Our profession has an identity crisis. And what profession might that be? The one which needs several elevator rides to give an elevator pitch, and long after you have reached your destination, it still leaves your audience staring, trying to look knowledgeable and perhaps wondering why they ever asked the question 'What do you do?'
Can't blame them. Because it is our doing.
Between our IXDs, UXs, UIDs, HCIs and XYZs we are truly losing it as we each try to get our own unique spin on it, and in the bargain we have not just completely confused the other 95% professionals outside of our own with whom we work, we have alienated a good number of them. They don't know anymore whether we code, make interfaces look drop dead gorgeous or sit in a lab doing something similar to what is done unto lab rats or simply do magic! And the ones who get it, each have their own assumed explanation of it. Like UX has somehow become the purview of software. Why? Don't people have experiences outside digital?
The one that bothers me the most is 'Interaction Design'. However did that name come about? Alright, I know it was meant to illuminate that slice of design of digital embedded in a product that designers of yesteryears looked down upon (official version). And it was a way to differentiate from the myriad non-designers that were dabbling in the profession of human centered design.
But why interaction? Is interaction only with technology? We interact with humans too!
Can't blame them. Because it is our doing.
Between our IXDs, UXs, UIDs, HCIs and XYZs we are truly losing it as we each try to get our own unique spin on it, and in the bargain we have not just completely confused the other 95% professionals outside of our own with whom we work, we have alienated a good number of them. They don't know anymore whether we code, make interfaces look drop dead gorgeous or sit in a lab doing something similar to what is done unto lab rats or simply do magic! And the ones who get it, each have their own assumed explanation of it. Like UX has somehow become the purview of software. Why? Don't people have experiences outside digital?
The one that bothers me the most is 'Interaction Design'. However did that name come about? Alright, I know it was meant to illuminate that slice of design of digital embedded in a product that designers of yesteryears looked down upon (official version). And it was a way to differentiate from the myriad non-designers that were dabbling in the profession of human centered design.
But why interaction? Is interaction only with technology? We interact with humans too!
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