Stories
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Google, Stanford, and The Government Fight Swine Flu
by Nate Bolt and Tony Tulathimutte | [0 comments]
Designers often work in less-than-perfect technical environments, but imagine being a local government trying to address an epidemic or natural disaster. Nate and
Tony tell us about their research and
design strategy approach for Stanford University's effort to set up emergency response templates for local governments during the H1N1 outbreak. more... -
Bringing User Centered Design to the Agile Environment
by Anthony Colfelt | [16 comments]
Anthony Colfelt is not anti-Agile, but he believes strongly about how user-centered design can operate in an Agile environment. Here he explains how he came to feel this way, the major pitfalls of Agile, and how he sees Agile and UCD fitting together in harmony. more...
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5 Steps to Building Social Experiences
by Erin Malone | [9 comments]
"Social" is infiltrating not only consumer software, but also the enterprise. Designers must often add social capabilities with little guidance on what it means outside of Facebook or Twitter. Erin Malone gives us five steps to get started. more...
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Research Logistics
by Demetrius Madrigal | [3 comments]
With technology touching ever more of our work lives, user research, in its many guises, becomes part of the project lifecycle. For those of us who want a better idea of what to expect when working with a researcher, Demetrius Madrigal sets our expectations. more...
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Tree Testing
by Dave OBrien | [18 comments]
After hearing about Donna Spencer's paper-based tree testing, Dave O'Brien and his colleagues were hooked, so much so that they built an online tool to allow you to effectively test a site hierarchy. Hear about the tree testing approach and see how O'Brien's tool works. more...
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Sketchy Wireframes
by Aaron Travis | [28 comments]
Aaron Travis explores the importance of using sketchy wireframes early in the project
cycle. He then discusses the conversion of computer-based sketches into traditional wireframes and includes an analysis of "sketchy" capabilities of popular software tools.” more... -
Engaging Interaction
by Jeff Parks | [0 comments]
The Interaction 10 program has been announced, including an interesting mix of noted keynote speakers, industry experts, and interactive sessions. Jen Bove gives us a rundown of how they've put the program together.
Note: The early bird registration ends Nov. 30. more... -
IDEA 2009 - Day 2
by Jeff Parks | [1 comment]
The IDEA Conference took place in Toronto on September 15-16. The speakers represent the best thinking on Social Experience Design. Expand your practice with their experiences and ideas. Along
with the IA Institute, we're happy
to bring you recordings of most conference talks. more... -
Four Key Principles of Mobile User Experience Design
by Dakota Reese Brown | [8 comments]
Conversations about mobile UX are often skewed by ‘the next big thing’ in the previous news cycle. Dakota Reese Brown suggests an alternative view of the mobile space based on principles rather than isolated tactics. more...
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IDEA 2009 - Day 1
by Jeff Parks | [6 comments]
The IDEA Conference took place in Toronto on September 15-16. Expand your practice by absorbing the best thinking on Social Experience Design. Brought to you in cooperation with the IA Institute. more...
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What design researchers can learn from hostage negotiators
by Bryan McClain and Demetrius Madrigal | [5 comments]
Talking down a hostage-taker requires extraordinary empathy and close attention to communication patterns. Bryan McClain and Demetrius Madrigal of ActiveComm Labs show us how we can apply these skills when conducting user research. more...
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Experience Themes
by Cindy Chastain | [15 comments]
A screenwriter has a compass that can guide him through the writing process. Cindy Chastain chronicles how we can translate this approach to help us remember the quality and value of the experience. more...
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Integrating Prototyping Into Your Design Process
by Fred Beecher | [23 comments]
Fred Beecher categorizes prototypes along two dimensions of fidelity --visual and functional -- and explains how to choose the right kind of prototype that answers the right questions. more...
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A Wiser Interaction
by Chris Baum and Jeff Parks | [3 comments]
In this podcast, Chris Baum talks
with Bill DeRouchey about how
Interaction 10 is being redesigned based on lessons from previous
years. more... -
IDEA 2009: An Interview with Thomas Malaby
by Russ Unger | [0 comments]
In preparation for IDEA 2009, Russ talks to Thomas Malaby about his experiences working in Second Life and the future of virtual worlds. more...
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The Content Conundrum
by Christopher Detzi | [38 comments]
Designers often dismiss deep consideration of content. Chris Detzi shows how this affects project implementation and helps us
create experiences that hold
content more effectively. more... -
IDEA 2009: An Interview with Leisa Reichelt
by Russ Unger | [8 comments]
In preparation for IDEA 2009, Russ talks to Leisa Reichelt about her experience designing for Drupal 7, how to design in open source and cross-cultural environments, and how she recharges her design work with art and family. more...
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Using Wikis to Document UI Specifications
by Peter Gremett | [29 comments]
Peter Gremett shows how using a wiki to capture your design is a great way to be adaptive as you build and deliver product
in Agile environments. more... -
UI Pattern Documentation Review
by Patrick Stapleton | [19 comments]
Patrick Stapleton takes a look at some of the world's most popular pattern libraries and presents the case for a standard approach to documentation and categorization. more...
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UX Book Clubs
by Steve Baty | [10 comments]
With their interesting approach and engaging format, UX Book Clubs are sprouting up all over the globe. Steve
Baty tells us about their genesis, the structure, and how the approach
encourages new learning and
participation. more...