings - thinking about where

and how people use technology

Designing without awareness is

awareness is designing the dark

“If your cup is full, you cannot fill it.

So first, empty your cup.”

While there are standard patterns

and best practices, every design

project is different

Step away from your

preconceptions, and engage with an

open mind

Follow a proper design process, but

don’t be dogmatic about it

Be flexible, and approach each

design project within the confines

that exist

“Mistakes are always forgivable, if

one has the courage to admit them.”

Usability testing is a key part of user

experience design - Failure will happen

Understand what “good” failure is

"Those who are unaware they are

walking in darkness will never seek

the light."

Users are not designers - when you

ask them "what do you want it to

do?" they often look at you like you

have a third eye

Users can't see outside of

themselves

“Know the difference between a

catastrophe and an inconvenience. To

realize that it’s just an inconvenience, that

it is not a catastrophe, but just an

unpleasantness, is part of coming into your

own, part of waking up.”

We must be aware of the specific design

problems we are solving, and focus our

energies appropriately

Spend the right time working on the right

problem, and try to identify the core things

that need solving: The “catastrophes”

Thanks!

Joseph Dickerson

@josephdickerson