The world is getting smaller, and I think that UX plays a small role in getting people from all over the world closer, by propagating good user-centered design patterns. I am curious about the practice of UX, and the use of Axure, as a design tool around the world. I have posted the question to the AxureWorld group on LinkedIn (see here: http://lnkd.in/52g3h8). You can read the responses from practitioners in Brazil, the Netherlands, India, Israel, the UK, and many other countries...and please add your comments as well!
As a more in-depth response, I have asked Richard Tsai, Chief Information Architect at UserXper Digital Consulting Co., to share with us the perspective on Axure's use in China and Taiwan, and this is what he has to say:
My first experience with Axure RP happened in 2006. This all started from a colleague who observed that lots of prototyping tools, which I had never heard before, were introduced by the Western UX bloggers. After downloading and using Axure RP v4.0, I immediately realized that this is exactly what I want. It is highly valuable in managing large-scale website projects.
In 2007, I left from my ex-company and setup UserXper Digital Consulting Corporation. Our major business is focusing on providing the service of information architect and website planning, including prototyping. At the same time, UseXper became the Sales & Training Partner with Axure Company and stared to promote Axure RP in the Greater China Area.
The obvious advantages of Axure RP itself and word-of-mouth advertising by users took effect better than our promote activities; therefore, many famous and top-class enterprises such as Internet company (Yahoo! Taiwan, Alibaba, Baidu,...), software companies (Trend Micro,..) , even hardware companies have used the Axure RP and taken it as the first choice of UI prototype tool.
How the users in Great China area apply the Axure RP to their job? There are three different usages from beginners to fabulous users.
First are beginners using Axure RP, nonracially identity as freelancers or small teams. They would simply use basic function such as wireframing and lo-fi prototype to concretize their ideas. These users may not employ themselves in Axure RP's complicated interactive design; however, they still make a good thing of communicating accurately to reach the requirements.
Secondly, advanced experienced design team design the ui & interaction via Axure RP which tends to mockup the system flow to verify the interface usability as soon as possible.
Last one would be fabulous team. These people would process the "Design Management plan" by using Axure RP. For instance, team members can coordinate UI design pattern through the Widget Libraries function. More important thing is to create excellent user experience by using the linked-up company standard with design guideline.
Except dot-coms, there are more and more MIS departments of traditional industries and hardware manufacturers start to using Axure RP to design the interface of Mobile App or Tablet PC UI.
Furthermore, there are some interesting and creative examples about using Axure RP. For example, a IT team in Beijing use Axure RP to control SA(System Analysis) and Specification approval. Another example is a company in Taipei generates the system operation handbook by Spec generation function. Moreover, one of my colleagues loves Axure RP so much that he uses Axure RP for making training contact to replace traditional PowerPoint.
More and more industries pay attention to User experience in Great China area. Famous UX events in Taipei such as HPX party & UiGathering used to taking Axure RP prototyping as the main lecture. There was about 700-800 persons attending the User Friendly Conference, the biggest user-experienced conference and held in SuZhou, China. One of workshops in User Friendly 2011 was Axure RP Prototyping this year.