One of these topics, which I hope to learn a lot more about, is user interaction design. Coming from a background in theater, I always felt that my undergraduate training somehow indirectly prepared me for further study in HCI, but also thought I was likely imagining things (I do that often.)
Turns out I'm not the only one who has made the connection. In this really interesting discussion thread on IxDA, a few interaction designers chime in on the relationship between theatre and UI.
Seamus Bryne, a Senior User Experience Designer from Ireland writes:
"I find that some principles from stage direction to be very relevant and applicable to interface visual design. Concepts such as "selection" and "emphasis" and "levels" help me understand designing within space and therefore lend themselves very well to the informed placement of UI elements. After all, a screen has similar characteristics to the traditional proscenium stage."My (hobby) work as a theater director definitely has employed elements of interactive design. Where the audience is looking at, and what of the script they are processing at any given time based on focus is a key element in any directorial project I take on. Sure, I don't have to get my audience to click a button, but if they aren't mentally clicking buttons as the show progresses, I haven't done my job as a director.
One thing that drives me nuts about directing theater is that as the director, you only have so much control over the actor and design, which are your page elements leading your audience through the script. As a director, I want ultimate control. Maybe in film direction I would get that, but in theater direction that control is lacking.
In programming, you do have control, at least, to set the page elements and adjust as needed based on research, in order to guide your audience through a psychological and physical process.
The most important part of the entire puzzle is the feedback from that audience, so you can make the appropriate changes to your educated guesses of what takes your audience from your point A to point B. In theater, design needs to be holistic - you can't design one scene or interaction without thinking of the rest of the play. You also need to consider your audience (will they be fidgety children, affluent seniors, teens who'd rather be texting on their iPhones, or all of the above?), where your audience will be sitting and how that will effect the audience/user experience, your budget, your "talent" (which in the case of programming is both the power/flexibility of the chosen language and the actual talent/ability of your development team), the physical design elements, and every last variable which contributes to the experience of a performance.
A visit to an interactive website is a performance. With the thrill of discovery (the same thrill that you have as an audience member in a play or film when something is revealed or things "click"), your audience members get excited and want to delve further into the product/story.
There are plenty of differences between theater and interactive design, of course, but I am fascinated by the similarities.
I do feel like I've finally found a place where I can both excel and grow, and my current position in community management is a great spot to start out and get to know how users interact, what they expect, and what they want out of their experiences interacting with a product.
Ultimately, I may want to pursue an MBA and focus more on overall product development (which honestly seems closer to the "theater director" role, with a crossover into stage management), but learning about user experience and programming is one of the many things I must do to begin my journey to wherever it is I may end up.
