Field Notes Inside an Integrated Communications Agency

When people asked me what a “user experience” designer does, I usually gave them the following answer: “I try to make software easier to use.” Simple and approachable, and without the arm-waving, chest-puffing that we UXDs sometimes use to justify what we do.

After reevaluating that canned response, I realize I was wrong.

As a UX designer, what I’m really after is trying to make software more pleasurable, which is not the same as easier. Pleasure is larger than that, and includes wonder, exploration and serendipity. Sometimes, easier isn’t always better.

Case in point, I like espresso. Scratch that–I have a real problem with it, in the way that addictions can creep into and start to change a person’s life. I’ve invested in $200+ coffee grinders. I go out of my way to buy beans in small batches from people who roast it that day. I adapt my grind for humidity and time my doppios to hit the 25-27 second mark. I’ve measured my tamp pressure to 30lbs using a bathroom scale. I’ll probably start roasting at home unless someone stops this sordid affair.

For god’s sake, I’ve watched YouTube videos showing shots pulled through naked, bottomless portafilters.

Making espresso is not for the impatient or half-hearted. If you want to make it yourself, you’ve got to fully commit. No espresso-head, I argue, would consider pulling a good shot an easy task. All the elements have to be in place. Anything awry–old beans, bad water, weak tamping, too fine or too coarse grind–can lead to swill. I know because I’ve choked it down, and still do so frequently.

But I’m learning.

I love the process simply because it is not easy. Actually, it’s the opposite. It’s a wonderful challenge, with a delicious reward. The learning curve is part of the fun, in a way that mastery of an art should be. If easy was what I was after, I’d head down to the local indie coffeehouse and plunk down my 2 bucks.* Further, if I was conducting a usability test on the process, I’d have to conclude that it completely fails. But that disregards the other intangibles, such as the thrill of mastery.

So, to say that “user experience” is always about making things easier isn’t the whole story. User efficiency is definitely a factor, but not singularly so. Delight and engagement–often the byproducts of ease of use–are higher objectives to work toward. It all depends upon the context; ease of use is simply one factor to consider.

* This is hypothetical. I haven’t found a place nearby that does a decent job of espresso. I won’t name names, but let’s just say that I’m underwhelmed with what I’ve received at the ITB Raleigh coffeehouses.

What do you do with 1500 pounds of spent coffee? We do something a little unheard of in Class A office space, we reuse it. Eeeewww! Not what you think! We only brew our creative jet fuel once. However, every week 30 pounds of used coffee grounds are reincarnated in compost. Those rich Columbian relics of countless brainstorms, late nights and waaaaaaaay too early mornings have a lot of energy in them. Specifically, soggy nitrogen which cooks with dead leaves, grass clippings and other stinky kitchen scraps.

Shortage of landfill space makes compost recycling an easy process for converting decomposable waste into rich, clean, natural fertilizer. Modern composting originates from early 20th century European organic farming. With the 1999 issue of the Landfill Directive to “prevent or reduce as far as possible the landfilling of waste", the EU elevates that whole reduce, reuse, recycle thing even further.

Shouldn’t we learn from them?

The Coats household is trying. We started composting 2 years ago but not being a lover of the dark beverage, we needed coffee grounds to balance the dead carbon stuff. I see a colleague tossing used coffee grounds in the trash. Shazam! Right under my nose, the triple bottom line.

We can save valuable landfill space, create an endless supply of free fertilizer and invest in fair trade products with the savings. I encourage you to set up a coffee collection in your office. Besides being good for our environment, it promotes discussion. No, compost doesn’t smell when finished. It’s magic. Mama Nature handles it. No, it doesn’t take long to decompose. Usually about 1 month. Yes, it does look intriguing, though. It looks like fertile teamwork and forward thinking.