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How reversing assumptions can help to make your UX design better
We need to assume certain facts to be true just to be able to move forward with our work. But certain assumptions may mislead us, especially if we tend to think we have experience in a certain field. And we are the people who are supposed to check our assumptions. That’s our job.
Since I started learning about UX and product design, I’ve read a lot of case studies posted here by other people. I’ve also started my first project.
What I’ve noticed is that beginners in UX (including me) tend to choose subjects that are close to their current interests.
That’s to be expected and good. I, for example, chose to create an app for my favourite basketball team. I know a lot about this and I consider myself to be an insider. Do I still have to check what I assume about my own interests? How do I discover which assumptions are the ones that are blocking my work?
Assumptions are necessary. They take some of the burdens away and let us move forward.
We don’t need to prove our assumptions, since we assume they are true.
But some assumptions can introduce bias. We need to be careful not to blindly build upon a biased assumption, lest we ignore the needs of the users and clients.
Example: Extraverts vs introverts
In my first project I started with an assumption that basketball fans are mostly gregariuos people who like the noise and energy of sports venues.
I’m like this. My group of friends is mostly like this. We go to all home games and cheer our team during the entire match. We are never quiet and we react to everything that is happening on the court. During timeouts we talk a lot about the game and analyse each situation in detail. When we disagree with some decision made by the coach, we are keen to express this and make sure he hears us. Same goes for the referees.
Making an assumption that everybody in the venue is like us would surely lead to…
