Running head: USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN PROBLEM 1

User Experience Design Problem

Name

Institutional Affiliation
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User Experience Design Problem

Introduction

User experience design problems exist in life and on the internet, and these have become

an inspiration for designers to create solutions that are friendly. From a survey of various people,

it was discovered that people experience lots of challenges in using the internet and in their

normal operations. Of all issues listed, the problems concerning the use of apps are identified as

something that requires a creative solution. Curiosity about how good people feel when using

apps on their phones has become the motivation for looking into this user experience design

issue. As Oppong (2016) indicates that in design thinking, curiosity has become a tool that

sparks the creativity level for practical solutions as it helps in identifying them. Notably,

experiencing issues while using apps is a significant issue that can be identified depending on

people’s confessions, attitudes and reactions (Lecture Notes: Module 3, 2019). The paper not

only describes problems with the use of apps but also a justification as to why it is worth a

creative solution; thus, experiencing design thinking.

Description of The Problem

Failure to utilize apps is a user experience issue raised by a number of people and each

bringing it out in a unique way. According to the survey, some find it hard to use phone apps;

they are not translatable in user-friendly languages, annoyed by updates, delays in loading and

response, and more issues. Basically, everyone that owns a smartphone would enjoy an

experience where they can get what they want the way they need it. In empathetic design, it is

important to identify the pain points that people encounter while trying to apply the apps

(Lecture Notes: Module 3, 2019). Recognizing these pain points aids improving curiosity that

aids innovative solution finding, for instance through design thinking, companies like Apple

have developed an empathetic way of reaching out to their customers (Tran, 2018). Therefore,
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failing to utilize apps is a well-known issue that is caused by a number of challenges as shown in

the subsequent paragraphs.

Most apps are designed in a sophisticated manner such that they become hard to

understand and thus use. Ali, Alrasheedi, Ouda, and Capretz (2014) assert that design associates

with the style in which things work, the way they are controlled and nature of interaction existing

between technology and people. In other words, when the designer of an app understands the

needs of the audience, it is most likely that they will design something that can solve common

problems in real life. From the survey, 18-year-old Sandy finds it hard to use apps on her phone

because they seem complicated. Besides, Anna who knows only Chinese cannot find an app

translator to help her utilize the apps. These and more experiences define how big the issue of

difficulty to utilize apps is and how it affects users. Therefore, the complexity of apps which is

likely due to limited design thinking is a serious user experience problem.

An Image Showing A Phone with Numerous Apps

Moreover, the identified user experience problem is brought about by the incompatibility

of apps with user needs and failure to solve real-world problems. Following the empathetic

design requirement of feeling the experience, the researcher explored the problem by shadowing

the inability to utilize an app that seems essential. Notably, failing to utilize an app shows that

the designer was not keen enough to understand the nature of the users and that it cannot fulfill

its intended purpose (Hogan, 2014). In empathetic design, every innovation should be human-
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centered for it to solve practical problems (Brown & Wyatt, 2010). Meaning, when the users fail

to use the apps, like instead of working on something the app starts updating, the purpose is not

fulfilled, and this becomes an irritation for the user. All in all, the observational research for

finding needs established difficulty to use apps as a user-experience design problem that needs a

creative solution.

Image Depicting an Interface That Fails to Meet User Needs

Justification for Worthiness for Creative Solution

Failure or challenges with using apps on the user’s phone can be a distressful experience

and lags one behind on schedule. In accordance with design thinking and empathy, tech

companies need to look into creating new technology that conforms to their customer needs.

Practically, having to deal with apps that are hard to use will restrict the user from attaining their

set goals. For instance, a person like Ann with poor installation experience due to language

issues will require a device with an already installed or clear manual for installing the apps. As

Banglani (2015) indicates, app discovery that is a solution to limitations in using apps is now an

answer to this problem as it provides easy-to-use mobile apps for advertising. Meaning, this

problem is severe and needs a creative solution such that all users are catered for concerning the

utilization of important applications.

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Similarly, the traditional technological response was the worst since it was less

interactive and thus never had a feel of the user’s experience. Today, things have changed as

companies engage in research to find out the problems of the apps and technology on the market.

Limitations in using apps are one thing that can cause anxiety and stress among users, a reason

that makes it worth to find creative solutions to the issue (Lecture Notes, 2019). Dam and Siang

(2018) mention that creativity involves finding new and better ways of solving user problems

through imagination. Looking at the user problem here, one can conclude that it affects

attainment of goals as the apps that would be of help in solving real-life issues fail to work. Any

form of curiosity might lead to finding out those with problems and what they need as a solution.

Ultimately, this can help the designer to find apps that are user-friendly that the existing complex

ones.

Image Showing Importance of Understanding Target Population

Finally, the issue of users failing to apply applications is one of the listed things

that can only be solved through design thinking. Since apps help in solving some of the current

societal issues, it means that applying design thinking is necessary for this problem. From the

research, some systems need to be changed to enable people to manage their jobs while attending

school without inconvenience and grade setbacks. According to a recent release on design

thinking and innovation, these two are critical for solving problems where there are colliding

spheres (Dam and Siang, 2018). Design thinking leads to human innovation and tailored
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solutions to address the discovered challenges. Therefore, this implies that poor user experience

with apps, especially when there are conflicting roles, needs creative solutions from design

thinking to enable multitasking.

Conclusion

Looking at the studied population creates an impression that one of the critical user

experience design problems is difficulty with using applications (apps). In design thinking,

designers explore all possible conditions that users might have encountered while applying

innovative ideas on the market and find answers to issues discovered. In this case, it is

unfulfilling to find out that a company created an app that is unfriendly to its users. Curiosity as a

driver of innovation will help in identifying the entire problem and finding a creative solution to

it. As per the findings in this paper, the issue of limitations with app use is worth of a creative

solution because this problem affects goal achievement and affects the social wellbeing of the

users. All in all, identifying, describing and justifying the user experience problem is one way of

exploring critical and design thinking skills of a student.

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References

Ali, A., Alrasheedi, M., Ouda, A., & Capretz, L. F. (2014). A Study of The Interface Usability

Issues of Mobile Learning Applications for Smart Phones from the User’s

Perspective. International Journal on Integrating Technology in Education, 3(4), 1-16.

doi:10.5121/ijite.2014.3401

Banglani, R. (2015, October 28). The problem with apps. Retrieved from

https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/RZHL57OBZNzxeYkYdgRSpO/The-problem-with-

apps.html

Brown, T., & Wyatt, J. (2010). Design Thinking for Social Innovation. Stanford Social

Innovation Review (SSIR). Retrieved from

https://ssir.org/articles/entry/design_thinking_for_social_innovation#

Dam, R., & Siang, T. (2018). Design Thinking: New Innovative Thinking for New Problems.

Retrieved from https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/design-thinking-

new-innovative-thinking-for-new-problems

Hogan, L. C. (2014). Designing for Performance: Weighing Aesthetics and Speed. Sebastopol,

CA: O'Reilly Media. 

http://designingforperformance.com/performance-is-ux/

Lecture Notes. (2019, January 22). Observational Research: Shadowing [PowerPoint].

Lecture Notes: Module 3(a). (2019, January 25). What is Empathetic Design [ppt].

Lecture Notes: Module 3(b). (2019, January 25). User Experience Design [PowerPoint].

Oppong, T. (2016, August 24). Why Curiosity Leads to Creative Breakthroughs|null. Retrieved

from https://www.inc.com/thomas-oppong/why-curiosity-leads-to-creative-

breakthroughs.html
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Tran, T. (2018). Telling More Compelling Stories Through Design Thinking. Retrieved from

https://www.forbes.com/sites/taitran/2018/04/26/three-ways-to-infuse-design-thinking-

into-your-marketing-and-storytelling/#12fc4a5f6db8