Design, User Experience, and Usability. Theory, Methods, Tools and Practice

Abstract

User-Centered Design spends a considerable effort on research and analysis before development begins. On the other hand, Agile methods strive to deliver small sets of software features to customers as fast as possible in short iterations. Whereas the two methodologies have tensions regarding requirements gathering and upfront design, they also share similarities. For instance, both approaches are iterative and customer focused. However, there is little guidance on how to integrate these two perspectives and a lack of understanding with respect to the User Experience (UX) Designer's role in an agile environment. Based on four ethnographically-informed studies in two large companies, we aim at providing a better understanding of the integration of Agile development and UX Design by describing the different roles that a UX Designer plays within an Agile environment. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.