For last couple of days I was asking on Twitter that how should I get started in Information Architect, Interaction Design & User Experience arena, it all about the “Art & Science of Human Behavior”, whether it is related to creating a website or designing an iPod or a door knob. It is nothing more than understand the Human behavior toward any product usage and usability. I think I was not so lucky to get some response.

During my commute from Fremont, CA to San Francisco, CA in BART, I usually read books either on my iPhone or a classic way … the paper-backs.

These days I am completing one of my favorite book Web Form Design: Filling in the Blanks by Luke Wroblewski, while reading about some topic, I came to know about Jack Moffett, at that momet, I try my luck and ask him the same question

“How a person can get basic training in to the Interaction Design field of study? Is he should get some online courses or join the University? Or books are the best bet plus a Mentor who time to time give a beginner done advice?”

I think it was my luck day, got his reply right away… Here is what he said and I asked his permission to share with you guys so anyone like me who is seriously thinking to get in to the Interaction Design, Information Architect or User Experience arena can benefit from it:

“You would find that different designers will have different answers to your question. Personally, I feel that the best way to do it is to attend a University. An on-line course won’t give you same benefits that a studio experience will. You learn as much from your fellow students as you do from your professors when you work beside them every day.

That said, there are the financial aspects. Attending a university is expensive, time-consuming, and location-specific. Some people will choose on-line courses for these reasons. You may still get a quality education in this way, but I don’t believe it will be as rich.

Working with a mentor is an excellent way to learn. Some would argue that this is more beneficial than formal education. Mileage will vary depending on your mentor, of course.

You can learn a lot from books, and there are some good ones out there on the subject, but they cannot replace learning by doing with a mentor or professor, either one.

I would also recommend reading the IxDA forums. Many of the best interaction designers in the industry actively participate in the discussions there. You can search the archives for discussions about the very things you are asking me. http://www.ixda.org/index.php”

See, it was that easy! University is the best place to learn the subject, and get along with the Mentor, in any given field we do need a mentor, who help us to start with rolling, crawling to baby-step till we start running and exploring the hidden gems.  Second best place is the online-courses, yes there are some draw-backs but if you have mentor at work, would be sufficent.

Thanks to Jack Moffett for his insightful tip. Oh by the way if you are in San Francisco Bay Area, I would be very interested to meet you and the best place as Jack mentioned is a local chapterd of IxDA, email address is follow: sf-local@ixda.org.

Alright folks, next week, I will present you with my findings about a new software that I am evaluating for Wireframe Diagram…Balsamiq Mockups

Till then enjoy the links I usually share on my blog time to time.

Until next time,

Happy Byting!