You learn a lot about UI/UX and interaction design
Even if you are already experienced in product development, you’ll learn a lot on the job. Particularly about the requirements of users in your niche.
But, building polite software is a shortcut
The book “Inmates are Running the Asylum” is a great help. In particular, the rules of “Polite Software” are very useful. They’re as follows:
- Polite software is interested in me
- Polite software is deferential to me
- Polite software is forthcoming
- Polite software has common sense
- Polite software anticipates my needs
- Polite software is responsive
- Polite software taciturn about it’s personal problems
- Polite software is well informed
- Polite software is perceptive
- Polite software is self-confident
- Polite software stays focused
- Polite software is fudgeable
- Polite software provides instant gratification
- Polite software is trustworthy
But remember to apply different principles to different users
Depending on what the user’s job is, they might place more or less value on each of the principles.
For example, the finance department places a very high value on accuracy and a negative value on fudgability.
Buyers, on the other hand, require good responsiveness and a great deal of common sense.
And the customer service department might value interfaces that are forthcoming and allow them to see the whole picture.