What architecture and digital product design have in common

Translated from the original Spanish article.

My theory is that we digital product designers are the architects of the digital environment. I'm not trying to trespass on anyone's turf; I just see a lot of common ground.

Both disciplines create spaces for use and consumption that offer experiences to their users. Both follow a similar process: you have to explore the project in depth first, understanding users' needs, the product's goals, the context of use, the location, the client's aspirations and needs, and so on.

There's also a visual exploration phase: you look for references and inspiration and define a creative or design direction.

At the design stage, it's crucial to consider how users will interact with the product and how it will look and feel to use. Some projects are more experiential, others more functional.

In every case, the project is scoped to fit the budget and the time available. And in both disciplines, as you'd expect, the dilemma between design and art remains unresolved.

That said, there are some fundamental differences.

It's captivating how architects can play with dimensions, light, materials and forms to design spaces. I envy the possibilities that designing physical environments gives them.

In digital products, however, interaction is more direct and the conversation between product and user is closer. And here's the big one: the product can be shaped and adapted to the way users actually end up using it.

If an architectural project gets wrong how it will be used, there's no going back. But we UX/UI designers do get that chance: to evolve what we've created and accompany it throughout its life as a living, organic piece of work that grows with its environment and adapts to it.

How wonderful is that.

In any case, architecture has at least 5,000 years of history behind it, so I suspect we have a lot to learn from it. And there's nothing more exciting than drawing on other fields, so I asked my architect friends, and this is the reading list they suggested to get started (not all of it is strictly about architecture).

In Praise of Shadows - Jun'ichirō Tanizaki

Dios lo ve (in Spanish) - Óscar Tusquets

Ways of Seeing - John Berger

The Eyes of the Skin - Juhani Pallasmaa

Elogio de la luz ("In Praise of Light", Spanish TV documentary series) - RTVE (directed by Juan Manuel Martín de Blas)

I'm sharing it with you, for anyone who shares this curiosity. I still haven't decided where to start… I'll let you know.