Learning From Others
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Competitive Analysis: Understanding the Market Context
by Jason Withrow | [11 comments]
Just when you thought you fully understood the three circles of information architecture, your assumptions are being challenged again. Withrow comes around with an argument for looking at the context circle differently. more...
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The Guided Wireframe Narrative for Rich Internet Applications
by Andres Zapata | [25 comments]
Wireframes. We’ve all done them. We’ve all had to make sure our clients look at placement, labels, flow, and real estate distribution–but ignore color and design at all costs because, after all, they are wireframes.
AJAX, Laszlo, Flex, and other technologies and techniques that enhance usability challenge the way we think as architects but, more importantly, they also put a larger demand on our deliverables.
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Content Strategy: The Philosophy of Data
by Rachel Lovinger | [34 comments]
As interactions proliferate, so does the content that supports them. Why should software professionals take a step back and examine their content from a philosophical perch? Rachel Lovinger takes a look at content strategy and the benefits of its perspectives. more...
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The Elements of Style for Designers
by Christina Wodtke | [11 comments]
What if E.B. White had written "Hanging Commas 99% Bad" instead of a gentle list of reminders for young writers? Wodtke outlines how White's list of 22 reminders for writing can be just what young designers need. more...
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The Art of Project Management
by James Kalbach | [2 comments]
Can project management be an art? Has Berkun truly created a jargon-free guide for the whole project team? Kalbach leads us through the high-level tasks and the major milestones of this new book, while keeping us on task. more...
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Design for Emotion and Flow
by Trevor van Gorp | [32 comments]
Trevor van Gorp explains how psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's concept of "flow" can help you design emotional web experiences by cutting through information overload to engage users. more...
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Emotional Design with A.C.T. - Part 1
by Trevor van Gorp | [21 comments]
We form relationships with products and services for the same reasons we form them with people. In this first of two installments, Trevor explains how emotion commands attention. more...
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Transitioning from User Experience to Product Management
by Jeff Lash and Chris Baum | [24 comments]
Part 1 Is there a smart and graceful way to transition into a product manager role? Chris Baum and Jeff Lash talk about the differences between product management and design and increasing your influence. more...
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Studying the Creation of Kindergarten
by Bill Lucas | [1 comment]
How does the pursuit of one man's interests result in the creation of kindergarten and timeless design principles? Bill Lucas shows us how Friedrich Fröbel took basic elements to create intricate, scalable systems that can serve as a model for creating new experiential systems today. more...
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Setting Up Business Stakeholder Interviews, Part 1
by Michael Beavers | [5 comments]
Gathering business requirements from stakeholders is critical to good design, but setting up quality interviews can be tough. Tossing out the org chart may be the best way to figure out who really wields influence over a company's website. more...
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IA Summit 10 - Day 1
by Jeff Parks | [0 comments]
The IA Summit was held in Phoenix, AZ from April 9-11. Boxes and Arrows captured many of the main conference sessions from Day 1, Friday, April 9. Enjoy! more...
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Focus on the Student: How to Use Learning Objectives to Improve Learning
by Wendy Cown | [2 comments]
As information architects we all know how important it is to keep the user in mind. The same is true in teaching IA: we must keep the learner in mind. Learning objectives are one tool to help keep your classes focused on the student. They will also help you develop the syllabus, lesson plans, and assessment methods. more...
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Experience Themes
by Cindy Chastain | [16 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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So You Wanna Build a Library, Eh?
by Nathan Curtis | [11 comments]
[Book excerpt] Building a library isn’t trivial and may not be right for your organization. Nathan Curtis examines the questions you to ask before building a design library. more...
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Using Design Games
by Jess McMullin | [10 comments]
Design games offer an alternative to traditional methods for brainstorming, collecting requirements, building team communication, modeling, and prototyping. Jess McMullin shows us how game principles and examples can complement existing methods. more...
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Case study of agile and UCD working together
by James Kelway | [13 comments]
How does Agile work effectively when redesigning a site? James Kelway uses case studies as starting points to explore how Agile and UCD can work together during wholesale redesigns. more...
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We Are All Connected: The Path from Architecture to Information Architecture
by Fu-Tien Chiou | [5 comments]
We've all seen blueprints--formally known as contract documents--which architects produce and builders use to construct. No one person knows all the details of the design; the end result is entirely a product of teamwork. But there is one axiom: architects do not build. more...
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Your New Excuse to Get an Xbox
by Mia Northrop | [9 comments]
Games are fun and immersive, while websites, for the most part, are not. How do we get users to suspend disbelief on the web? Mia Northrup examines how some techniques for developing games can lead to better digital experiences. more...
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Putting the White Back in Strunk and White
by Christina Wodtke | [8 comments]
Where do we look for standards and guidelines that we can incorporate into our design work? In addition to the canon of trusted advisors, Wodtke reminds us of a teacher and student who created a series of uncommon guidelines that have a lot to teach about web design. more...
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IA Summit 10 - Day 2
by Jeff Parks | [6 comments]
The IA Summit was held in Phoenix, AZ from April 9-11. Boxes and Arrows captured many of the main conference sessions from Day 2, Saturday, April 10. These sessions cover subjects from consulting vs. employee to principle and patterns to hacking UX in the organization. Enjoy! more...