Making the Most of the Possibilities: Design to Engage and Inspire

I’m going to be honest: when I first joined FrontlineSMS I had no idea how much goes into the design of software. Every screen, every button and every function has principled thought behind it.  In 2011, we worked alongside Gabriel White, a User Experience Designer from Small Surfaces, to help translate FrontlineSMS users’ needs into the new design of Version 2. I came to realize that no matter how advanced and amazing a piece of software might be; it has no relevance if users can’t access it or work out HOW to use it.

I think that the user interface – that point of contact between a user and the functionality (or what the software can do) – is the most important entry point in the way users experience a tool. Over a year and a half after the design work first began, I recently spoke with Gabe to share his reflections on how we ensured users’ priorities were central to the design of Version 2.

I’m sure that for many of us it’s not clear what User Experience Design really involves, so I asked Gabe to explain...