Why IT Pros Should Study Design and UX

Wes Kroesbergen — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:45:47 +0000

This may sound like a weird idea coming from someone who thinks with the right half of their brain, but I think technology professionals need to study design principles and user experience (UX). Far too often IT pros fail to grasp and/or appreciate how the technology on which they are working impacts the end user. This results in upset clients, clients who (rightly so) feel that the technician attempting to fix their issue or help them implement a new project does not understand their ‘problem’. In turn, the tech feels that the user is ignorant and doesn’t appreciate how complex the task they are doing really is. This communication barrier begins to circle, and eventually you are left with two groups of people who do not trust or understand each other, and yet are forced to interact. This does not build good client relations.

The reason I suggest that IT pros study design principles is so that they learn to appreciate the ‘user-level’ features for what they are, not dismissing them as merely useless pieces of eye-candy. When a tech can look at an object or interface, and not allow their ‘function over form’ mentality to get the better of them, they can better relate to how the user will experience the interface. When the tech appreciates on some level what the user appreciates, understanding between the two parties can grow.

Hand-in-hand with the previous point, IT pros should also study user interface experience. By beginning to understand how to implement or at least structure a good user experience, the eyes are opened to a new perspective on how the world functions. Studying and ingraining good UX principles in the core of the tech’s mentality will drastically shift how they approach their users, and how they approach the potential technologies to be implemented.

Now, you may ask why I’m suggesting the actual techs learn these things instead of just ensuring that the head folks know and understand these things. I’m a firm believer in the ancient Greek holistic approach to education. However, beyond that, I think that while the head of the body is responsible for the rest of a person’s functionality, when the whole body is trained and tuned to the same level, the performance level of the particular body jumps exponentially. Consequently, new and previously unattainable heights can be reached.

If you’re interested in some design oriented websites, check out these for examples (mostly centered around web design):

Smashing Magazine: http://www.smashingmagazine.com
Noupe: http://www.noupe.com
Net-Tuts: http://net.tutsplus.com

Apple iPad

Work Ethic of IT Contractors

Wes Kroesbergen — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:28:58 +0000

Now that I’ve been working in a larger company where there are many more IT contractors than just myself, I’ve begun to see a pattern in the mentality of a typical contractor, and consequently, their work ethic. I find that the typical mindset of a contractor is that they feel they are only there for the life of the contract. Consequently, they take a much more laidback approach to work, attempting to drag out the contract. This irks me. The mentality I was raised with (thanks to my father) is that if you do your work well, and do it expediently, those above you will want to keep you. Doing your work well and expediently sets you in a position of value, rather than just a tool to complete a task.

I’m trying to change the mentality of some of those I work with. It’s a long process, but I think one or two of them are starting to shift their mindset. If you have any suggestions as to how to imbibe this mentality in others, by all means, share with me in the comments.

Wes Kroesbergen's Portfolio » IT

Why IT Pros Should Study Design and UX

Work Ethic of IT Contractors