The History & Evolution of User Experience Design
An interview with Peter Merholz, President and Co-founder of Adaptive Path.
Show length: 25 minutes
User experience design is, at its core, a philosophy that products and services should be designed so that they are pleasurable and easy for people to use. While that might seem an obvious design approach, it’s actually not the way many designers historically thought about making things. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1990s that an industry came together around this particular approach to design.
I did some research to try uncover the history of this field, and, I didn’t find a lot – partly because it hasn’t been around for long. So, I had tea with Peter Merholz, who has been involved in the industry since its very early stages. We had a great conversation about what it was like when the industry started to come together and where he thinks it’s headed.
9 Responses to “The History & Evolution of User Experience Design”
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uxdesign.com on March 12th, 2009
Sounds look an easy introduction to user experience design for those not already much exposed to it. Don Norman is credited with coining the term, so I though your audience might like to hear him talk about it with Peter Merholz at UX Week: http://uxdesign.com/events/article/don-norman-interview-ux-video/49
Holger on March 12th, 2009
again and again a pleasure to have tea with you Theresa!
What I really like – is that Peter comes up with descriptions that I / you can’t hear anywhere – how we … – how one can do and understand UX and the “rat’s tail” of IxD, IA, UE, etc.
the usual descriptions that you can read anywhere means often little to most people and that’s a problem and that has an impact in our business.
BTW – Thx Michael for your link tip.
en passant the ambient noise from the background at the start – Was that really tea? – … to my ears it was coffee!
looking forward for the next cup of tea
Teresa Brazen on March 12th, 2009
@uxdesign.com: Yes, it’s absolutely supposed to be a high level conversation that, hopefully, people not exposed to the practice will grasp! Thanks for the Don Norman link — great supplement to help in our goal of general comprehension and learning.
@Holger:
Thanks so much! I agree — I think Peter did a good job of explaining the complexity of different disciplines coming together around one common goal (UX). And, yes, he was drinking tea…though he did make it clear that he was much more partial to coffee! lol.
Al Belote on March 29th, 2009
Great interview. It brings out a few points I’ve not heard elsewhere about the origins of user experience…the connection to Apple, the complexity factor in software that made it essential to address UX, and the example of the air travel observation/research.
Teresa Brazen on April 7th, 2009
Hey thanks, Al. Sorry for the belated response…was out of the country. Peter will be glad to hear your feedback, I’m sure…
epos on May 6th, 2009
Great stuff – we need more blogs on travel etc like this USA Travel Registration
admin on May 7th, 2009
Thanks for the feedback!
DTM on August 28th, 2009
This was excellent, thank you. For someone just getting into the field, it really helps to hear a little about where the field came from.
admin on August 28th, 2009
Glad to hear it – thanks.