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Experience Architecture

Experience Architecture is the “art of articulating a clear user story or journey through an information architecture, interaction design, and experience design such that an end user navigates across products and services offered by the client or as intended by the designer.”

First of all, what I like about this concept: Whether it be with architecture, branding, or any artistic medium, I appreciate that storytelling is the key. Storytelling is an art in and of itself, one which is often the universal and relatable aspect behind everything else.

As a professional writer who leans into the literary and creative side of writing often, I have a deep appreciation for this crossover. And while, for the most part, I personally do not fit what it means to be an experience architecture or attendee experience (AX) professional, I have in a sense already worked on growing my experience in this realm. For example, as professional writer, I have a general understanding of design. So I think my general knowledge can help propel me further in the field of experience architecture.

I found that the readings, such as "How To Get From Space to Place," helped highlight and demonstrate one piece of the puzzle when it comes to design thinking and accessibility. It especially helps highlight the importance of it all, especially in Brady’s “User Centered Approach” piece. This conscientious way of thinking is integral to the mindset of a professional writer. It has been present throughout all of my previous classes and I feel familiarized with the general concepts of Architectural Design by proxy.

Keeping all of this in mind—accessibility, usability, experience and overall story—and applying it to spaces is ultimately what it means to be an experience architect. I imagine my classmates and I are likely closer to that than we think we are.

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