User Experience is in the Details

Aug
12
2010

Estimated reading time:  2.9 mins.

Open / Close

Just like a good design is all about the fine details, so too it is the same for the design of an over all user experience.   The critical elements usually come from those small details of the communications and interaction with the audience.

If you start to get these wrong, then people do start to question if you really are that genuine with your UX approach.

Generally people are forgiving, so you can make a few mistakes, just don’t make too many as one day you will wake up and your loyal audience will be gone.

Redesigning the World, maybe not

Jul
14
2010

Estimated reading time:  1.5 min.

Butterfly

Lately  there has been a resurgence in the discussion over using design for the greater good. From using design principles at the boardroom table, to solving third world problems with better interaction design.  Who are we really kidding!

While the concepts are very noble and I can see how it can be done. There really needs to be a dose of reality in all this.

The overriding principle is that we can change the world through design. We do this by influencing everything we design.  Such that we are producing high quality products that take into account sustainability, inclusivity and still focus on the business and audiences at hand.

Web Awards that have Meaning

Jun
14
2010

Estimated reading time:  2.1 mins.

Australian Web Awards 2009

Over the years I have found that web awards tend to fall into three types:

  • The mindless handout of awards to favour colleagues.
  • Awards for the prettiest or most unusable but funky hip design.
  • An award that is a true test and representation of the best in the industry.

What I find that you are really  looking for is a web award competition that acts as a yard stick to measure your skills that is judged by your peers in the web industry, not advertising executives.

User Experience is more than Wireframes and Prototypes

Jun
7
2010

Estimated reading time:  3 mins.

User Stories Analysis

There seems to be a bit of a trend at the moment, within developmental circles to just add a  few wireframes and develop a prototype or two, and then you can declare you are across the user experience design process.

The thing is User Experience is a lot more than just a few simple techniques, it’s an entire collaborative design process, in a way it’s not just a single methodology at all.

This lack of being a single methodology may be part of the issue.