About This Site
This portfolio was developed as part of the seven-course Google UX Certificate Program, which I participated in between 2021-2022. Details of the processes used are posted under each example in the Case Study presentation.
I am enormously grateful to sources like Pixabay, Unsplash and Pexels that allowed me to work on my designs using royalty-free images. I am also thankful to design interface tools like Figma and testing sites like Maze. These products played an instrumental part in helping me to illustrate some of the concepts I wanted to explore.
Here are some of the concepts I learned throughout this process, and hope to continue to use in future design work:
1) Diverse personas reflecting different human experiences are important
Making products accessible is a key teaching point in the Google UX Design program. In developing user personas, I wanted to make sure I chose images of people from different age groups and different backgrounds. This helped me visualize who the customer might be, and what the project might do for them. This was particularly true of the Adaptabilty App, because I was able to think of both a young active professional and an older gentleman who both had accessibility needs, and use those images to inspire me to move forward.
2) People will take unexpected paths, so make sure there are many ways for people to reach their intended destination.
People have different perspectives. This is something I noticed clearly during the usability studies process. What seems obvious to you may be seen entirely differently by someone else. Options are necessary - there may be many ways to end up at the same bit of information, but the paths we choose are all unique. Designers need to keep that in mind in order to make products that are accessible by the widest range of people possible.
Shopping Aggregate Site
Users had the option to search using different methods: Search Bar, By Product Type, By Gender and By Functionality
AP News Site
Users had the option to choose individual headlines, story categories, from a menu, by a search, or by media type
Transportation App
Users had the option to input information right from the start, or by clicking on maps, schedules or favorites icons
3) There are several sites to help designers work within Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Sites like the Carnegie Museum of Pittsburgh Innovation Studio and Accessible Web Color Contrast Checker were invaluable in helping create designs and were an excellent resource.
4) Design tools have become more universal and accessible
As noted earlier, some web-based products have made accessing content and testing products more available than ever. Stock image sites, design tools like Figma and even basic testing with sites like Maze have helped to give people access to tools that may otherwise have been inaccessible. Basic features are available without the more complex tools needed by professionals. and this access opens the door to training for many more potential designers.