mariadelmarrod-blog

[mariadelmarrod-blog]

So the final project has arrived. We were told from the very first week we would be working with a real client at some point and that’s what we’re dealing with right now!

It’s been an enriching experience having a taste of what interacting with real clients looks like. So far we’ve been designing based on our own research’s findings. The approach has been certainly different throughout this challenge, not only because there’s a specific demand from a client but also because of the unknown expectations they could have from us as UX junior designers.

I’ve been lucky to share this last rush at Ironhack with two amazing classmates that have taught me only so much in 1 week. This has showed how important it is to create a proper environment to allow ideas to flow and move forward as a team.

And well, this week couldn’t have end up better. Collaborating with the developers was a major highlight. I literally think they rock it!

Already excited about next/ last week’s surprises at Ironhack 💖

[mariadelmarrod-blog]

7th week!

Stressful but amazing week preparing our presentations for an external jury over zoom. Growth and valuable insights defines this time at the bootcamp!

[mariadelmarrod-blog]

Case studies and designer's uniqueness

“The case study factory” , points out some interesting insights in the lack of originality of case studies when it comes to UX junior profiles and how managers and, in general, the design industry is affected by this.

Pulled out of the article several tips that would help a junior UX/UI designer to start her/his career having her/his own voice while delivering a case study which allows them to stand out from the crowd:

Use scannable headers

Write your story to someone who is hearing about your project and company for the first time

Include prototypes

Replace text with images

Make it personal

In general, being authentic and share a personal statement is essential to help others to understand how do we make decisions as designers!

[mariadelmarrod-blog]

The 6th one

The more research, the more decisions to make...

Quite an intense week loaded of interviews, findings and, obviously, a pretty indecisive mind. Deciding which problem to solve was just as stressful as exciting. Had the feel I was, for the first time, having "enough time" to do supplementary interviews and to analyse more comfortably my data while sticking to my time marks. In overall, a week of discovery and solitary work where I could see how much I enjoy the UX/UI path (even if making decisions makes me kind of suffer).

[mariadelmarrod-blog]

Fifth week - loved it!

The fifth week came with the scariest challenge: CODING. Well, coding at a baby stage but still working with a new different language and trying to understand the design from what seems a more precise perspective. It was beautiful in any case seeing how one can surpass its own expectations. This exercise reminded of the magic that understanding the logic behind anything represents. Yeah, at some point it actually felt like a Tetris game with some pieces actually falling into their place. I have to admit tho that luck had a little bit to do with it as my teammate and I were assisted by the most amazing developer we could ever be assigned :)

In overall I loved to develop the group project of this week. I have the feeling my teammate and I created a safe space to flow with ideas while setting up realistic and, in the end, satisfying goals.

So ready for the next one! Bring it on!

[mariadelmarrod-blog]

Contextual Inquiry Who?

Research. That crucial part of any design process that defines the direction of any creation or improvement of an existing product. As an early UX/UI designer and having only used the survey/interview approaches to get to understand the users, I just found out of probably the ultimate research method we could rely on as designers: contextual inquiry.

It is simple yet genius, using our eyes and any other senses to spot people's day to day struggles and insecurities to then look for a way to ease their experience. Then the contextual research technique is a very good one to refer when it comes to put ourselves in the shoes of our potential users and eliminate guess by letting them to give us a less biased information.

As the project of this week only gives us the strict necessary amount of time I'm still working out a way to apply it consistently to the research stage. I have a more formed idea on how to use it during the prototype's usability test phase as my approach to the users would be totally remote...one thing is certain: there's no way back from this technique once it makes part of the designer's repertoire!

[mariadelmarrod-blog]

1 Month in...Oh my!

Progress... that's the word I would use to define this month in Ironhack. It's been a great experience seeing every of my classmates getting better at what they knew to do best when they just arrived and improving at those they didn't feel comfortable enough.

On my side, the weekly challenge on building an e-Learning app left many valuable learnings on time management and prioritising. Balancing the divergent and convergent mode to make bring my idea to life has been tough but I finally saw a way to be better at it. With all the new amount of information, more guidelines come into play and with this more is expected from you. By everybody, including yourself. Because, even if by this point progress is a highlight, the more you know the harder it gets.

[mariadelmarrod-blog]

Learning to see...

“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.”

And that's right. Our experiences and sensations shape whatever is in front of our eyes. Same with design.

As a newbie designer I must say I've found challenging the way of delivering my opinions towards any design. The "I like" kind of statement should be crossed out of our language and changed with real arguments. This can be only developed by designing ourselves or, sometimes, repeating after the masters.

My main take aways from the reading:

- Yes, you need a design eye to design, and a non-designer eye to feel what you designed.

- The "bold" to "beautiful" in the chart talks to me a lot about low and mid to high prototypes. That's what literally designers do during the creative process. before making it "pretty" we have to make it work.

-Design should be self-explanatory. That's the goal.

“To clarify, add detail.”

Hope to develop like Mr. Tschichold says a “finger-tip feeling”, it will take time but it will be worth in the end.

[mariadelmarrod-blog]

Becoming a blogger? - 1st day at Ironhack (like it was yesterday)

Oops! I know I know, this should have been an earlier post but no panic... I can still remember my first impressions at Ironhack BCN. It would be impossible not to. Bunch of new different people, expectations flowing in the air and a start up pro setting kinda feel; an adrenaline shot, in overall. Literally...as if the surprisingly good vending machine coffee wasn't enough. Well, I'm exagerating, next door's plant based coffee might be tastier but this one comes in handy ;)

Even if it was a day like no other, I wouldn't trade it with the one I'm living now. No feeling like seeing everyone growing, spotting their strengths and learning from them. Getting into the Ironhack routine has been such a challenge as well, so no desire to turn back in time and starting all over again. Probably in the future, when the nostalgia hits. Surely... when it doesn't feel like yesterday.

[mariadelmarrod-blog]

The third one!

One third of the Ironhack experience has come to an end but it only starts to feel real. Being able to judge which kind of research strategy works the best , implement a different axis benchmarking and build a first high fidelity prototype have been great learnings of the weekly project. Also getting to work again in group for the second time has made the experience more enriching as the mix of backgrounds allow the ideas to flow with more ease; something that I miss when working solo.

Can't wait to see what ideas come up from next week's challenge. It promises to be harder but to look even better!

[mariadelmarrod-blog]

Second week at Ironhack

A real rollercoaster. Every day felt like a new challenge. It was our first individual project applying brand new concepts and research tools on top of the ones we were still integrating from the week before.

I particularly loved to understand the power of surveys and its place during the research process. Needless to say I didn't become an expert in the matter but, after reviewing my data over and over again to come up with a sensible design, I believe I can assertively judge how to apply it in a real scenario. Also, the creation of our first mid-fi prototype added a nice professional touch to the weekly exercise.

I was amazed to see my classmates' research findings converged into potential products during the final presentations. Another inspiring week that, although rough, its learnings were totally worth the effort.

[mariadelmarrod-blog]

Welcome to the CRIIIIIITS !

So the first Crits session arrived and, honestly, didn't know what to expect from it.

In a quite professional setting, giving precise feedback to our classmates on their designs and receive a good number of critiques in a very reduced amount of time, felt like a stressful situation but enriching enough to make us all rethink our ideas.

In my case, this was one decisive session because it didn't only make me transform my idea into something better but to create a new one that was more focus on the user needs and better connected to my research.

'Crits', as I perceive them now, might be the most valuable insight to our weekly projects at Ironhack. Going in with a growth-driven mindset, no matter how harsh the truths are, it's a game changer for our process as UX designers.

[mariadelmarrod-blog]

First week at Ironhack

Wow, end of first week and already with a baby app in mind. It's been amazing seeing how quickly the concepts and design strategies could be put in practice to create a product that could make people's lifes easier. Loooking forward to seeing the projects that my classmates and I will be developing.

The teachers, TAs and new peers from all over the world, make me feel these next two months, apart from lots of hard work, will be an uncomparable experience. A safe space to share ideas, that's how I would define these first days at Ironhack.

[mariadelmarrod-blog]

Why UX/UI?

We all want freedom, right? We all talk about it yet it means something completely different from one another. I find it a fascinating concept and I feel really lucky just to have the chance, not only to reflect on it, but to act on it and make a life on my own terms. So for me ‘freedom’ is not only a noun but an action. The flexibility of changing places, circles of people or anything that sparks my curiosity.

Originally from Colombia, lived in France for the past 5 years to start a masters in Sociology after having completed a bachelor's degree in Communications and Audiovisual Production. My passion for a while was making my own short documentary films and my end goal was working in NGOs communications department. The idea of contributing to improve other people’s realities while meeting ‘the world’ sounded, and still does, fascinating. Yet, when I was ‘there’ (long story) I didn't feel completely connected nor in control of my own decisions. And that’s what brings me here. Following a creative path and building skills that would allow me to perform, at some point, my philanthropic ideals with only the necessary attachments.

In the end, pursuing a career in UX/UI represents for me another step, probably the biggest, into the meaningful life I’m looking forward to keeping on living.