September 2006

A Discussion with Danah Boyd

"(...) Boyd is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California, Berkeley's School of Information, explores how young people negotiate the presentation of self in online mediated contexts. Her research focuses on how this young audience engages with 'digital publics' - connected social spaces such as MySpace, LiveJournal, Xanga and YouTube." (Ibiblio's Speaker Series) - courtesy of boingboing

Posted by PJB on September 28, 2006 | Classification: Information design | Permalink

PICNIC '06 Cross Media Week Weblog

"The Cross Media Week Foundation is mandated to bring top creative professionals from around the world together in Amsterdam to create new partnerships and opportunities, as well as to establish international networks. The Foundation supports the City of Amsterdam's TopStad programme which aims to establish Amsterdam as one of Europe’s most creative cities. PICNIC '06 Cross Media Week is the Foundation's first major initiative." (PICNIC '06)

Posted by PJB on September 27, 2006 | Classification: Weblogs | Permalink

Roadmap for Accessible Rich Internet Applications

"The Roadmap for Accessible Rich Internet Applications addresses the accessibility of dynamic Web content for people with disabilities. The roadmap outlines the technologies to map controls, AJAX live regions, and events to accessibility APIs, including custom controls used for Rich Internet Applications. The roadmap also outlines new navigation techniques to mark common Web structures as menus, primary content, secondary content, banner information and other types of Web structures. These new technologies can be used to improve the accessibility and usability of Web resources by people with disabilities, without extensive modification to existing libraries of Web resources." (W3C WAI-ARIA)

Posted by PJB on September 26, 2006 | Classification: Accessibility | Permalink

Strategy06: A UX Professional's Experience of the Conference

"Strategy06, the second annual IIT (Illinois Institute of Technology) Institute of Design Strategy Conference, took place at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago (MCA), Illinois, on May 17 and 18, 2006. The organizers characterized this conference as 'an international executive forum addressing how businesses can use design to explore emerging opportunities, solve complex problems, and achieve lasting strategic advantage'." (Pabini Gabriel-Petit - UXmatters)

Posted by PJB on September 26, 2006 | Classification: User experience | Permalink

Applied Empathy: A Design Framework for Meeting Human Needs and Desires

"The design community keeps making a lot of noise about designing for people/users/customers. However, while this notion is well-intentioned and even conceptually correct, I find much of it boils down to empty rhetoric. What exactly are we doing? More user research? More usability testing? Certainly these are valid approaches to finding out about people’s needs, but they’re only a small part of an optimal solution. Are we using hollow tasks and tools like personas and scenarios? Those approaches typically take design farther away from the people for whom we are designing products rather than closer. How about focusing on usability and the user experience? That gets at only part of the issue and tends to come from the perspective of the product—as opposed to the more universal needs and desires of actual people" (Dirk Knemeyer - UXmatters)

Posted by PJB on September 26, 2006 | Classification: UCD | Permalink

Masters of Design: Is design a craft, a tool, or an obsession?

"These days, it's a bit of all three. But it's also starting to look a lot like a business fad: Declare you're a design-centric organization and - voila! - you're the next Apple. We know it isn't that simple. So here's our annual roundup of the creative businesspeople dialing in to the power of design. The final cut: the CEO who rescued Puma, the architect who imagined Google 's stunning new offices, the graphic artist behind some of America's best-known brands, and the product designer who predicts our appetites - and satisfies them. You'll also meet five talents on the fast track to bigger things, hear sage advice on what design can (and can't) do for your bottom line, and get an eyeful of some amazing examples of the craft. Tool. Obsession. You get the idea." (Fast Company) - courtesy of puttingpeoplefirst

Posted by PJB on September 25, 2006 | Classification: User experience | Permalink

6 Ways to Fix a Confused Information Architecture

"When your website's users consistently go to the wrong sections, you have many options for getting users back on track, from better labels to clearer structure." (Jakob Nielsen - Alertbox)

Posted by PJB on September 25, 2006 | Classification: Information architecture | Permalink

Understanding Your Content

"What are content audits and content maps, and why should they matter to companies who publish information on the Web? Chiara Fox, a senior information architect for Adaptive Path, defines the art of Content Analysis in the scope of web application design and migration. She identifies several milestones and key deliverables that most companies can use on their next (re)design project." (IT Conversations)

Posted by PJB on September 24, 2006 | Classification: Podcasts | Permalink

Hospital care desperately needs design

"If I ran my business like this hospital conducted business, I would be out of business!" (Dirk Knemeyer)

Posted by PJB on September 24, 2006 | Classification: Information design | Permalink

Understanding Folksonomy: Tagging that Works

"(...) presentation from d.construct. I have been presenting the content in this for nearly 2 years and have been iterating it. I have been wanting to get the Folksonomy Triad out in public as it has been getting really strong response in the 18 months that I have been using it." (Thomas Vander Wal)

Posted by PJB on September 24, 2006 | Classification: Metadata | Permalink

engageID with Mark Vanderbeeken

"Experience design is based on the idea of giving people a role in the design of the products and services that matter to them. Both in the US and in Europe, it is believed that this approach will lead to better products and services and therefore to better economic returns. However, in Europe there is perhaps a more explicit social or ethical drive: by giving people this co-creative role we can establish to a more socially inclusive society. A lot of innovation in Europe comes from public institutions, from the European Commission on down. (...) Design and participatory co-creation for social renewal is a complex challenge, but one that fits very well with the European way of doing things." (Enric Gili Fort - engageID) - great interview Mark!

Posted by PJB on September 22, 2006 | Classification: User experience | Permalink

Design And Innovation Are Sizzling: Companies Are Hiring Like Crazy

"After pushing on the door of the business community for years, the doors are being flung open and business is embracing design. Now design has to deliver." (Bruce Nussbaum - NussbaumOnDesign)

Posted by PJB on September 22, 2006 | Classification: Information design | Permalink

Polar Bear Book (3rd ed.): Survey results

"Peter Morville and Louis Rosenfeld are working on a third edition of Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, the 'polar bear book'. In order to make sure they include the best ideas and examples, they are conducting a series of community surveys. Five surveys have been completed. Many thanks to those of you who took the time to share your thoughts and insights." (Information Architecture Institute)

Posted by PJB on September 21, 2006 | Classification: Information architecture | Permalink

Intro to UXD

"On Saturday the 16th I gave a presentation, 'Introduction to User Experience Design' to the Society for Technical Communication at Ktech in Albuquerque." (Chris Rivard - Clearwired)

Posted by PJB on September 21, 2006 | Classification: User experience | Permalink

Real Wireframes Get Real Results

"Wireframes are in fact the first design iteration, and this overlap of visual design can be uncomfortable for teams. However, denial is not the way to fix this issue. Good collaborative relationships should make this overlap an opportunity to reduce work, not fight over ownership. Concern that wireframe might be mistaken for a visual design, or worse, be criticized for lacking design, may be holding the entire project back. It is much easier to communicate within the project team than the outside audience. Consider ways to make the transition as smooth as possible, for example having the wireframe be designed to import into the designer tool without retyping all the text." (Stephen Turbek - Boxes and Arrows)

Posted by PJB on September 20, 2006 | Classification: Wireframes | Permalink

Multilingual website: A different approach

"Before you can launch a successful multilingual website, certain issues need to be addressed, including how the webserver chooses what language to present to the specific end user and how to handle pages that need be launched but have not yet been (fully) translated. In the year 1517 Martin Luther needed no less than ninety five statements to cause a reformation. I will do my best to address all of the issues mentioned before in the next eight statements." (Cornelis Kolbach - cornae.org)

Posted by PJB on September 19, 2006 | Classification: Information design | Permalink

Blogs and Community: Launching a new paradigm for online community?

"Online community has been an important part of the Internet, mainly forming around email lists, bulletin boards and forums. In recent years, the ascendancy of blogs has introduced a new platform for communities. This article looks at some of the emerging patterns of blog based communities and raises some questions for their strategic application." (Nancy White - The Knowledge Tree) - courtesy of mathemagenic

Posted by PJB on September 18, 2006 | Classification: Weblogs | Permalink

Classifying Web Search Results

"Search is a subject that I've always been interested in. Especially internal or enterprise search, within a site. Not web search like Google or Yahoo!. Sure there's lots of search engine optimization (SEO) or marketing (SEM) tricks you can do to improve your ranking in the web search engines. But that's never really held any fascination for me." (Chiara Fox - Adaptive Path)

Posted by PJB on September 18, 2006 | Classification: Search | Permalink

On the Meta-Usability of User Interface Standards

"Interface standards provide context-specific guidance for implementing a system based on the task goals and functions within it. A solid standard provides guidance at two levels. At the level of look and feel, it ensures consistency throughout the application or site. To be meaningful in usability terms, the standard also must provide guidance to support a consistent experience at the functional level." (Kath Straub - uiGarden.net)

Posted by PJB on September 17, 2006 | Classification: Usability | Permalink

Information Architecture Podcast Show Notes

"Today we pull from various podcasts to discuss the effectiveness of plain language to improve usability; including conversations with one of the founders of Information Architecture, Peter Morville and Vice President of products and usability at Google, Marissa Mayer." (Jeff Parks)

Posted by PJB on September 17, 2006 | Classification: Podcasts | Permalink

Card Sorting with Donna Maurer

"(...) on the topic of card sorting. I think she has a very nice and practical approach to card sorting." (Gerry Gaffney - UXpod)

Posted by PJB on September 17, 2006 | Classification: Podcasts | Permalink

Hear From 2005 Event Leaders

"Hear from World Usability Day 2005 event leaders the impact their programs had on their community and what's on tap for 2006! Everyone was asked to introduce themselves, tell us about their World Usability Day event in 2005, the impact it had on their community and what their plans are for 2006." (UPA World Usability Day - Nov. 14, 2006) - courtesy of keithinstone

Posted by PJB on September 17, 2006 | Classification: Usability | Permalink

Current Trends in Web Design

"(...) this article covers most of the current design trends which I recognize as high-quality ones." (Pavel Senko - ontoinfo)

Posted by PJB on September 15, 2006 | Classification: Visual design | Permalink

Beginner's guide from a seasoned CSS designer

"(...) here are six of those principles, as I feel the advice is still timely for those of you just starting in design/CSS." (Cameron Moll - Authentic Boredom)

Posted by PJB on September 14, 2006 | Classification: Visual design | Permalink

Communicating Design: Developing Web Site Documentation for Design and Planning

"Communicating Design is for everyone who creates, uses, or approves documentation during the web design process. Covering 10 of the most common types of documents, the book walks readers through creating and presenting each deliverable. It describes the document's essential contents, tips for preparing the document, strategies for managing risk, how to structure presentation meetings, and lots of other practical advice." (Dan Brown) - courtesy of petermorville

Posted by PJB on September 12, 2006 | Classification: UCD | Permalink

Information visualization conversation with Fernanda Viegas and Mike Migurski

"(...) if you look at the academic information visualization community, researchers aren't focusing on the social side of their applications. Infovis folks love to explore techniques that allow them to scale the data they are showing. But what happens when you scale the audience that's looking at a visualization?" (Peter Merholz - IDEA 2006 Blog)

Posted by PJB on September 12, 2006 | Classification: Interviews | Permalink

Understanding Business and Design Through Casino Poker

A four part series - "Business shares a lot in common with poker. The goal in both is to make as much money as possible—either over the long or short-term—to win. You are competing against other people with similar objectives, with a finite amount of potential returns available. In order to be successful, you must observe and understand people and situations, devise strategies based on those observations, and use skill to successfully execute the strategy and accomplish your objectives. In gambling, it's called play; in business it's called design." (Dirk Knemeyer - Core77)

Posted by PJB on September 12, 2006 | Classification: User experience | Permalink

From GUI to E(motional) UI

"In 1988, Apple Computer produced some video scenarios showing how future computers would be able to understand hand gestures, read text, and respond to voice commands. Almost 20 years later, the world is still waiting for a natural way of using computers—though we are beginning to see some of our wildest dreams slowly emerge from the chaos of high technology and become real. In 2006, it is easy to believe that the masses will soon be able to use a computer without any keyboard or mouse. Beyond the constrained space of our personal computer's monitor, keyboard, and mouse, I'm looking for the sort of revolution that would overtake the wild dream of Blade Runner. I can envision huge 3D virtual worlds and systems that are smart enough to feel a user’s mood and respond intelligently. Now, where do you want to go today?" (Leandro Agrò - UXmatters)

Posted by PJB on September 11, 2006 | Classification: HCI | Permalink

Book Review: Designing for Interaction

"Dan Saffer's Designing for Interaction: Creating Smart Applications and Clever Devices was an ambitious undertaking. In fewer than 300 pages, he has attempted to cover the history, current practice, and notions about the future of the rapidly evolving discipline of interaction design (IxD). Whether you are simply curious about interaction design, are entering the profession yourself, or are collaborating with an interaction designer, Designing for Interaction is a good place to start your journey down the road of interaction design." (Leo Frishberg - UXmatters)

Posted by PJB on September 11, 2006 | Classification: Interaction design | Permalink

The Place for Standards in Interaction Design and UI Design

"(...) standards are created over time. Use them based on your interpretation of their ubiquity and deconstruct which aspects of the system are truly standardized and which are variations on the theme around the standard. Conventions are to be respected, but use them within contexts and realize that using conventions outside their originating contexts can be troublesome for users who are expecting too much of the convention, but that convention may not work precisely in the new context you are designing in (...). Patterns and guidelines are tools to bring organization to the overwhelming infinite possibility of solutions. Don't get caught laying on your laurels though and forgetting that our greatest asset as designers is creative discovery towards innovation through empathy." (David Heller - uiGarden.net)

Posted by PJB on September 11, 2006 | Classification: Patterns | Permalink

User Testing is Not Entertainment

"Don't run your studies for the benefit of the people in the observation room. Test to discover the truth about the design, even when user tasks are boring to watch." (Jakob Nielsen - Alertbox)

Posted by PJB on September 11, 2006 | Classification: Usability | Permalink

The Experience Design Institute

"The purpose of the Institute would be to give us a place to really get into these issues, other than the workplace, where real sharing across disciplines and approaches could take place on a regular, continuous basis." (Bob Jakobson - Total Experience) - courtesy of experientia

Posted by PJB on September 11, 2006 | Classification: User experience | Permalink

FatDUX Blog

"FatDUX people are business professionals who understand the power of new media. We have a simple goal - to create Internet-based websites and applications that rise above the glorified business cards that populate much of today's web. We share our skills, experience, and vision with clients who are looking for innovative communications solutions that grow their business." (About FatDUX) - congrats eric

Posted by PJB on September 07, 2006 | Classification: Weblogs | Permalink

Gel Video Clips

"Short for 'Good Experience Live', Gel is a conference, and community, exploring good experience in all its forms - in business, art, society, technology, and life." (Good Experience Live Conference)

Posted by PJB on September 07, 2006 | Classification: User experience | Permalink

The Persona Lifecycle

Review by Ross Gagliano - "(...) for our computer professional society, one may wonder whether such a book will find its way into either a computer science or an information system curriculum. Good questions! Being contrary, maybe it should. However, my own experience suggests that it may be way too massive (722 pages) and terribly glitzy (hundreds of cartoon figures) to become a standard course text." (ACM Ubiquity)

Posted by PJB on September 06, 2006 | Classification: Personas | Permalink

HyperScope

"HyperScope is a high-performance thought processor that enables you to navigate, view, and link to documents in sophisticated ways. It's the brainchild of Doug Engelbart, the inventor of hypertext and the mouse, and is the first step towards his larger vision for an Open Hyperdocument System." (Douglas Engelbart et al.) - courtesy of readwriteweb

Posted by PJB on September 05, 2006 | Classification: Hypertext | Permalink

From design to meaning: a whole new way of presenting?

"Logical reasoning is a necessary condition. However, it's increasingly clear that logic alone is not a sufficient condition for success for individuals and for organizations." (Garr Reynolds - Presentation Zen)

Posted by PJB on September 03, 2006 | Classification: Information design | Permalink

The Web and the culture of free

"The Web has encouraged a belief that things can be free, or at least very cheap. It seems everyone is looking for a deal on the Web." (Gerry McGovern)

Posted by PJB on September 03, 2006 | Classification: Information design | Permalink

The Laws of Simplicity

"(..) we are learning that simplicity equals sanity. We're rebelling against technology that's too complicated, DVD players with too many menus, and software accompanied by 75-megabyte 'Read Me' manuals. The iPod's clean gadgetry has made simplicity hip. But sometimes we find ourselves caught up." (John Maeda)

Posted by PJB on September 01, 2006 | Classification: Complexity | Permalink

Practical Personas: The User Is Always Right

"(...) a site devoted to the art and science of personas. It's also the companion site to the book. The goal of this site is to keep the conversation going." (Steve Mulder and Ziv Yaar)

Posted by PJB on September 01, 2006 | Classification: Personas | Permalink