Koen van Niekerk
Koen van Niekerk
Koen van Niekerk
Tools & Process
The right tool for the job
The right tool for the job
With experience you learn what works and what does not. You learn that every project requires its own toolbox, meaning you only pick the ones you need to get the job done. No more. Because in the end it is about the results and process can never be a substitute for creative confidence.
With experience you learn what works and what does not. You learn that every project requires its own toolbox, meaning you only pick the ones you need to get the job done. No more. Because in the end it is about the results and process can never be a substitute for creative confidence.
Testing remote legibility of screens fro GVB
Testing the concept in a riding bus for GVB
Research in a lab environment for Thermo Fisher
in-depth patient interviews for Sapiens / Medtronic
Operating room observations for Sapiens / Medtronic
1:1 mockup exploratory user test for HP 3D Printing
Testing remote legibility of screens fro GVB
Testing the concept in a riding bus for GVB
Research in a lab environment for Thermo Fisher
in-depth patient interviews for Sapiens / Medtronic
Operating room observations for Sapiens / Medtronic
1:1 mockup exploratory user test for HP 3D Printing
Testing remote legibility of screens fro GVB
Testing the concept in a riding bus for GVB
Research in a lab environment for Thermo Fisher
in-depth patient interviews for Sapiens / Medtronic
Operating room observations for Sapiens / Medtronic
1:1 mockup exploratory user test for HP 3D Printing
Testing remote legibility of screens fro GVB
Testing the concept in a riding bus for GVB
Research in a lab environment for Thermo Fisher
in-depth patient interviews for Sapiens / Medtronic
Operating room observations for Sapiens / Medtronic
1:1 mockup exploratory user test for HP 3D Printing
Testing remote legibility of screens fro GVB
Testing the concept in a riding bus for GVB
Research in a lab environment for Thermo Fisher
in-depth patient interviews for Sapiens / Medtronic
Operating room observations for Sapiens / Medtronic
1:1 mockup exploratory user test for HP 3D Printing
Testing remote legibility of screens fro GVB
Testing the concept in a riding bus for GVB
Research in a lab environment for Thermo Fisher
in-depth patient interviews for Sapiens / Medtronic
Operating room observations for Sapiens / Medtronic
1:1 mockup exploratory user test for HP 3D Printing
Testing remote legibility of screens fro GVB
Testing the concept in a riding bus for GVB
Research in a lab environment for Thermo Fisher
in-depth patient interviews for Sapiens / Medtronic
Operating room observations for Sapiens / Medtronic
1:1 mockup exploratory user test for HP 3D Printing
Testing remote legibility of screens fro GVB
Testing the concept in a riding bus for GVB
Research in a lab environment for Thermo Fisher
in-depth patient interviews for Sapiens / Medtronic
Operating room observations for Sapiens / Medtronic
1:1 mockup exploratory user test for HP 3D Printing
Research & user testing
Research & user testing
Experiencing the design challenge first-hand in the actual context should be the start of every project. No amount of theorizing or mapping excercises can replace this.
Regarding user testing: Choose wisely on what to validate, at what project stage, with which fidelity level and for what audience. And spend the time where it matters most: small-scale repetitive testing in the early stages of a project.
Experiencing the design challenge first-hand in the actual context should be the start of every project. No amount of theorizing or mapping excercises can replace this.
Regarding user testing: Choose wisely on what to validate, at what project stage, with which fidelity level and for what audience. And spend the time where it matters most: small-scale repetitive testing in the early stages of a project.
Whiteboarding
Whiteboarding
The ability to grab the moment an quickly visualize key insights, scenarios or ideas during a heated debate is very powerful. It can allow a team to get together and commit on what to build next.
The ability to grab the moment an quickly visualize key insights, scenarios or ideas during a heated debate is very powerful. It can allow a team to get together and commit on what to build next.
Wireframing
Wireframing
Wirefaming comes in many shapes, but the essence is always the same: iterating as fast as possible. This also asks for a fidelity level that matches the phase the project is in, varying from pen and paper at the beginning to digital techniques when you have to hash out the fine interaction details
Wirefaming comes in many shapes, but the essence is always the same: iterating as fast as possible. This also asks for a fidelity level that matches the phase the project is in, varying from pen and paper at the beginning to digital techniques when you have to hash out the fine interaction details
Prototyping
Prototyping
Interactive prototyping has been a key skill for me for over 10 years. During that time my tools changed, from Axure to Proto.io and via Pixate to Form before finally settling on my current tools, Protopie for high-fidelity and Figma for low-to-medium fidelity. I use it to communicate with myself, the team and the client
Interactive prototyping has been a key skill for me for over 10 years. During that time my tools changed, from Axure to Proto.io and via Pixate to Form before finally settling on my current tools, Protopie for high-fidelity and Figma for low-to-medium fidelity. I use it to communicate with myself, the team and the client
Systemizing
Systemizing
Atoms, Tokens, Spacing systems, Aliases…
I have witnessed the level of "systemization" of UI Design increase over the years, culminating in the modern, scalable design systems of today. These are powerful starting points that allow teams to execute at scale, but also to focus on making the difference in areas where it matters most, while not reinventing the wheel where it is not needed.
Atoms, Tokens, Spacing systems, Aliases…
I have witnessed the level of "systemization" of UI Design increase over the years, culminating in the modern, scalable design systems of today. These are powerful starting points that allow teams to execute at scale, but also to focus on making the difference in areas where it matters most, while not reinventing the wheel where it is not needed.