Winners and Losers In the World of Interfaces: 2013 In Review 116
An anonymous reader writes "A review of the top UX successes and failures of 2013 covers hot topics ranging from Snapchat to the Nest thermostat to David Pogue's departure from the New York Times. The author begins: 'In terms of UX milestones and missteps, 2013 failed to produce industry-altering innovations like 2007 with the introduction of the first iPhone or 2012 with the demise of Blackberry. Yet on another level, UX design in 2013 gave us a glimpse at the rapidly broadening definition of UX design as a structural concept and its role in the future of new media device design, content creation and even the status of product reviews created by leading tech journalists. In a critical way, I personally find this more interesting than blockbuster introductions that alter the technology landscape.'"
bb10? (Score:4, Interesting)
Unlike the iOS gestures, the BB10 gestures actually increase my workflow.
Still not as customizable as android...
"UX designers" are why the industry sucks. (Score:5, Interesting)
Has anyone else noticed that the term "UX designer" and "UX" cropped up right around the time everything went to shit?
Windows got Metro.
Apple got iOS 7, and some really idiotic features in 10.9.
Linux got Gnome 3 and Unity.
I work in the graphics design industry, and whenever I see "UX designer" I almost immediately run in the opposite direction. Very, very few people can successfully use that term and back it up with stuff that actually works and works well. 99% of the time it's some self proclaimed asshole who thinks his ideas are the bomb, when they're really just a pile of rubbish. In fact, some of the best "UX designers" out there don't call themselves that and actually go out of their way to avoid the term. Those are the people who don't really call themselves anything- but you can tell from their portfolios that they know what they're doing.
TLDR; UX is a side effect of good UI design. It is an unnecessary department created by failed web designers who want to feel important. Can we please get back to innovating user interfaces that people want and work well now? Because I'm tired of where everything is heading these days.