March 2007
Installing Software? Nah, I have a Browser
Let me tell you about my day which, for most of you, will sound very familiar (the actions if not the details). When I came home, I was glad to see that not only had my Netflix DVD arrived, my...
User Research: Been There, Done That? Maybe Not. . .
Research is an integral component of Pathfinder’s UXD methodology, and we strive to incorporate research strategies throughout the design process and beyond, into post-development usability assessments. However, some clients are confused by—or worse,
Antisocial Networking?
The opportunity and options for online user interaction span a continuum from the tightly controlled, such as moderated message boards, to the organic, dynamic and unconstrained: think of sites that are almost completely comprised of user-generated conten
My Space: Visitor Beware
As of last year, there are over 100 million registered MySpace users. Much of the success MySpace enjoys is owed to the ability it gives people to customize their “spaces”. The only thing forbidden to manipulate are the revenue generating...
What are Task Flows?
Task flows are a tool to help us think through the design before a feature is actually developed. They allow us to interject the user into the flow of the application and determine if the conceptual model agrees with the...
Finding Inspiration to Design
Finding inspiration is one of the most difficult aspects of the Design process. It’s always a prerequisite, and always elusive. You never know when or how you’ll get it, or how much of it you’ll get on any particular project....
Book Review: Beginning Javascript with DOM Scripting and Ajax
Despite its title, Beginning Javascript with DOM Scripting and Ajax is not for those just starting out in web development. What it is, is a great resource for those that already have some experience coding dynamic web sites.The book explores...
OTTOMH: Some musings on technology and communication
Since the fifteenth century, when Gutenberg’s press enabled the production and distribution of printed materials to the masses, technology has influenced not only our means of communication, but often, the very medium itself: language. This year marks t
What exactly is Visual Design?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in Six plus years as an Interface Designer is that Visual Design can mean many different things. There’s ample opportunity for misunderstanding between client and designer at this phase of a project....
February 2007
When content overwhelms community
In his Alertbox article, Participation Inequality, Jakob Nielsen asserts that In most online communities, 90% of users are lurkers who never contribute, 9% of users contribute a little, and 1% of users account for almost all the action. And that's...
Ambient Signifiers
I recently came across Ross Howard’s essay on ambient signifiers, subtle design elements that give the user context. They work at a more subconscious level than overt signifiers; yet, even without a conscious effort from the user, their constant presenc
Book Review: The Human Factor
Studying how people interact with technology should play an important role in the software design process. A program that is built without an understanding of how it’s users interact with the device it runs on is likely doomed to fail....
Documentation, Part 1 - the Setup
We’ve all created some sort of documentation in order to have a concrete representation of our thoughts and ideas. A physical piece of paper we can use to communicate designs and solutions in order to integrate them into the conversation...
Documentation, Part 2 – The Writing
You’ve established the purpose of your document, understand the audience and identified the information needed (if not, see previous post). This means it’s now time to put pen to paper (or mouse to screen) and begin writing. Tell a Story...
Windows Vista GUI review
After much ballyhoo, Windows Vista is finally here. Microsoft’s newest operating system was released in the U.S. this past Tuesday, after years of delay, a name change, and a drastically scaled back vision. On its website, the software giant is...
Ajax and Design
Some random thoughts on Ajax and design. Don’t design your page around Ajax. Armed with the same user-centric methodology you’re (hopefully) using today, you’ll first design the page and then see where Ajax can be added to enhance the interaction...
Pro CSS Techniques: Book Review
In Pro CSS Techniques, Jeff Croft, Ian Lloyd and Dan Rubin decided to take a real-world approach to CSS and write a collection of techniques that can be incorporated into actual projects. They discuss CSS maintainability, browser compatibility, using CSS'
Web Accessibility is Good Business
Over the last few years, more and more basic services have been moving to the Web (banking, paying bills, canceling utilities, etc.) Whether the move is initiated as a cost-saving device or as a way to make the services more...
Design Fiction as Fact
Influenced no doubt by his experience as a conceptual design leader at IDEO, branko Lucik has created the “non object idea/philosophy/point of view/[and soon-to-be published] book” in what is touted as “the new genre of Design Fiction.” Lucik asks
January 2007
UXD - User eXperience Design: What's on my Bookshelf
(via)Desert island time for user experience design. Two must-have books.
November 2006
Que Multimedia?
The soul in what we do is the interaction; multimedia is occaisionally part of the vessel.
October 2006
Web-o-lutions
(via)Brochure sites are beyond dead. This is not an easy admission, as I have a couple languishing out in the electronic ether. The currency of websites now is their very currency. When does it get refreshed, what value can be packed up and taken away, or better yet consumed now? Immediacy is so important that aesthetics are largely irrelevant.
Complex Design: First Make It Effective, Then Wow ‘Em
(via)In creating any kind of complex product, workflow or design it is often difficult to do everything at once, or even in a first version. This can lead to tremendous efforts failing to generate expected business value. How can this be avoided?
September 2006
Flow in Applications
Much of the work on flow in HCI has been concentrated on the web experience. As a matter of fact, Csikszentmihalyi's concepts are even more relevant to the design of applications.
Reconciling the Powers of Less and More in Product Design
Feature creep and user experience design.
