On User Design Smoke and Mirrors and the Course so far
In his paper, the author discusses the effectiveness of using models and studies, concepts and statistics to create good design in web applications, or perhaps products in general. He makes the point that although it is good to have such methods and guidelines for design, ultimately design is more an art than it is science or engineering, and hence is based more on the subjective. He reasons that it is impossible to be able to fully capture what goes into great design, that it is impossible to accurately quantify or codify the process or find the secret formula to a design. Hence he is skeptical about those who try or those who place exaggerated confidence in these methods. He feels, as do I, that it takes an experienced artist to create excellent art, and no manner of blue-print or artbooks may allow a novice to paint like Van Gough

Through the course of this module, we have learnt about theories and concepts on designing user experience. The concept is very elusive; experience is difficult to define or measure. Yet we have learnt to understand the concept of experience, and we have learnt structures and models which tend to add to this our understanding. Aside from the theory itself, we have also been able to get our hands dirty trying to implement our understanding of user experience design in our projects. And in doing so, perhaps we can understand what the author had said abit better. In implementing our projects and hoping to create experience, we discover that using models and concepts, statistics and studies, have their place but ultimately for design itself, experience counts the most. Sometimes, even as we have discovered, the user does not know what he trully wants and it takes a good designer to develop that for him. Perhaps designing is likened to playing a piano. You start off by reading the score, and when you get better you play with your eyes closed.

One interesting point that the author had made may be that of using studies and research for political reasons. In my opinion, that should be the strongest motivation for anyone to use such studies excessively. We understand that such studies are at most accurate on a subjective level, and cannot be fully objective, however it may be persuasive to people of power when it comes to designing for expensive products, or when the people ontop are seeking 'expert' opinion or craving black and white statistics. Ultimately we are with the author when he states that the foundation of a design should lie on having good designers. Creating an experience is not easy; no amount of guidelines can work for every case out there. In the end, the user is the critic, and it is difficult to make him think the way you want him to all the time. That is the art.