I agree with you about the importance of language in user experience design. An understanding of semiotics and related aspects of information theory support the creation of interactive access points that most closely mirror the intentions of the largest or more most valuable segments of users of a given web site.
Some aspects of user experience design that are better supported by sciences such as ethnography, market research, web analytics, etc., include such things as task modeling, competitive differentiation, and perceived utility. If the words are optimal, but we have users step through processes that don't mirror the mental image they have of those processes, or are not intuitive in terms of a mental leap to a new process, then in studies we've conducted they clearly get confused and abandon the experience. Also, we can create a system with optimum words and images, but if users don't perceive that they will benefit more from using this system than other available options (like calling HR or stopping at the mall after work), then they will not even start the experience. For this reason, user experience designers need to rely on many branches of social science, including semiotics, to achieve optimal, measurable results. Paul Bryan Principal Consultant, Usography Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44465 ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
