IN THIS EPISODE…
User experience design is no longer exclusive to visual interactions. Apps and productivity tools have evolved to include voice and text features, accelerating innovation in a fast-paced digital environment. With the landscape saturated with shiny objects and trendy features, how can you balance innovation with user-friendly fundamentals?
Join Matt Hirsch in the latest episode of Matters of Creative as he hosts Anton Sten, the Head of Design at Summer Health, to talk about creating user-friendly and enjoyable user experiences amid innovation. Anton mentions the importance of a robust strategy in user experience design, AI’s role in improving UX designs, and the upcoming challenges designers will face in the evolving landscape.
According to Anton Sten, user experience strategies should involve the entire organization, with various departments collaborating to satisfy the end users, whether it’s consumers using an app or companies using tools internally. Anton believes app and product designs should be simple, intuitive, and even fun, advising designers to observe key features in their favorite daily tools to determine what makes them user-friendly. With innovation a priority in UX design, designers can add additional features to enhance productivity and functionality while remaining consistent with the original design.
Tune in now for lessons on creating an unbeatable UX strategy.
ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Anton Sten is the Head of Design at Summer Health, a telehealth platform that connects parents to pediatricians. As a writer and designer, he has over 25 years of experience designing websites, apps, and products for startups and large companies. Anton owned and managed a design consultancy for over 15 years.
Learn more about Anton:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonsten/
Here’s a Glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- [1:52] Anton Sten’s transition from owning a design consultancy to working for Summer Health
- [5:28] What is user experience strategy?
- [9:58] The philosophies behind Anton’s UX design approach
- [16:12] Advice for developing an iterative product design process
- [18:04] Communication and collaboration in the design process
- [23:06] Evolving trends and challenges in the UX design space
- [27:52] How AI will shape UX strategies
- [36:05] The importance of a strategic mindset in UX design
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- Anton Sten: Website | LinkedIn
- Summer Health
- Kevin Twohy: Website | X
Quotable Moments:
- “It’s fine to occasionally work for projects that are just work, but joining full-time, it had to be something more.”
- “User experience is something that we’re all part of… It’s not wireframes; it’s how fast something is or all of the different edge cases.”
- “Anything we use should be fun to use as well. Delightful is the word for it.”
- “The challenge for these tools is to find some kind of product market fit… that no other tool can do.”
- “Every day, it seems like we’re faced with more and more tools and more and more opportunities.”
Action Steps:
- Reflect on the digital tools you use daily to pinpoint what makes them enjoyable and intuitive: This encourages critical thinking about design elements that enhance user experience and can inspire one’s own design projects.
- Incorporate user feedback early and often during the design process to improve responsiveness to real needs: Anton Sten stressed the value of collaboration and user input, which can avert later challenges and ensure the product meets user expectations.
- Strive for simplicity and joy in design, even for mundane or business-oriented tools: This emphasizes a product’s holistic impact on user satisfaction, productivity, and business success.
- Educate yourself on emerging AI technologies to stay abreast of how they might influence user experience and design: As AI becomes more embedded in products, understanding its capabilities can help creators harness its potential in design.
- Cultivate a multidisciplinary approach to product design as user interfaces evolve beyond visual-based interaction: This expands a designer’s toolkit and prepares them for future challenges and opportunities in designing for voice and other sensory experiences.
SPONSOR FOR THIS EPISODE…
This episode is brought to you by M Agency, a full-service creative marketing agency in Tacoma, Washington.
We are a strategic partner for companies wanting to build memorable brands, websites, and marketing campaigns.
Our team of creative professionals leverages their unique talents and skills to provide various branding, design and development, marketing, and creative services.
If you’re ready to take action with your marketing, visit https://whatisyourm.com/.