Why User Interface Design, Information Architecture, and SIMS?

Answer:
...because I do not believe that sexy things that are not functional, nor functional things that are not sexy are worth making.

Explanation:
User Interface Design is the practice of designing interactive devices based on humans' perceptions. It takes into consideration how the human and the machine interact (HCI) and how to specifically cater to the users' needs, in order to allow for optimal performance. A designer of such optimal interfaces must understand how users think, as well as how to catch and hold users' attention. Therefore, an interface designer must understand both principles of psychology and visual design.

However, information systems do not only comprise what you see. There is an underlying structure on which the system is built. It is in this realm that Information Architects strive to design the functional flow of information according to users' mindsets. To ensure that this structure is seamlessly carried throughout the implementation of the entire system's structure, they must also possess a well-founded technical adeptness.

In this way function and appeal are equally weighted. Simply put, information architecture is making the system function and user interface design is making it sexy. Without proper functionality users have difficulty completing their tasks and without appeal they lack motivation to even try.

SIMS offers me a unique place to combine my interests and professional experience in visual design and programming with my scholastic background in psychology. They offer an array of cross-disaplinary curriculum which highlights such a combination of study as the essential crux in the creation of effective information professionals. It is only through the combination of these three areas that optimal user experience will be created. And without this essential combination, things that function well may not be sexy and sexy things are just plain frustrating.

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