Virtual User Experience Design

UX Alley has been practicing virtual User Experience work for many years and has been perfecting the art of virtual workspace in our daily routines. 

Our goal is, and always has been, to get to know our clients work environments and team cultures as closely as possible in order to insert ourselves and become part of the team. Being that many of our clients are global, we’ve had to do so utilizing online conferencing and face-to-face video calls and ensure that the personal touch is not lost when conducting business in a virtual world. 

Virtual Face-to-Face Time

We try to utilize face-to-face video conferencing as much as possible. In fact, we often turn cameras on even when our clients don’t. The transparency and viewport into our office allows customers to relate and converse on a more personal level. So don’t be nervous, turn on your web cams and show your face. Conversations will be more meaningful and you’ll be surprised at the close relationships made and fruitful virtual work discussions.

Facial expressions and physiological responses

Just as emails can become “tone sensitive”, so as conference calls that lack video. Presenting work or discussing new concepts without seeing immediate facial reactions can be challenging. User Experience designers like to “read” reactions as it often reveals to us what the client is thinking and/or feeling even when they are not able to articulate it. Working virtually doesn't mean we lose physiological expressions. While it can make it more challenging, we are able to work with two screens, showing our presentations and work on one and utilizing video on another. This allows the client to see us and our slide deck during a presentation and lets us see on the go reactions from all involved.