Why UX Role Important in Public Institutions
Assessing the success of applications, whether mobile or web-based, goes beyond mere revenue figures; it hinges on the intentions and expertise of the developers and the specific needs of diverse entities like technology companies, governments, NGOs, or academic researchers. Regardless of the developer’s background or purpose, one constant remains: applications are fundamentally intertwined with human experiences, both at the individual and societal levels.
A thought-provoking article by Fajri Siregar critiques the Indonesian government’s approach to applications. Siregar highlights a tendency among public institutions to view applications as solutions without thoroughly understanding the underlying issues. This oversight often leads to applications failing to fulfil their intended purpose of aiding organizations or society. This scenario echoes my experience with the ICT4D project in Indonesia, particularly the Rumah Belajar online tutoring platform initiated by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Despite its noble goal of facilitating distance learning without any cost to students, Rumah Belajar struggles with popularity. One significant obstacle identified, echoed by Kompasiana Nurhayati Nurjat, is the platform’s confusing layout and disorganized content — a challenge that UX (User Experience) designers are adept at resolving. Unfortunately, government agencies often lack awareness of UX principles, a common trait among bureaucratic institutions slow to adopt technological innovations.
UX, synonymous with user experience, involves a comprehensive process undertaken by design professionals, including designers, engineers, and researchers. While UX and HCI (Human-Computer Interaction) share common ground, their academic research objectives and scopes can markedly differ. In practice, UX focuses on creating products that offer meaningful and relevant user experiences, encompassing aspects like branding, design, usability, and functionality.
In Indonesia, UX professionals often wear multiple hats, including User Interface (UI) design responsibilities. This trend reflects the evolution of the industry, where companies now recognize the pivotal role of UX in enhancing product usability and user engagement. For government technology products to thrive in the digital age, a shift in perspective is imperative: understanding that an application’s success hinges on its alignment with user needs and goals.
In our increasingly internet-dominated digital era, UX holds unparalleled importance in application development. Developers and stakeholders in the public sector must recognize that the user and the application’s purpose are intrinsically linked. Embracing UX principles is not just a trend but a necessity, ensuring government technology products fulfil their maximum potential by seamlessly adapting to users and their objectives.
