Member-only story
Blueprints to browsers: how home renovation taught me tactical UX!
“Design is a process in which you sculpt information to express meaning.” — Tadao Ando
A few years back, my partner and I embarked on a thrilling adventure — renovating a century old home that had seen better days. Armed with a vision of our dream house, we were fueled by inspiration from glossy magazines and countless home renovation shows, and YouTube videos. But as with any project involving layers of history and unexpected surprises, our journey was anything but straightforward. At times there was even doubt about our ability to execute on our vision.
Our initial plan was comprehensive, accounting for every room, every corner, and every aesthetic we wanted to incorporate. However, much like the broader, holistic strategies in traditional user experience (UX), these initial plans were often met with the realities and unpredictability of an old structure like discovering asbestos and knob and tube wiring which was another story for another time.
One day, as we eagerly tore down a wall hoping for an open-concept living space, we discovered a network of old pipes, likely dating back decades. A straightforward demolition turned into a puzzle of preserving necessary structures while still achieving our vision.
