intive is us. We come from different backgrounds, specialize in multiple fields and use various tools and languages. In this series of short interviews we introduce intive’s professionals by revealing how they work, what they do in their free time, and what drives them in life.
Name: Claudia Cabrera
Location: Buenos Aires
Role: User Experience Designer
Expert at: Finding answers to questions
Favorite app: Spotify
Currently watching: It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (Korean drama)
Currently reading: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
What are your top 3 favorite examples of amazing UX design?
I really like the user experience of the MercadoPago app (a digital wallet). Secondly, I would go for Spotify, which has a lyrics feature that I love. And in third place, I adore my Samsung tv remote control which comes with buttons for Netflix and Prime Video. The entire experience of using that remote is amazing! It has only the buttons you need, and its small size and modern look are great.
How can UX be socially cautious?
In my opinion, designers should be more aware of the impact they can have on people's lives through the products they create. Not all projects are ‘innocent’ applications to listen to music or read the news, sometimes we contribute to things like a registration website for government subsidies or a Covid vaccine. In such cases we can make the difference between building a bridge between people and resources or building a barrier.
But even innocent apps can be harmful when designed carelessly. For example, setting an account or profile to ‘Public’ by default can compromise kids’ privacy. Or think about designing a very stylish banking app interface but with poor contrast that can affect the visually impaired and the elderly, and induce them to make errors while using it. I firmly believe that social responsibility extends to all of us who work in technology, not just UX designers. Obviously, we can't win every battle, it's not always up to us, but we can decide whether we want to raise our voices or remain silent.
What do you think will be the next big thing in UX design?
The next big thing is already here and it’s designing experiences for everything related to AR, VR and AI.
Truth be told, when we talk about UX trends we think more about the visual or user interface (UI), which is only one part of the experience a person has with a product or application. But in a more holistic way, it could be said that inclusive design is one of the big trends in UX in 2021. The topics of gender and diversity also started to take hold in the conversations between designers around the world. We’re also discussing more and more how our designs contribute to the inclusion or exclusion of certain sectors of the population.
Some of the most interesting debates include the field of AI applied to facial recognition, the creation of financial rating systems, personnel selection etc., with numerous studies showing how biases themselves are carried into the algorithms and products we create, feeding vicious circles of prejudice and exclusion.
What’s your spirit animal and why?
As a child I was heavily drawn to horses. Every time I saw one, I felt an immense joy and fascination that was impossible for me to explain. But now that I'm older, I would say it’s a cat. They are affectionate without being needy, very smart and with a certain detachment that seems almost Buddhist.
Who would play you in a movie?
I love Zendaya but she is too cool and too tall, so I would say Mia Maestro, one of the few Argentine actresses who made it in Hollywood.