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I forgot to mention in the previous post, that part about user experience and what Andy Budd had made as his presentation at An Event Apart. In his presentation, Andy talked about user experience and how it can be applied to anything. In his case, a trip to a hotel in Mexico.

Well it dawned on me that in life, you want to be treated to an experience like no other when you go out, go on trips, or even be treated to a good experience when you’re shopping or dining in a restaurant. Which brought me to thinking, apply this to the web. Imagine myself, as the user, imagine myself as I would want to be treated when I go out. To the best experience possible.

Which brought me to the story of the local eatery (a very popular chain of eateries that have been made popular by a certain individula who lost an enourmous amount of weight on this chain and its’ “diet”). I entered hungry, wanting a sandwich to fill me up, and I usually receive one from this place. Though to day was somehow different.

It was dry, the service was as well, it lacked and there was no knowledge from the young woman behind the counter as to what she was doing (although she may be a wonderful person, her service skills lacked). I thought to myself on the drive home, “What if I were to offer that same experience to users when I design and build websites?”

No one would go to them. Either that or, the 1.6 seconds you have to grab a user’s attention will not be grabbed and they will be on their way. So was the case for me in this eatery. I wanted to just walk out after a short period of time because the service wsa horrible (nevermind the fact the manager had his iPod on and was attempting to sing, while on the floor, a huge mistake indeed).

Long story, short… take the time to think… would you, while designing and building a website, want to face the same experience I did in the eatery? Or think back to a bad experience at some place you have had. Would you want your users to experience the same with your designed sites? I know I am thinking a lot more clear on user experience thanks to Andy and his presentation.