Origin and evolution of the concept of User Experience

The precursors of the concept: a human-centered approach

Although the term "User Experience" was formalized in the 1990s by Donald Norman, its foundations are based on older disciplines:

Ergonomics: Since the middle of the 20th century, ergonomists have sought to improve interactions between humans and tools, taking into account the physical and cognitive capacities of users.

• Cognitive psychology: Researchers like HL Mencken and John Sweller explored how humans perceive, process, and remember information, influencing early theories of usability.

• User-centered design: As early as the 1970s, approaches such as "human-centered design" appeared, influencing modern design methodologies.
  

The emergence of the term “User Experience”

The term "User Experience" is attributed to Donald Norman, famous for his work The Design of Everyday Things (1988).

When he joins Apple in the early 1990s, Norman bore the innovative title of "User Experience Architect", reflecting the growing awareness that products must deliver a positive overall experience.

Norman himself explains: II coined the term “User Experience“ because I thought “user interface” and “ergonomics” were too narrow. I wanted to cover all aspects of a person’s experience with a system, including industrial design, interface, physical interactions, and even the emotion the product provokes.

A multidimensional concept

The richness of the term UX lies in its ability to cover and articulate several essential dimensions:

• Functionality and ease of use: How well does the product enable the user to perform their tasks efficiently and intuitively? This includes not only the technical performance of the product, but also the clarity and simplicity of its interface.
  
  
• Emotion and satisfaction: What general impression does the product leave on the user? Is it a source of frustration, incomprehension or, on the contrary, of pleasure and emotional engagement? These elements have a lasting influence on the perception of the quality of the product.
  
  
• Global context: Beyond the direct interaction with the product, how does it fit into the user's daily life? Does it meet their needs while taking into account their social, cultural and economic context? This global dimension is essential for designing experiences that integrate harmoniously into real life.

Key stages in the evolution of UX

• 1980s-1990s: the advent of graphical interfaces
  With the advent of personal computers and systems like Apple's Macintosh, graphical user interfaces (GUIs) became more widely available. This period saw the emergence of standards for intuitive navigation, such as the use of icons, windows, and clicks, all designed to simplify interaction.

• 2000s: the rise of the web and mobile
  The widespread use of the Internet has shifted the focus to the design of websites and mobile applications.responsive design and user testing has become a pillar to ensure quality UX across different devices.

• 2010s: UX at the heart of the strategy
  UX is becoming a key differentiator, especially with companies like Google, Apple and Amazon, which are putting user experience at the heart of their success. Related disciplines like Design Thinking and the Customer Experience (CX) are developing.
  

The fundamentals of UX design

UX design is based on a series of essential principles that guide its implementation:

Understanding user needs: This involves conducting surveys, interviews and tests to better understand users' expectations, behaviors and frustrations, in order to focus on what really matters to them.

Human-centered design: Design products and services adapted to the expectations and constraints of users, taking into account their needs, whether functional, emotional or cognitive.

Prototyping and testing: Regularly testing solutions through prototypes helps identify friction points and adjust proposals to best meet expectations.

Accessibility and inclusiveness: Ensure an optimized experience for everyone, regardless of users' abilities or the tools they use, to ensure maximum accessibility.

These principles are at the heart of the UX approach, allowing us to create experiences that are effective, inclusive and satisfying.

UX Today: Beyond Digital

While user experience (UX) emerged in a digital context, it now extends far beyond the boundaries of screens to apply to many areas. It aims to provide seamless and memorable experiences, adapted to different environments and expectations.

Physical services:
Experience design is making its way into retail spaces, airports and public places, where every step of the customer journey is carefully thought out. This includes signage, flow management and space ergonomics, to create simple, pleasant and intuitive interactions.

Phygital experiences:
Halfway between digital and physical, phygital experiences, such as in connected stores, allow to combine the best of both worlds. They offer solutions where online and offline interactions enrich each other, ensuring a continuous and consistent user experience.

Thus, UX extends well beyond digital to transform our interactions in varied contexts and meet modern user expectations.