This document provides an introduction to user experience (UX) design and why it is important for responsive web design (RWD). It defines UX as focusing on accommodating user needs and context, and discusses how UX aims to ensure users can easily find what they need within 10 seconds of visiting a website. The document also explains how usability testing provides feedback to improve the user experience. It emphasizes that the mobile design should be considered before the desktop design to account for different devices, and stresses the importance of UX principles like responsive layouts and intuitive interactions across platforms.

1. RWD and UX
CIT-125, Updated FA2021

2. What is UX?
● The acronym for User Experience Design
● Overall goal? To accommodate user needs and context of
how the item is being used (in this case, our website)
● UX is also an area that is often overlooked
○ Many figure, “I use the Internet everyday, I can make a
website fine.”
● Although may not be directly involved with UX, in larger
companies you may work with a UX team.

3. Brief introduction to UX
● Not a UX course
● Having a basic understanding can help
to shape your web page designs and
layouts
● Can also help with steps of design

4. Why does RWD even matter with UX?
● Think about a time when you were using a
website that you could not find what you
needed
○ Did you feel frustrated? We use the
Internet everyday right?
● This is the importance of UX - You can
design the most responsive web site out
there, but if it can’t be easily used by
users, it isn’t worth anything.
● According to the Nielsen Norman Group -
You have 10 seconds to catch a user’s
attention and get them to stay on your
website.
○ So with those 10 seconds? What platform
or device is your user looking at your
website on?

5. Steve Krug - Demo of Usability Testing
A usability test is when a UX
designer works with the potential
target audience and asks the
potential users to complete tasks
using the website or app.
This provides feedback to the team
to determine what works, what
doesn’t and if they are on the correct
path for making a project their target
audience will like using.

6. New wave of design
● Consider the mobile design before we
consider the desktop design
● This is why @media becomes so
important with RWD
○ Each different layout needs to be
considered in the UX realm - colors,
interactivity, icons, etc.
● Would normally have a UX
designer/developer helping with these
things
● Golden rule UX follows: Don’t Make Me
Think!

7. Closing:
● You can be a web designer/web developer without worrying about the realm of UX
● Will make you a stronger designer/developer if you have a basic understanding
● Some options if you want to dive in further:
○ Interactive Design Foundation: What is Usability
○ Interactive Design Foundation: The Practical Guide to Usability
○ Coursera: Google UX Design Professional Course (Can be taken for free!)
○ Steve Krug: Don’t Make Me Think! (Considered one of the core texts in UI Design)