Architects started as makers of mass. Later, this idea evolved into the thought that the spaces carved out in buildings were the true art of architecture. As society evolved and mass transit provided the opportunity for many different classes, races and geographical groups would be in the same space, architecture began to embody utopian ideals of society. Similarly, the “user experience” field began with the study of the interactions between people & computers. UX designers bridged the cognitive gap between people’s minds & the logical 1’s and 0’s of machines. As “user-centered” design & social media continue to grow, UX’ers realize they create frameworks in which brands build connections to customers, even facilitating interaction between those users: Interaction Design. A 2D space that gives people agency to participate in desired patterns. Social Choreography. If there's anything to be borrowed from the practice of architecture to help UX, its the power of the diagram. The key to great UX is ensuring we meet both business and user goals by mating the mental models of the people interacting with the experiences we design.

1. Unusual Suspects
Borrowing from architecture for better UX
Abigail Hart Gray,
VP Experience Design
Fluid, NYC + SF + CHI

2. IN A NUTSHELL:
1. How I got here 2. History Lesson 3.
Architecture = User Experience?!
4. Diagraming, a love story

3. BOSTON
NEW YORK
PITTSBURGH
AUBURN
XLABS
HOW I GOT HERE

4. CONFESSION
TIME
Ok, I’ll admit it:
I’m a recovered
architect.

6. Its true:
I UX.

7. A [Brief!] HISTORY LESSON

8. ORIGINS OF
ARCHITECTURE/
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9. ORIGINS OF
ARCHITECTURE/
VITRUVIUS
IS IT ARCHITECTURE:
Durability – it should stand up robustly
and remain in good condition.
Utility – it should be useful and function
well for the people using it
Beauty – it should delight people and
raise their spirits.
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10. ARCHITECTURE
EVOLVES/
RENNAISSANCE
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11. ARCHITECTURE
EVOLVES/
RENNAISSANCE
11

12. ARCHITECTURE
EVOLVES/
RENNAISSANCE
12

13. 13

14. ARCHITECTURE = USER
EXPERIENCE?

15. SIDE-BY-SIDE/
EVALUATION
Architecture User experience
Analysis Looking at the program of a Looking at the
building, the context and functionality, the users and
coming up with a relevant the competitive landscape
design to come up with relative
design.
Who’s at the Clients, Community Boards, Clients, Users
table Users
Relevance to Yup, people have to use it. Yup, people have to use it.
people Is it done if people aren’t in it? If people don’t use it, it won’t
be successful
Sometimes. Urban Let’s hope so.
Does good for
renewal=bad. Urban
society
parks=good.
Interactions At every corner. More in If not, the site dies.
Public projects
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16. ARCHITECTURE=
USER EXPERIENCE
THE ART OF SOCIAL
CHOREOGRAPHY

17. DIAGRAMING, A LOVE STORY

18. QUICKIE
DEFINITION
A diagram is a graphic shorthand…it
is a representation of something in
that it is not the thing itself. It
explains relationships.

19. A STUDY IN
SLAPSTICK &
MISTAKEN
IDENTITIES
THE FOLLOWING IS AN ANALYSIS
SHAKESPEARE’S A COMEDY OF
ERRORS.

20. A COMEDY OF
ERRORS

21. A COMEDY OF
ERRORS
TWINS SEPARATED LEAD TO
QUESTIONS OF DUALITY

24. BRAND PROMISE
MAYBE SHE’S BORN WITH IT. MAYBE
ITS MAYBELLINE
Project by HUGE, launched January 2011. Creative Director Andy Thomas. Designers: Meghan Thompson Mann Yuki Sakuma
UX Lead: Abigail Hart Gray UX Designers: Lesley Fleishman, Kat Take.

31. Maybelline diagram here

33. THANK YOU
Abigail Hart Gray | @abigailhartgray
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