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Articles

Alita Joyce

Alita Joyce is a User Experience Specialist with Nielsen Norman Group. She is a mixed-methods researcher with a specialization in cognitive psychology and behavioral observation. Alita has published research on a diverse range of topics, such as interface design patterns, young technology users, social media, emerging technologies, and strategic design initiatives. 

@alitamjoyce

Articles and Videos

  • 3 Principles of Design Thinking

    User-centered problem solving creates innovative products, based on observational research with real users, visual sense-making, and iterative design.

  • Product Redesigns: Incremental or Overhaul

    Redesigning a user interface can be done in many smaller incremental releases, or as one big complete redo. Big change is risky, but necessary in 3 cases.

  • Users Love Change: Combatting a UX Myth

    Frequent major redesigns and changes throughout the interface support users’ need to learn and adapt to new situations.

  • Tips for Motivating Stakeholders to Participate in User Research

    When stakeholders observe user research sessions, the credibility and acceptance of findings will increase. Since they are busy, make it easy to participate and work on increasing the value they get out of going.

  • Getting Started with Journey Mapping: 27 Tips from Practitioners

    Set yourself up for journey-mapping success by educating yourself on the basics, defining objectives, building a crossfunctional team, collaborating on the map, and optimizing your presentation.

  • Companies on Social Media: 6 Types of User Interactions with Business

    Users rely on social media to find out about new products or companies, conduct research, engage with content, make purchases, and seek customer support.

  • Diary Studies

    Ask users to keep a diary throughout a fairly long period is great for researching customer journeys or other bigger-scope issues in user experience that go beyond a single interaction.

  • Onboarding: Skip it When Possible

    Onboarding instructions that users must digest before they start using an app or other product require attention and effort, and thus reduce usability. They should be avoided as much as possible.

  • Companies on Social Media: 6 Interaction Types

    Our user research discovered 6 distinct types of interactions users/customers have with companies on social media. Recognize each type, and support each one with different design approaches.

  • Help and Documentation: The 10th Usability Heuristic

    Interface help comes in two forms: proactive and reactive. Proactive help is intended to get users familiar with an interface while reactive help is meant for troubleshooting and gaining system proficiency.