Alex Dukes
UX Design
Howdy!
I'm Alex Dukes, a UX designer by trade, lover of orange by choice, and horse girl by some weird act of fate. I value the science behind interaction, the psychology that determines how we consume, process, and react to information. My focus is on developing content that is recognizable, legible, and accessible based on scientific analysis.
Discovery
When designing a product, the first step is to understand what exactly you are making, who your users are, and what problems they have. Here's an example of what some deliverables from this empathy exercise may look like, using the development of this portfolio site as an example.
Ideation
Now that foundational information is well-established, you can start exploring the basic structure of your product. Important to consider in this step is also how a user proceeds through that product. This ensures that we are meeting their needs in an effective way.
Prototyping
Low fidelity prototypes allow designers to test how well their product meets the needs of users before investing in a full build. Programs like Figma let us make wireframes of the core layouts and prototypes showcasing user actions.
Research
While research can and should be done at multiple stages throughout development, usability studies are particularly helpful once a prototype is available. Designers need to know how to conduct unbiased research and analyze results to make effective design choices.
Iteration
Development is a cycle--once research is conducted, designers need to go back and make changes to the product based on results. New designs are tested again and again, until they confidently meet the needs of the users. The result in this example: the portfolio site you're viewing now!