UX Thinking

We at Uism pride ourselves in our curiosity. No place is that better exemplified than in the connections we strive to make with a wide variety of people, and expand our knowledge and understanding. These Chance Chats are an opportunity to share what we’ve learned from the people we’ve come across, especially the kind of people who would be difficult to connect with and have the chance for an in-depth […]

In the world of UX, we’re often obsessed with a frictionless experience. We strive for usability, speed, and seamless journeys. These are vital, of course. But in our quest for efficiency, are we forgetting something more fundamental? The human experience of choice.  Every day, we click, decide, and act through user interfaces. But how free […]

A Lesson in Usability from My 4-Year-Old Son One afternoon, my 4-year-old son pointed at the TV remote and asked, “How do I make it louder?” I told him, “Just press the volume button.” But instead of pressing it, he looked at the remote in confusion:“What’s ‘volume’? Which one is that?” In that moment, I […]

Introduction  As UX researchers, we depend on real people to understand their needs, frustrations, and emotional journeys.  But what if we could simulate those people instead?  With generative AI evolving so quickly, there’s been growing interest in using “synthetic users”, meaning AI-generated personas that respond to research prompts as if they were real. These virtual […]

As generative AI tools like ChatGPT redefine how we interact with machines, it’s more important than ever to ask: Are the foundational principles of UX in AI still relevant? And how should they evolve?  That question sits at the heart of this article.  AI’s Vicious Cycle  Even at its early stages, AI’s potential capability has […]

In UX research, the term “insight” is frequently used. If you work in product development or marketing, you’ve likely heard it many times. However, despite its widespread use, “insight” is often confused with another term: “finding.” In the context of UX research, which seeks to deeply understand users’ experiences and improve products or services based […]

Growing up in a digital environment, I have experienced profound changes in how social media apps and sites are used. Unique values and evolving preferences have naturally influenced the way I, and many others of generation Z (Gen Z), engage with these platforms. But what are the values that have come to define the Gen […]

The success of a product or service is not dependent only on its usability and function. The situation or “context” in which a product/service is used greatly affects its viability, target demographic, and future iterations. Consider a music app. The features a user desires may vary greatly depending on if they use it while working […]