Victor Yocco, PhD (@VictorYocco) is a writer and researcher, working in the field of digital design. His background in psychology gives him unique insight into how people interact with websites and applications, which in turn helps his design team build intuitive, functional projects.

In this conversation, we discuss methods of user testing, stumbling blocks that design studies make regarding psychology, and a bit of his studio workflow and habits.

Design For The Mind by Victor Yocco book image

Design For The Mind by Victor Yocco

Use code pcyobusy to receive 39% off the cover price for Victor’s book, Design For The Mind

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Show Notes & Links

  • Victor Yocco doesn’t like titles, but describes himself as a researcher for user experience and digital design

“Academic literature is often very inaccessibly written.”

—Victor Yocco

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* MoMA

“Incorporated psychology into design doesn't have to be this huge thing.”

—Victor Yocco

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“You'll find 85% of potential usability issues just off 5 users.”

—Jeff Sauro

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“There is a point of 'Good Enough' in digital design.”

—Victor Yocco

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“Designers are usually people who enjoy solving problems.”

—Victor Yocco

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Tools

Techniques

  • Layer Cake approach (low level, medium level, high level)
  • Respect the users’ time by making simple interfaces, functions
  • Don’t just show your designs to other designers — they think differently, which might not see what the lay person sees
  • Include additional team members, representing design, writing, project mgmt., etc.
  • Record user testing sessions to easily refer other team members to particular moments
  • Conduct a UX Assessment or heuristics Review before beginning a project

Habits

  • Build in heuristics (mental shortcuts) into your work
  • Look to Usability testing to reveal users’ instinct or assumptions
  • Provide challenges for designers and creative staff; they naturally want to wrestle with problems and their solutions
  • Search for methods to stay with a project until the end (even if you get bored with it)
  • Set aside time in the evening to write

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About the author: Prescott Perez-Fox

Prescott Perez-Fox is a graphic designer, brand developer, and educator with 18+ years experience in branding, packaging, graphic design, and web design. He runs The Busy Creator.

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