Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Oct 2021

Investigating the Impact of Design Thinking, Content Strategy, and Artificial Intelligence: A “Streams” Approach for Technical Communication and User Experience

Gustav Verhulsdonck Central Michigan University ; Tharon Howard Clemson University ; Jason Tham Texas Tech University

Abstract

Technical and professional communication (TPC) and user experience (UX) design are often seen as intertwined due to being user-centered. Yet, as widening industry positions combine TPC and UX, new streams enrich our understanding. This article looks at three such streams, namely, design thinking, content strategy, and artificial intelligence to uncover specific industry practices, skills, and ways to advocate for users. These streams foster a multistage user-centered methodology focused on a continuous designing process, strategic ways for developing content across different platforms and channels, and for developing in smart contexts where agentive products act for users. In this article, we synthesize these developments and draw out how these impact TPC.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2021-10-01
DOI
10.1177/00472816211041951
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Open Access
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Topics
technical communication professional writing artificial intelligence
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