A U-turn refers to performing a 180 degree rotation to reverse the direction of travel. Many times, a U turn means to go back. Sometimes, it can mean opportunities.I just started a new job. Today was my first day. I was, in some sense, "going home," returning to Xerox after a break of almost 13 years. I will be working in Xerox' Experience Design Group, which was formerly called Industrial Design and Human Interface (IDHI).
I know that a lot of things will have changed in 13 years (yeah!), but what hasn't is the intense focus on the experience of the user--the person pushing the buttons. I can't wait to get back to a field I discovered almost 30 years ago, when I read one of Don Norman's books (The Psychology of Everyday Design). That book convinced me to move from San Diego to Seattle to go back for a second master's degree from the University of Washington, studying with Judy Ramey, one of the pioneers in the field. That choice led me to (in a rather circuitous route) to Rochester, and the opportunity to create a group, and develop processes and practices focused on usability and the user experience.
It's been a long time, but I sure am glad to have taken a U turn.
