Overview
Creator bio:
Hi, I’m Natalie, and welcome to my thesis project! I am a 22 year old Interactive Multimedia major and Graphic Design and Spanish minor. I love all things creative with interests web design, graphic design and illustration. In my free time I like to walk on the beach or draw on my IPad.
Project overview:
Use It Or Lose It is a study in the usability of web design. I completed a series of different web design mockups. I then took those same mockups and changed them to make them have a low usability (meaning it is difficult for someone to use) for a variety of common reasons including low contrast, type size, excess noise, etc. I am going to put both designs side by side to allow for a before and after viewing. The goal of this project is to educate the general public about the importance of the field of User Experience Design and its impact on our everyday lives.
What was the overarching problem or challenge and how did you solve it?
My overarching challenge was narrowing down on one project idea. Due to my creative nature, I came up with more than a handful of possible thesis ideas and even started a few of them before eventually deciding on one final project.
Development process and tools:
For my project execution, I mainly used Adobe XD for my prototyping. Personal inspiration/interest: I have known for the past 4 years that I wanted to go into the field of User Experience or User Interface Design. I chose my thesis topic after many years of trying to explain to non designers what UX/UI is.
How does this play into your professional/creative goals? What do you want to do with this, after this?
I have focused my thesis specifically on UX/UI in the hopes that I will join this field after graduation. I am passionate about making people’s digital interactions as accessible and as simple as possible.
How is this work likely to impact the world beyond TCNJ?
I hope this project demonstrates the importance of the field of User Experience. This is a budding field, most people outside of the design realm do not know about it. UX, however, impacts users on a daily basis. The UX design of a hospital device, a car’s interface or a mobile app used to track your child’s location could easily be the difference between life and death.
Biggest challenge/hurdle you overcame and how?
My biggest challenge would have to be COVID-19. I had to overcome the difficulties of moving out of my apartment mid semester, coping with my COVID positive grandmother, and finding motivation to finish work in the middle of a pandemic.
How you adapted to COVID situation:
Luckily, my project was completely web based from the beginning so I did not have to change any of my content. Did you collaborate with others? How? Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to collaborate with others. I would recommend, however, looking at Kiernan’s project as he did a wonderful job showing the importance of accessibility in web design for people with disabilities.