Boxes and Arrows: Comments on stories by Jason Hobbs

Stuart Collett — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:54:49 GMT

A great article! Thanks Jason.

david fine — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:00:13 GMT

Jason,

I enjoyed your article and I have a follow up question. What happens if a journey is non linear? How do you design, conceptualize and map non-linear types of interactions? This is a particular concern with web 2.0 applications where the concept of a page has changed with the ability to present options in context and in real time.

Daniel F. Bassill — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 15:14:02 GMT

I introduced myself about a year ago and would like to update the web site I mentioned. You can now visit http://www.tutormentorconnection.org and find examples of how maps can be used to show where poverty is concentrated and where service organizations are located. In the links section of the site is a sub section on process improvement, creativity, collaboration and knowledge management. These links point to many organizations using visual tools to help express ideas that might unite the social sector, business sector and public sector in building better systems to help end poverty, improve diversity in the workplace, etc. I think designers have a special talent for communicating ideas and hope to connect with some of you professionally, or via the universities where you learn your skills.

Jason Hobbs — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:53:22 GMT

Thanks…a note on the conceptual diagrams: I’ve always felt that because our ‘product’ as information architects is so abstract or conceptual that it is vital to visualise our solutions. Before going solo I used to ask designers to help me prepare my hand drawn sketches and conceptual diagrams to make them look amazing. Clients, and even internally at the company, people started to appreciate the IA so much more and started to feel like the process was almost an end in itself. It has helped me so much in the growth of my own ideas and being taken seriously by those I work with.

Christina Wodtke — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:53:21 GMT

what a lovely and interesting case study. Thank so much for sharing your conceptual diagrams… I can’t get enough of them!

Daniel F. Bassill — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:52:25 GMT

Great article. Thanks. I lead a non profit that is trying to apply this thinking to creating a guide that people all over the world might use to become involved in helping kids in poverty move to jobs and careers. While I understand your concepts, I don’t have the tech skills, time or talent to apply them into building and constantly updating this blueprint. Thus, my goal is to recruit people from the design community to volunteer time, talent and leadership to this effort. Visit the Tutor/Mentor Institute section of http://msg.uc.iupui.edu/TMC/html/index.php to see how I integrate GIS maps and interactive databases into this project, and to see how I’ve applied your concepts thus far.

If anyone would like to get involved, or learn more, please post an introduction on the site. Thanks.

daria slivka — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:52:24 GMT

Hobbs reinforces some of the same user-centered design principles of the likes of A. Cooper, J. Nielsen, JJ Garrett, L. Rosenfeld and others. His diagrams help convey and reinforce his concepts, and the need-satisfaction dialogues are similarly instructive. This material isn’t new or different; it is well-presented and informative.