Israeli Start-Ups Get an Edge With UI/UX Expertise

Last night, at The Hub, Barak Danin (http://uniqui.co.il/ ), a UI/UX expert gave an introduction talk to a sold out crowd. Sometimes we forget how enthusiasm does not completely make up for experience. Israel has a desperate shortage of specialized skills expert. With a strong technology start-up field, UI/UX is a crucial specialty needed to produce successful product the first time out. Yet, as with many key specialties, not many technology entrepreneurs are familiar with UI/UX in product design. The good new comes from seeing Barak Danin spreads his message with ease which only comes with 17 years of experience.  

Success in new product development depends on many key factors. One is the ease-of-use or simplicity and intuitive design of a product. In the technology world, design for the common user is not always the a priority. The race to make use of new technologies, to create new applications, and to get to market first seems more important. The problem with Israelis comes when the race seems close to the finish line, but in reality it's just getting started. Experienced domain experts know that cutting corners and getting out first is not always the only key component to satisfying the typical user. What Israeli domain experts just started with, is introduction to the greater technology public of their specific capability. This is what Barak Danin was doing last night. Like any domain expert, Danin tended to cover a wide range of ideas. He also covered many specific topics with more depth than was necessary. Yet the packed room did not complain. A few tired and bored listeners left early, yet most stayed the two plus hours, a little past nine.

My overall impression is a bit mixed. While Israeli technology development is small and in comparison immature, development is steady. As the world of technology products becomes more sophisticated and complex, so do developers need to keep up. The Israeli entrepreneurs will eventually figure out how to compete and how to get products out successfully the first time. This will help the overall market. Eventually, developers may specialize in more narrow fields, such as internet applications or mobile applications. This strategy is a bit risky, since specializations inevitably ends up crashing as sharp changes catches even the most nimble unprepared. But that's the nature of keeping at the edge of innovation. Which is what Israelis love to do (and risk), almost at a daily basis. Stay tuned, this topic is interesting and there are certainly more things to write about...

To be continued ...