Published on | Prototyping: From UX to Front End — Medium Codi Funakoshi

(Yes, that’s an Orange is the New Black reference)

A geometric object that’s supposed to represent design

One hundred years ago, if you asked me who ran the world, I probably would’ve answered “Why the engineers, of course!” Engineers were the movers and shakers of the 20th century — they were the ones who invented sophisticated machinery, erected entire cities, and heck, they even discovered the moon. Engineers stood at the forefront during an era that was dedicated to discovering a better world. So yes — it goes without saying that 100 years ago, engineers ran the world.

Fast forward to the year 2017 and step into a much different universe: Today, technology is evolving faster than it’s ever evolved before. With innovative companies like Google and Facebook making it their lifelong missions to change lives through their products, millions of people around the world are being influenced every single day by technology. This rapid shift in technological innovation presents us with one of the biggest questions we’ve faced in the last century — What next? I mean, engineers have provided us with all of the tools necessary to pursue new technologies, but is that enough to take us to the next level?

The short answer? No. You see — innovation is much more than just a fancy algorithm or some incredible scientific discovery. Innovation, when stripped down to its core meaning, is to conceive of something transformational. Innovation disrupts the way people behave and function. It changes our way of life and allows us to do things we were never able to do before. But over the next century, the engineers will not be the ones who innovate. No — this time, it will be the designers who run the show.

Innovation, when stripped down to its core meaning, is to conceive of something transformational.

UX designers deliver innovation

UX designers explore the wants and needs of others through observation and empathy. They are less concerned with quantitative evidence and more interested in exploring the intangible things that make people feel a certain way. The UX designer utilizes a different skill set than the engineer — rather than rely on logic to drive their decisions, UX designers must have the ability to step into the shoes of millions and take what they find to create a shoe that will fit all. This is precisely why UX designers will become the innovators of this century — something cannot be transformational unless it meets the needs of millions.

To make waves in this technology-driven era, satisfying logical needs won’t be enough. Design thinking takes invention to the next level and finally seeks to put the user first, not the function. While engineers over the last century worked to create products that accomplished specific tasks, designers of our time work to create products that will trigger emotional responses and in turn move audiences.

Codi Funakoshi is a UX/UI Designer located in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have any questions, feel free to contact her via her website: http://ift.tt/2n4xXz4.

UX Designer is the New Engineer was originally published in Prototyping: From UX to Front End on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

UX Designer is the New Engineer

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