Re: [IxDA Discuss] Interaction design versus Instructional Design
Jared Spool offered: One way to think about it is that, most of the time, interaction design succeeds if the user doesn't learn anything in the process and instructional design succeeds if they do. I agree, to a point: Interaction design succeeds when the user doesn't have to expressly learn to use the tool they are interacting with, and instructional design (for online learning) succeeds in part when the interaction design is effective. For technology-based learning, interaction design is a necessary function of success. Sound pedagogical design for a learning experience does not guarantee success. IxD is part of the ID process, whether the instructional designer takes responsibility for it or the developers take responsibility for it. At some point, IxD is paramount to learner success in interacting with the instructional interface. Poor usability (weak IxD) distracts the learners from the goals and objectives of the instructional experience, thus poor IxD directly influences the success of ID. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=43988 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Interaction design versus Instructional Design
I couldn't say if one is a precursor to the other, but I feel they're very related; ultimately the goal is to help users accomplish something. I do interaction design professionally; I do instructional design for fun (specifically online arts and crafts tutorials). I do both because I enjoy the rewards of empowering others through fundamentals of teaching the what, when, how and whys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=43988 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Usability of Buttons versus Links for Navigation
Hello Everyone, I am wondering if using buttons or navigational elements that look like buttons(for e.g BACK link) are intuitive? Let me give you guys some context here: I am working on designing a knowledge base interface where a user can look for articles and click on a particular link to read that article. In the article page on the top I had a BACk link that would take the user to previous page/results page. Based on some feedback I changed the BACK to look like a button. I am not sure if buttons should only be used to submit data and not for navigation? I personally think with it doesn't matter as long as the link/button does what a user expects it to do. I would really appreciate your thoughts on this. Thanks, GN Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Aesthetics in HCI
Hi all! I have a simple (?) question: how is aesthetics defined and how much important is it for interaction design? For me aesthetics is the feeling that you have, while you are admiring/interacting/breathing something that elicits inner emotions. What's your opinion? Thank you, mario. Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] iRise: Fast prototyping tool?
Same. I've been using Axure. Although I find it a little clunky, it%u2019s definitely the best of the bunch. Apparently, Adobe%u2019s working on a new prototyping tool. Has anyone else heard this rumour? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44163 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Usability of Buttons versus Links for Navigation
From my experience, a button is usually significant in a moving forward submitting ... as in dong something. However, I have encountered imballances in my design work which required a sort of hybrid. For a user to easily navigate and move forward without having to think much on it, usually it'll be larger and more obvious, for the Left-to-right, Top to bottom cultural settings, either the top-right or bottom right would be the best use for forward, but for backwards - perhaps try something that is smaller with a backwards facing arrow. Iconic, but not quite as buttonish as the forward. Sometimes just a simple link with an icon to the left of it works as well. I'd play with it in a few variations to see what works best. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44185 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Usability of Buttons versus Links for Navigation
Based on convention I would say that hyperlinks indicate navigation, buttons indicate actions. To differentiate navigating from acting: navigating doesn't change any data, is reversible; acting does change data or is not reversible. I would put Back and Cancel under navigating, and Submit, Save, Print, Email under acting. The following example from Luke Wroblewski's book 'Web Form Design: Filling In the Blanks' illustrates the idea: http://tinyurl.com/nghzbw - Yohan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44185 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Do grid systems also apply to application interfaces?
Hi All, I'm very interested in hearing your opinion/experience on the followig: For content sites a grid system can be used to give the page a clean and consistent layout. Do grid systems also work/exist for application interfaces? My own opinion: I think this does not work since application interfaces are not very likely to be layed out in columns, but rather in functional spaces. Hope to hear from you. Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Usability of Buttons versus Links for Navigation
Hi, I also know the problem particularly when I discuss with developers. Often I have the situation that we have a form that can be submitted (so we have a save or ok button) and we have a cancel button. The points we discuss is: - do we need a cancel button on a website where you can click somewhere else and you can start again - and - should the cancel button look like a button or a link - because the developers opinion is, that it works like a link so it should look like a link. My opinion is that in most of the cases the user don't know what happens behind the UI so he don't have a problem that it look like a button. Moreover a button has the advantage that it is better visible and if the user often uses this functionality and doesn't find it at the first sight you can use the button design (or as Ariel mentioned to support the link with an icon). Br, Claudia *** http://usabilitytalks.blogspot.com http://twitter.com/usabilitytalks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44185 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Aesthetics in HCI
Maybe don's book and article is interesting to you, http://www.jnd.org/dn.mss/emotion_design.html Most of don's view on this topic are very interesting, but one things needs to think twice, it's a more complex topic about the relationships between aethetics ( perception as well as experience ) and interaction ( usability and use experience), which surely beyond beautiful object works better. Besides, aesthetics of interaction contributes to using experience or using beauty as some designers adopted. Cheers, -- Jarod On Tue, Jul 28, 2009 at 1:29 PM, marioTN somma...@gmail.com wrote: Hi all! I have a simple (?) question: how is aesthetics defined and how much important is it for interaction design? For me aesthetics is the feeling that you have, while you are admiring/interacting/breathing something that elicits inner emotions. What's your opinion? Thank you, mario. Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help -- http://designforuse.blogspot.com/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Do grid systems also apply to application interfaces?
Hi, Rein. Grids have a history of useful application long before the web was invented and yes, they are applicable to application interfaces as well as web pages. Their advantage is that they reduce the number of alignment points, thereby avoiding visual clutter and increasing consistency. You suggest that application dialogs are not laid out in columns, but in fact all but the most trivial interfaces have more than one vertical alignment point (and therefore, multiple columns). Have a look at some well-designed applications and you will usually see that a grid has been used, albeit in not such an obvious way as with a web page. Regards, William Hudson Syntagm Ltd Design for Usability UK 01235-522859 World +44-1235-522859 US Toll Free 1-866-SYNTAGM mailto:william.hud...@syntagm.co.uk http://www.syntagm.co.uk skype:williamhudsonskype Syntagm is a limited company registered in England and Wales (1985). Registered number: 1895345. Registered office: 10 Oxford Road, Abingdon OX14 2DS. Confused about dates in interaction design? See our new study (free): http://www.syntagm.co.uk/design/datesstudy.htm 12 UK mobile phone e-commerce sites compared! Buy the report: http://www.syntagm.co.uk/design/uxbench.shtml Courses in card sorting and Ajax interaction design. London, Las Vegas and Berlin: http://www.syntagm.co.uk/design/csadvances.shtml http://www.syntagm.co.uk/design/ajaxdesign.shtml -Original Message- From: new-boun...@ixda.org [mailto:new-boun...@ixda.org] On Behalf Of Rein Groot Sent: 29 July 2009 02:06 To: disc...@ixda.org Subject: [IxDA Discuss] Do grid systems also apply to application interfaces? ... Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Do grid systems also apply to application interfaces?
Hey Rein, I totally agree with William here. The grid definitely cuts down on the time taken to interpret a layout, whether it be print, web or software. If you want to learn more here's a good little link: Design by Grid. Hope this helps, Stu Collett Super User Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44190 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Are We The Puppet Masters? The Ethics of IxD
Fascinating discussion. Let me share something that I do believe is truly unethical. I've been talking with the webmaster for several porn sites to learn more about streaming video. She (yes, she) told me a creepy story about how one site coerces new subscribers to submit to the recurring monthly charge rather than the one-time-only three-day sample period. In other words, rather than paying a one-time fee of USD 9.95, your credit card gets billed USD 29.95 each and every month. Here's how the scam works. On the sign-up form, you check which payment period you want. There is a really goofy field on the form that is almost always filled out wrong. For ethical reasons, I'm not going to go into details. But surely you are all clever enough to design a bad form of your own.:-) When you submit the form, it points out your error. What most people miss is that the checkbox for payment period has been reset. So folks correct the highlighted error and submit - but without reviewing their data. The site sends a confirmation e-mail where the amended payment period information is innocuously mentioned. That means when you complain, the company can refer to their original confirmation e-mail - If there are any errors in your order, please report them to us within the next 24 hours. Virtually no one notices the error - they're too busy looking at tits and ass. So, the company has suckered 29.95 out of people instead of 9.95. And apparently most people don't react until the second month is well underway. The funny thing is, I regularly run into dumb forms that reset things when I need to correct an entry. Since money is rarely involved, I just get irritated. But in generic terms, this is almost the same thing. For example, try registering for the German social networking site www.mixxt.net http://www.mixxt.net/ . It's really easy to make errors and some stuff gets reset, if I remember correctly. Conclusion: as the guardians of user-experience design, we have an obligation to protect users. Cheers, Eric --- Eric Reiss CEO The FatDUX Group Copenhagen, Denmark http://www.fatdux.com office: (+45) 39 29 67 77 mobile: (+45) 20 12 88 44 skype: ericreiss twitter: @elreiss FatDUX is an official sponsor of the Usability Professionals' Association http://www.upassoc.org --- If you received this in error, please let us know and delete the file. FatDUX advises all recipients to virus scan all emails, and to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables daily. Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Do grid systems also apply to application interfaces?
Apparently, we have entered... The Twilight Zone... Jason R. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from ixda.org (via iPhone) http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44190 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Interaction design versus Instructional Design
cindy, I like this explanation a lot. Jared's point is a good one, but I wouldn't make instructional design responsible for the learning process. There are different learning modalities and (gardner's visual, verbal, etc) Instructional design may succeed in facilitating learning with some and not with others. I think your right that ID uses ixd but ID is also applied to the sequencing of activities, the use of resources, roles, tasks, and goals of activities, the build of activities (which varies by discipline: reading and comprehension is taught differently than, say math or science, etc), and so on. So in my experience it hews closely to the content, and is design of a sort of the interaction with content. Bad ID would result in confusing the learning process, but good ID is not a guarantee of success. a 415 516 4442 Twitter: /gravity7 Social Interaction Design, Expertise, Consulting (gravity7) (gravity7 blog) (slideshare) Sr Fellow, Society for New Communications Research (SNCR) Adhocnium Member (adhocnium) LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/adrianchan) Facebook (www.facebook.com/adrianchan) On Jul 28, 2009, at 3:43 PM, Cindy Edwards wrote: Jared Spool offered: One way to think about it is that, most of the time, interaction design succeeds if the user doesn't learn anything in the process and instructional design succeeds if they do. I agree, to a point: Interaction design succeeds when the user doesn't have to expressly learn to use the tool they are interacting with, and instructional design (for online learning) succeeds in part when the interaction design is effective. For technology-based learning, interaction design is a necessary function of success. Sound pedagogical design for a learning experience does not guarantee success. IxD is part of the ID process, whether the instructional designer takes responsibility for it or the developers take responsibility for it. At some point, IxD is paramount to learner success in interacting with the instructional interface. Poor usability (weak IxD) distracts the learners from the goals and objectives of the instructional experience, thus poor IxD directly influences the success of ID. Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Aesthetics in HCI
Aesthetics exists at so many different levels of perception experience. No denying that visual is the most powerful part of aesthetic response, but even then how we respond emotionally to a situation will change our cognitive responses of everything contextually related to that situation and thus will have AN effect (which is the core of Norman's thesis). I have gone a bit further with this. Building off of the Kenetic Aesthetics thinks who look at how the movements we make create an aesthetic response. Motion and which motions we ask a user to do in a design has a response and can elicit of a feeling of beauty. I strongly came to this after play capoeira (an Afro-Brazilian martial art) for some time. I started to notice that as I improved that the motions that felt best often were the right moves at that time. So the feeling engendered in the motion effected my perception of success. You can take this now to the gesture level (even gestures with a mouse) and compare the response of doing a simple click to center a map vs. dragging the clipped imagery of a map to the point you want it. There is more than just motion at play here, but it is definitely a more satisfying motion, but by Fitz Law it might actually be counter intuitive and definitely less efficient (except that I get direct exact placement). I think that my talk at From Business to Buttons may address some of this (http://businesstobuttons.com/ has the vids or from my blog. Lots of other great vids from that conference as well.) I'll just add that you asked this from the point of view of HCI, which I find interesting. Is there a reason why you said HCI instead of IxD? Are these in this context meant as synonyms? If so, then I would say that you can't design without addressing all manners of aesthetics in a system. Heck we barely ever touch on audio aesthetics in our community and this is a HUGE part of the immersive experience, and HUGE part of haptic feedback making systems perform better. -- dave -- dave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44186 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] IDSA award winners
IDSA award winners - http://www.idsa.org/IDEA2009/gallery/index.asp They have some categories that may be of interest to IxDers (i.e. design strategy, interactive products , research) Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] IDSA award winners
I would hope that anyone who is a designer would be interested in all forms of design. Thanx for sharing!!! -- dave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44199 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] IDSA award winners
Speaking of persuasion design ... This award winner from Samsung tugged at my heart and now has me thinking of iPhone apps!!! http://www.idsa.org/IDEA2009/gallery/award_details.asp?ID=10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44199 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] IDSA award winners
Dave- I agree all the categories should be of interest. Just wanted to highlight the unexpected ones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44199 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] toggle on / off design pattern
Greetings Can anyone point me in the direction of a useable design pattern for an on / off toggle switch to be used online ie using JS / html / css rather than flash? I'm working on an application that currently uses colour coding to indicate whether an option is active or not. This works in the real world i.e. the red light comes on when recording, but obviously bad for accessibility online due to the different ways people see colours. For example, one option in this case is record. There is currently a button that goes red when the user clicks it to activate recording. I've suggested simple droplists of on / off by each option, but this feels a bit clunky, and the client felt it was a bit 1999... Any suggestions most welcome! Thank you, Sam s...@onebigfield.com www.onebigfield.com www.pixelthread.co.uk Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Do grid systems also apply to application interfaces?
I design financial applications for trading and trade analysis. I have always used grids to base my design in. They provide stability to the design and make the design repeatable so that once created and applied as needed across the main screens, panels, widgets, etc., it can be replicated as the application evolves/expands. It cuts down on the back and forth between me and the developers to fine tune the design, because they have a grid and patterns to follow (down to the pixel). It also makes rapid development, where sometimes elements are implemented very quickly (and occasionally without the benefit of the designer -- ;) ) still adhere to some notion of the required design parameters. Jennifer === -Original Message- From: discuss-boun...@lists.interactiondesigners.com [mailto:discuss-boun...@lists.interactiondesigners.com] On Behalf Of Rein Groot Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 9:06 PM To: disc...@ixda.org Subject: [IxDA Discuss] Do grid systems also apply to application interfaces? Hi All, I'm very interested in hearing your opinion/experience on the followig: For content sites a grid system can be used to give the page a clean and consistent layout. Do grid systems also work/exist for application interfaces? My own opinion: I think this does not work since application interfaces are not very likely to be layed out in columns, but rather in functional spaces. Hope to hear from you. Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help This email is confidential and subject to important disclaimers and conditions including on offers for the purchase or sale of securities, accuracy and completeness of information, viruses, confidentiality, legal privilege, and legal entity disclaimers, available at http://www.jpmorgan.com/pages/disclosures/email. Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] iRise: Fast prototyping tool?
At OneSpring we use iRise for rapid UX prototyping all the time. It is simple enough to use for very lightweight boxes arrows prototypes and powerful enough to create fully functional high fidelity visualizations complete with realistic data and more. We regularly use high fidelity visualizations in user testing and users never know they're on a prototype. One of the biggest differentiators of iRise is the collaboration tools which are largely unmatched in this space. The ability to capture textual requirements and tie them directly to interface components is also unmatched. The Adobe product I think you are referring to is Flash Catalyst, formerly Thermo. It is currently in beta. It gives people the ability to quickly take static Photoshop/Illustrator comps and make them interactive via Flash. Here is the link: http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/flashcatalyst/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44163 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] toggle on / off design pattern
The jQuery JavaScript framework is excellent for all JavaScript coding, and provides not only toggle functionality (which is particularly simple to implement), but also a number of additional animation and easing functions (some as plugins you can drop in) that can make the toggle just as flashy as Flash, without Flash... http://www.jquery.com/ http://docs.jquery.com/Effects/toggle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44203 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Usability of Buttons versus Links for Navigation
Hi If you see gmail interface, they have a 'Back to Inbox' text link unlike its adjacent buttons. This is to make the back more prominent for the user and also that it is in blue underlined (a convention for links). You can use the button if that is the only button in that row or column, or you could use the blue underlined link as gmail has. The point is to show the difference in appearance thereby making it stand out from the other trigers (links). The reason others suggested you to change the link to a button may be because you already have several similar looking links within the article. Hence to make the 'BACK' look different from them, button is advisable. From a functionality point of view, link or button doesn't matter much. From a usability point of view, a button will definitely stand out from a number of links on the same page. -- Shivan Kannan %u2605 uidude.com %u2605 uidude.wordpress.com %u2605 twit...@uidude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44185 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Usability of Buttons versus Links for Navigation
GN, My general rule of thumb for links vs. buttons is this: links take you places, buttons perform an action. However, in form submission or a wizard-like submission process (especially in applications), I've found that users expect to see buttons to continue, cancel, edit or go back in the process. In the situation you describe, I think the expected convention would be a link back to the page they started on. Instead of just saying Back, however, you might want to try a more descriptive link -- something like Return to Previous Page or Return to [Page Name]. Hope that helps, Kevin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44185 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Are We The Puppet Masters? The Ethics of IxD.
Hi Jared, Sorry for my lack if responses, currently adjusting to my new life as a father and learning how to manage my time. I gave been following, just not able to respond as much as I wish. I don't see any moral issues when it comes to influencing a persons behavior. Simple because at the end of the day the person can always choose to do something different. It is when we as designers take that choice away I see an issue. The real debate defing the line that seperates influence and control and what types of influence seem to push the envelope on right or wrong. Dave recent comment on HOW we influence is very interesting and one that I want to explore more. This message has been brought to you via my iPhone. On Jul 28, 2009, at 7:44 PM, Jared Spool jsp...@uie.com wrote: On Jul 28, 2009, at 11:51 AM, Dan Lockton wrote: it's a great debate If only I understood what we were debating. It's disappointing when an author posts his article for discussion then doesn't participate in said discussion. Maybe we should debate how that is wrong? Jared Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] toggle on / off design pattern
The design pattern used in desktop applications is a raised versus pressed button look, as a metaphor for real world buttons. In case of the recording button, the on-state could have a small animation, indicating the 'tape' is running. Differentiation by color is not bad per definition, although it will be hard to guess whether a certain color means on or off. More design patterns for web interfaces: http://designingwebinterfaces.com/explore - Yohan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44203 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Do grid systems also apply to application interfaces?
We use grid-based layouts for apps. First, a lot of financial apps need to display tabular data. Second, grids help with consistent layout for forms. If you have multiple functional areas on a single screen use the 'modulus' concept from the Swiss Style of design. That is, divide your screen into a grid of small cells that represent the finest granularity of real estate assignment you need. Then create your functional 'zones' using a muliplier of cell height and width (cell spanning). Continue to use the grid for layout within each zone. This will give you a logical and extensible layout. This will work for content, displays (charts, graphs, et al.), controls and form fields as long as all objects are sized as a multiple of the modulus. Obviously the size of the modulus must be chosen with care since you can't have fractional dimensions of the modulus - the modulus represents the finest resolution of object size. The overall usable screen dimensions must also be a multiple of the modulusAttached is an example using a 5 pixel square modulus. A 1024 x 768 pixel screen can be divided into a grid of 256 x 192 cells using a modulus of 4 pixels square. In this case the finest resolution for positioning is 4 pixels.(See attached file: Swiss Style.png) Jon Karpoff Senior Partner Director User Experience Office: 1-212-237-5516 Cell: 1-914-419-4151 Email: jon.karp...@ogilvy.com We few, we happy few 636 11th Ave, New York, NY 10036. Jennifer R Vignone jennifer.r.vigno To n...@jpmorgan.com Rein Groot rein.gr...@gmail.com, Sent by: disc...@ixda.org discuss-boun...@l disc...@ixda.org ists.interactiond cc esigners.com Subject Re: [IxDA Discuss] Do grid systems 07/29/09 10:30 AM also apply to application interfaces? I design financial applications for trading and trade analysis. I have always used grids to base my design in. They provide stability to the design and make the design repeatable so that once created and applied as needed across the main screens, panels, widgets, etc., it can be replicated as the application evolves/expands. It cuts down on the back and forth between me and the developers to fine tune the design, because they have a grid and patterns to follow (down to the pixel). It also makes rapid development, where sometimes elements are implemented very quickly (and occasionally without the benefit of the designer -- ;) ) still adhere to some notion of the required design parameters. Jennifer === -Original Message- From: discuss-boun...@lists.interactiondesigners.com [mailto:discuss-boun...@lists.interactiondesigners.com] On Behalf Of Rein Groot Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 9:06 PM To: disc...@ixda.org Subject: [IxDA Discuss] Do grid systems also apply to application interfaces? Hi All, I'm very interested in hearing your opinion/experience on the followig: For content sites a grid system can be used to give the page a clean and consistent layout. Do grid systems also work/exist for application interfaces? My own opinion: I think this does not work since application interfaces are not very likely to be layed out in columns, but rather in functional spaces. Hope to hear from you. Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help This email is confidential and subject to important disclaimers and conditions including on offers for the purchase or sale of securities, accuracy and completeness of information, viruses, confidentiality, legal privilege, and legal entity disclaimers, available at
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Are We The Puppet Masters? The Ethics of IxD
Great example, Eric! (not just about defaults, but resetting defaults...almost evil) Here's another interesting tidbit concerning influence, care of Steve Jobs of Apple. It’s not about pop culture, and it’s not about fooling people, and it’s not about convincing people that they want something they don’t. We figure out what we want. And I think we’re pretty good at having the right discipline to think through whether a lot of other people are going to want it, too. That’s what we get paid to do. I wrote up a bit more here: http://bokardo.com/archives/steve-jobs-on-why-apple-doesnt-do-market-research/ Josh On Jul 29, 2009, at 7:49 AM, Eric Reiss wrote: Fascinating discussion. Let me share something that I do believe is truly unethical. I've been talking with the webmaster for several porn sites to learn more about streaming video. She (yes, she) told me a creepy story about how one site coerces new subscribers to submit to the recurring monthly charge rather than the one-time-only three-day sample period. In other words, rather than paying a one-time fee of USD 9.95, your credit card gets billed USD 29.95 each and every month. Here's how the scam works. On the sign-up form, you check which payment period you want. There is a really goofy field on the form that is almost always filled out wrong. For ethical reasons, I'm not going to go into details. But surely you are all clever enough to design a bad form of your own.:-) When you submit the form, it points out your error. What most people miss is that the checkbox for payment period has been reset. So folks correct the highlighted error and submit - but without reviewing their data. The site sends a confirmation e-mail where the amended payment period information is innocuously mentioned. That means when you complain, the company can refer to their original confirmation e-mail - If there are any errors in your order, please report them to us within the next 24 hours. Virtually no one notices the error - they're too busy looking at tits and ass. So, the company has suckered 29.95 out of people instead of 9.95. And apparently most people don't react until the second month is well underway. The funny thing is, I regularly run into dumb forms that reset things when I need to correct an entry. Since money is rarely involved, I just get irritated. But in generic terms, this is almost the same thing. For example, try registering for the German social networking site www.mixxt.net http://www.mixxt.net/ . It's really easy to make errors and some stuff gets reset, if I remember correctly. Conclusion: as the guardians of user-experience design, we have an obligation to protect users. Cheers, Eric --- Eric Reiss CEO The FatDUX Group Copenhagen, Denmark http://www.fatdux.com office: (+45) 39 29 67 77 mobile: (+45) 20 12 88 44 skype: ericreiss twitter: @elreiss FatDUX is an official sponsor of the Usability Professionals' Association http://www.upassoc.org --- If you received this in error, please let us know and delete the file. FatDUX advises all recipients to virus scan all emails, and to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables daily. Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] toggle on / off design pattern
On Wed, Jul 29, 2009 at 10:09 AM, Sam Menter s...@pixelthread.co.uk wrote: Can anyone point me in the direction of a useable design pattern for an on / off toggle switch to be used online ie using JS / html / css rather than flash? Well, you could look at the Toggle Switch on the iPhone. You could emulate it by just switching out an on/off image or CSS sprite. Won't be as smooth as the iPhone, but it's still a really obvious/familiar way to display a toggle (looking like a switch), and if you made it look like the iPhone one, that'd at least get you to 2006, instead of 1999. :-) -a Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Looking for great company career sites
Hello everyone, I'm in the process of redesigning a career site and I'm just getting into the research, but I wondered if you all had any career sites that just really impressed you that you'd be willing to share. By the way, these would be the career section on a company's site, not job search sites like monster or dice or what have you. Thanks for any help you can provide! Courtney Jordan Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Are We The Puppet Masters? The Ethics of IxD
For some reason this feels like a familiar conversation, but this flies in the face of so much that we discuss and insist upon in our standard practices, doesn't it? Genius design? Or is this safe to say when you're an industry leader and have a proven record with it? Cool read! Scott On Wed, Jul 29, 2009 at 11:13 AM, Joshua Porter por...@bokardo.com wrote: Great example, Eric! (not just about defaults, but resetting defaults...almost evil) Here's another interesting tidbit concerning influence, care of Steve Jobs of Apple. It’s not about pop culture, and it’s not about fooling people, and it’s not about convincing people that they want something they don’t. We figure out what we want. And I think we’re pretty good at having the right discipline to think through whether a lot of other people are going to want it, too. That’s what we get paid to do. I wrote up a bit more here: http://bokardo.com/archives/steve-jobs-on-why-apple-doesnt-do-market-research/ Josh You always have the carny connection. - Clair High Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Looking for great company career sites
Within financial, Goldman has always been known as the gold standard for a Careers section. I'm not crazy about what the recent redesign did to this section (too many oversized moving parts to get to a little information -- was the assumption that we're all running at 1680x1050 and have loads of free time?) but there are still some good things here. http://www.gs.com/careers In legal, Choate has an interesting careers section complete with videos playing off the PC vs Mac series. http://www.choate.com/careers.php Good luck, Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44215 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] JOB: CHICAGO: freelance UI DESIGNER with web/kiosk bkgd for highly prestigious global design firm
Apologies for x-post --- please forward thru to your trusted Chicago networks; referral bonus offered Highly lauded global design firm known for its innovation and cutting edge design and collaboration is seeking TWO (2) freelance UI DESIGNERS immediately for freelance projects, who would both serve as the only UI Designer on a multidisciplinary team. 100% onsite in the Chicago office Local Chicago candidates highly preferred. One project starts 8/17 and lasts 15 wks The other project starts 8/24 and lasts 9 weeks. They would like to make their decision on a candidate by end of this week---URGENT timeline! They need someone who have proven experience in the following: * Ability to work strategically with concepts of *navigation* and *flow* on a kiosk project to ensure that users can find the information they need effortlessly and elegantly. * Conceptualize and create brand-consistent, easy-to-use, attractive and meaningful user interfaces (and other design deliverables: layouts/UIs, widgets, patterns, color palettes, typography, wireframes, workflows, iconography and user interface elements) for use on the web. * Thorough understanding of overall web site design, including basic usability, industry standards, architecture and navigation is preferred. * Interaction design skills: experience creating wireframes, site/system flows, site architecture diagrams, etc is preferred From the client: Overall, we are looking for a strong generalist. Visual sense: need to have enough to provide direction to a graphic designer, have a graphical understanding of expressing/communicating branding, digital/web experience, and if they have print experience it should be in environmental design. UI: understand general navigation, understand interaction experiences (quick, simple, memorable, and engaging experience), and preferably has experience with kiosks (or related work). Interested? Email your resume + URL to: joa...@joanneweavergroup.com Thanks and good luck! Joanne Joanne Weaver President The Joanne Weaver Group UX + Creative Talent Acquisition www.joanneweavergroup.com +1 917 623 9369 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Aesthetics in HCI
That's only part of it. Aesthetics gives varying levels of priority to the components on a page. Just a basic example: image a text heading use three times on a page. Depending upon the font type that heading will communicate different emotions (e.g., courier or comic sans) and will have varying levels of readability. If it's gray it will recede and if it's red it will stand out. If it's too big, it overwhelms the page. Too small and it's hard to read. The feel is important, but so is the priority, and the optimal balance depends on the audience. On Tue, Jul 28, 2009 at 1:29 AM, marioTN somma...@gmail.com wrote: Hi all! I have a simple (?) question: how is aesthetics defined and how much important is it for interaction design? For me aesthetics is the feeling that you have, while you are admiring/interacting/breathing something that elicits inner emotions. What's your opinion? Thank you, mario. Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help -- Paul Nuschke Principal, Research Strategy ELECTRONIC INK© www.electronicink.com Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Usability of Buttons versus Links for Navigation
I'd say use buttons if it something you WANT the User to do vs. links for things Users CAN do. Also there should be primary and secondary level buttons with only one primary button per functional area - the acion you REALLY want the User to chose... The SUBMIT ORDER comes to mind. Jon Karpoff Senior Partner Director User Experience Office: 1-212-237-5516 Cell: 1-914-419-4151 Email: jon.karp...@ogilvy.com We few, we happy few 636 11th Ave, New York, NY 10036. Shivan Kannan shivan.kan...@gm ail.com To Sent by: disc...@ixda.org discuss-boun...@l cc ists.interactiond esigners.com Subject Re: [IxDA Discuss] Usability of Buttons versus Links for Navigation 07/29/09 10:55 AM Hi If you see gmail interface, they have a 'Back to Inbox' text link unlike its adjacent buttons. This is to make the back more prominent for the user and also that it is in blue underlined (a convention for links). You can use the button if that is the only button in that row or column, or you could use the blue underlined link as gmail has. The point is to show the difference in appearance thereby making it stand out from the other trigers (links). The reason others suggested you to change the link to a button may be because you already have several similar looking links within the article. Hence to make the 'BACK' look different from them, button is advisable. From a functionality point of view, link or button doesn't matter much. From a usability point of view, a button will definitely stand out from a number of links on the same page. -- Shivan Kannan %u2605 uidude.com %u2605 uidude.wordpress.com %u2605 twit...@uidude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44185 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help Privileged/Confidential Information may be contained in this message. If you are not the addressee indicated in this message (or responsible for delivery of the message to such person), you may not copy or deliver this message to anyone. In such case, you should destroy this message and kindly notify the sender by reply email. Please advise immediately if you or your employer does not consent to email or messages of this kind. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to the official business of the sender's company shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it. For more information on WPP's business ethical standards and corporate responsibility policies, please refer to WPP's website at http://www.wpp.com/WPP/About/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Are We The Puppet Masters? The Ethics of IxD.
One ethical consideration I run into often is a client wanting the marketing email option defaulted to opt-in. Typically these options are buried at the bottom of the page, below the fold and buried in fine print. I always push for either opt-out as the default, or no default value at all. Jon Karpoff Senior Partner Director User Experience Office: 1-212-237-5516 Cell: 1-914-419-4151 Email: jon.karp...@ogilvy.com We few, we happy few 636 11th Ave, New York, NY 10036. Brad Nunnally bnunna...@gmail. com To Sent by: Jared Spool jsp...@uie.com discuss-boun...@l cc ists.interactiond disc...@ixda.org esigners.com disc...@ixda.org Subject Re: [IxDA Discuss] Are We The 07/29/09 11:02 AM Puppet Masters? The Ethics of IxD. Hi Jared, Sorry for my lack if responses, currently adjusting to my new life as a father and learning how to manage my time. I gave been following, just not able to respond as much as I wish. I don't see any moral issues when it comes to influencing a persons behavior. Simple because at the end of the day the person can always choose to do something different. It is when we as designers take that choice away I see an issue. The real debate defing the line that seperates influence and control and what types of influence seem to push the envelope on right or wrong. Dave recent comment on HOW we influence is very interesting and one that I want to explore more. This message has been brought to you via my iPhone. On Jul 28, 2009, at 7:44 PM, Jared Spool jsp...@uie.com wrote: On Jul 28, 2009, at 11:51 AM, Dan Lockton wrote: it's a great debate If only I understood what we were debating. It's disappointing when an author posts his article for discussion then doesn't participate in said discussion. Maybe we should debate how that is wrong? Jared Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help Privileged/Confidential Information may be contained in this message. If you are not the addressee indicated in this message (or responsible for delivery of the message to such person), you may not copy or deliver this message to anyone. In such case, you should destroy this message and kindly notify the sender by reply email. Please advise immediately if you or your employer does not consent to email or messages of this kind. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to the official business of the sender's company shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it. For more information on WPP's business ethical standards and corporate responsibility policies, please refer to WPP's website at http://www.wpp.com/WPP/About/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Aesthetics in HCI
From the application perspective: I think the aesthetics impart more meaning to the HCI, providing focus and direction to how the elements are ordered and looked at. I also think the notion of a beautiful application is possible. For me, that is also the goal and what sets one application from another. Given that functionality might be basically equal in two applications, the design that takes the time to provide a useful and usable functionality with a design that interprets the requirements into a unique visual experience sets itself apart. From the marketing perspective, an application that incorporates both elements in its development is easier to sell, provided the functionality is there and works as it is desired and supposed to work. If the application also provides all of the necessary support materials, all the better. This is all part of the total application environment/experience. Jennifer = -Original Message- From: discuss-boun...@lists.interactiondesigners.com [mailto:discuss-boun...@lists.interactiondesigners.com] On Behalf Of Paul Nuschke Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 12:11 PM To: marioTN Cc: disc...@ixda.org Subject: Re: [IxDA Discuss] Aesthetics in HCI That's only part of it. Aesthetics gives varying levels of priority to the components on a page. Just a basic example: image a text heading use three times on a page. Depending upon the font type that heading will communicate different emotions (e.g., courier or comic sans) and will have varying levels of readability. If it's gray it will recede and if it's red it will stand out. If it's too big, it overwhelms the page. Too small and it's hard to read. The feel is important, but so is the priority, and the optimal balance depends on the audience. On Tue, Jul 28, 2009 at 1:29 AM, marioTN somma...@gmail.com wrote: Hi all! I have a simple (?) question: how is aesthetics defined and how much important is it for interaction design? For me aesthetics is the feeling that you have, while you are admiring/interacting/breathing something that elicits inner emotions. What's your opinion? Thank you, mario. Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help -- Paul Nuschke Principal, Research Strategy ELECTRONIC INK(c) www.electronicink.com Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help This email is confidential and subject to important disclaimers and conditions including on offers for the purchase or sale of securities, accuracy and completeness of information, viruses, confidentiality, legal privilege, and legal entity disclaimers, available at http://www.jpmorgan.com/pages/disclosures/email. Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Are We The Puppet Masters? The Ethics of IxD.
How about the ethics of temporarily blinding users that don't use a products as intended? Read this story: http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/07/pepperspray/ Now that's what I call influencing behavior through design. What's next, the tazer equipped vending machine? You better have exact change - punk! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44045 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Aesthetics in HCI
What is aesthetics, and what is it's role in design?... A simple question?... Really? OK, a simple answer then. Aesthetics: The branch of philosophy that deals with the nature and expression of beauty. (American Heritage Dictionary) As for it's importance in interaction design, one could safely say that - everything else being equal between two options - most if not all people would chose to use/purchase the one found to be more aesthetically pleasing. This is to say that we associate a value to beauty. Is perceived beauty more, less or equally important to ease of use, feature set, performance, etc? What about cultural, age, gender, and other differences that may influence perception of beauty? The whole issue quickly becomes very complex. Lets say you are looking to appeal to an audience that self identifies as cutting edge, trend setting, and unique. If those people are served up a product that has an appearance that appeals to the masses they will likely reject it without consideration. They will gravitate to items that intentionally fall outside the mainstream, and that may even shock or offend more conservative demographics. They have an aesthetic (as we all do) that is in many ways defined by the actions and reactions of others. My point, aesthetics/beauty certainly has value, but the extent of that value and it's implications on other aspects of a design are very dependent on the particular product. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44186 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Usability of Buttons versus Links for Navigation
At 12:50 AM -0400 7/29/09, Claudia wrote: I also know the problem particularly when I discuss with developers. Often I have the situation that we have a form that can be submitted (so we have a save or ok button) and we have a cancel button. The points we discuss is: - do we need a cancel button on a website where you can click somewhere else and you can start again - and I am of two minds on this. I have read some opinions that you don't need a Cancel action at all (be it a button or a link), that you just need to provide the user with clear alternatives to proceeding. I'm not convinced of that, however; at least not in the general case. On the one hand, it seems to me that people are accustomed to having a Cancel option in dialog boxes and tend to expect the same elsewhere (e.g., Web apps). On the other hand, I suspect that Return to X would *be* such a clearer alternative. I do think it should be a button rather than a link, precisely because it conveys the impression of performing an action rather than simply navigating. - should the cancel button look like a button or a link - because the developers opinion is, that it works like a link so it should look like a link. My opinion is that in most of the cases the user don't know what happens behind the UI so he don't have a problem that it look like a button. I agree with you, Claudia. If it takes an action, make it a button, regardless of whether it also has the side effect of taking the user somewhere else. The user expects to see things change on clicking a Cancel button. In this case, navigation is not specifically the user's intent, and a link is not the appropriate mechanism for it. Elizabeth -- Elizabeth Buie Luminanze Consulting, LLC web: www.luminanze.com twt: @ebuie Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Usability of Buttons versus Links for Navigation
My initial response would be - surely the users can just use the back button? Unless there's specific reasons you've identified why this won't work for your project of course. Assuming you do need an element on the page that takes the users back, then I would agree with the others here that you need to stick with the conventions of links as navigation and buttons as actions. So make it a link and make it descriptive as already mentioned, so that the user can remember where they came from. Sam @superdeluxesam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44185 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Charles Eames Quote: Role of the Designer
In watching the 2007 Ted Talk by Eames Demetrious on his grandparents, Charles Ray Eames, I came across this fascinating quote: The role of the designer is that of a good host anticipating the needs of their guest. This pleased me. It fits into my thinking of what experience design is all about. Thought I'd share. (Sorry for the lack of a link to the interesting video. On a plane w/o wifi and iTunes doesn't have an easy way to get the original link.) Jared Jared M. Spool User Interface Engineering 510 Turnpike St., Suite 102, North Andover, MA 01845 e: jsp...@uie.com p: +1 978 327 5561 http://uie.com Blog: http://uie.com/brainsparks Twitter: @jmspool Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Interaction design versus Instructional Design
On Jul 28, 2009, at 3:43 PM, Cindy Edwards wrote: Jared Spool offered: One way to think about it is that, most of the time, interaction design succeeds if the user doesn't learn anything in the process and instructional design succeeds if they do. I agree, to a point: Interaction design succeeds when the user doesn't have to expressly learn to use the tool they are interacting with, and instructional design (for online learning) succeeds in part when the interaction design is effective. For technology-based learning, interaction design is a necessary function of success. Hi Cindy, First, I'll suggest that I intentionally said most of the time in my original supposition because I do think there are times when the goal of interaction design is to educate the user. However, this is not one of those times. :) I agree that interaction design can be a necessary component for technology-based learning. But, in that instance, the goal of the interaction design component isn't to education. It's to facilitate the education from the instructional design component. More concretely: If I have a design element (say a video player or game) that is part of instructional schema (by watching the video or playing the game, the user learns the desired content), learning how to control and operate the design element (playing the video or manipulating the game controls) is *not* the objective. An 'intuitive' design element will best meet the instructional objectives. No need to distract the user from their learning by forcing them to focus on operation of the technology. So, with that, I stand by my original supposition. Jared Jared M. Spool User Interface Engineering 510 Turnpike St., Suite 102, North Andover, MA 01845 e: jsp...@uie.com p: +1 978 327 5561 http://uie.com Blog: http://uie.com/brainsparks Twitter: @jmspool Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] [Event] Escape The Lab — We dnesday, Aug 26
Why hello there, IxDA! Want to learn remote research? Bolt | Peters is hosting a one-day workshop on August 26th, and you're invited. Give us a day and we can teach you all the rocket surgery you need to conduct qualitative studies the real-time, native environment way. * Date: Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 * Time: 9am - 4:30pm. Sign-in starts at 8:30am, Drinks and schmoozing afterwards * Place: Bolt | Peters User Experience at 60 Rausch St., unit 102 * More Info: http://escapethelab.com * Cost: $399. Register now (space very limited). 1/2 off for students and underemployed. * By: Bolt | Peters User Experience, the makers of Ethnio Bolt | Peters Instructors --- * Cyd Harrell, Director of Research * Frances James, Lead UX Researcher * Nate Bolt, CEO Who Should Attend? Researchers, designers, and product managers who want to watch real people use technology from the comfort of their own desks. (While saving travel costs and the planet!) What We'll Cover --- * Strengths and weaknesses of remote ux research * Study design scripting * Participant recruiting options * Moderating in the remote environment * Tools for screen sharing, recording, and communication * What can go wrong and what to do about it What You'll Take Home --- * A Trapper Keeper full of script outlines, consent forms, and software comparisons * A starter account for Ethnio online recruiting * A coupon for 20% off our forthcoming book, Remote Research * 15% discount on all Rosenfeld Media books * A newfound confidence in conducting your own remote research! Register now at: http://escapethelab.com/register.html (Space is superduper limited.) Hope to see you there! Bolt | Peters User Experience http://boltpeters.com Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] [Event] Escape The Lab — We dnesday, Aug 26
Is this NYC? On Jul 29, 2009, at 3:58 PM, Tony Tulathimutte wrote: Why hello there, IxDA! Want to learn remote research? Bolt | Peters is hosting a one-day workshop on August 26th, and you're invited. Give us a day and we can teach you all the rocket surgery you need to conduct qualitative studies the real-time, native environment way. * Date: Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 * Time: 9am - 4:30pm. Sign-in starts at 8:30am, Drinks and schmoozing afterwards * Place: Bolt | Peters User Experience at 60 Rausch St., unit 102 * More Info: http://escapethelab.com * Cost: $399. Register now (space very limited). 1/2 off for students and underemployed. * By: Bolt | Peters User Experience, the makers of Ethnio Bolt | Peters Instructors --- * Cyd Harrell, Director of Research * Frances James, Lead UX Researcher * Nate Bolt, CEO Who Should Attend? Researchers, designers, and product managers who want to watch real people use technology from the comfort of their own desks. (While saving travel costs and the planet!) What We'll Cover --- * Strengths and weaknesses of remote ux research * Study design scripting * Participant recruiting options * Moderating in the remote environment * Tools for screen sharing, recording, and communication * What can go wrong and what to do about it What You'll Take Home --- * A Trapper Keeper full of script outlines, consent forms, and software comparisons * A starter account for Ethnio online recruiting * A coupon for 20% off our forthcoming book, Remote Research * 15% discount on all Rosenfeld Media books * A newfound confidence in conducting your own remote research! Register now at: http://escapethelab.com/register.html (Space is superduper limited.) Hope to see you there! Bolt | Peters User Experience http://boltpeters.com Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Conan community feedback processed
Dear IxDA, I want to thank everybody who stepped up to participate in the recent round of feedback on the design concepts presented for IxDA Conan, our website redesign project. In addition to the members of the Conan team themselves, about 60 IxDA members asked to review designs in the ConceptShare system. Special thanks for the most cogent detailed feedback from IxDA members goes to Maureen Murphy Shilpas Shukla! As the Creative Director Project Manager of Conan, I have reviewed all the feedback and produced a set of design change recommendations as well as questions that need to be answered. These items are becoming work items that will be addressed by the design teams. Please feel free to take a look at the processed feedback published online at: http://docs.google.com/View?id=df6bq4tg_0ffzp5s3p One issue raised repeatedly by reviewers that I'd like to address in this forum questioned our intention to utilize the existing visual design. Firstly, it was a tactical mistake for us to represent the Home page as identical with today's visual design. Mea culpa! We will in fact be re-considering the layout and organization of this page to reflect the new, dynamic community contents that will be delivered with the new site. (Unfortunately, the design concepts for this page were not completed in time for this feedback round.) However, it is a deliberate strategic decision on the part of the IxDA leadership team to minimize our risk on this major initiative by using our existing visual design. The current style of the website was professionally procured in 2007. When we surveyed our membership in December 2008 about various aspects of the current website in order to inform the Conan feature list prioritization thereof, the visual design was judged to be the most successful aspect of the site. Adopting the adage of If it ain't broke, don't fix it, we have chosen principally to devote our resources to the interaction design and development challenges of the redesign project. The most urgent driver for this project has always been the technical instability of the current website's discussion forum coupled with the extreme growth of our members local groups. Nevertheless, the Conan team intends to push the envelope on the visual design, based on the questioning feedback in this area. We all tend to agree that the overall look is too sterile or corporate, and we want to bring more life to the site in keeping with the vibrancy of our community. We also will reconsider the layout of the top-level navigation in relation to the logo, log-in fields and search functionality, and will ensure that second- and third-level navigation is clearly comprehensible and well-integrated with the page design. Thanks again for your support of this initiative, which creeps ever closer to reality. Spare a kind thought for all the volunteers making this project happen! I believe that we'll probably release a couple areas of the site for additional review of revised design concepts, and I hope you'll help us polish it further when we release alpha/beta versions during the development phase. Just let me know if you have any questions in the meantime! Cheers, Liz Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] [Event] Escape The Lab ? Wednesday, Aug 26
Unless you plan on attending remotely, you will want to know that this is in San Francisco! :) * Place: Bolt | Peters User Experience at 60 Rausch St., unit 102 - Donna Quoting Tony Tulathimutte t...@boltpeters.com: Why hello there, IxDA! Want to learn remote research? Bolt | Peters is hosting a one-day workshop on August 26th, and you're invited. Give us a day and we can teach you all the rocket surgery you need to conduct qualitative studies the real-time, native environment way. * Date: Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 * Time: 9am - 4:30pm. Sign-in starts at 8:30am, Drinks and schmoozing afterwards * Place: Bolt | Peters User Experience at 60 Rausch St., unit 102 * More Info: http://escapethelab.com * Cost: $399. Register now (space very limited). 1/2 off for students and underemployed. * By: Bolt | Peters User Experience, the makers of Ethnio Bolt | Peters Instructors --- * Cyd Harrell, Director of Research * Frances James, Lead UX Researcher * Nate Bolt, CEO Who Should Attend? Researchers, designers, and product managers who want to watch real people use technology from the comfort of their own desks. (While saving travel costs and the planet!) What We'll Cover --- * Strengths and weaknesses of remote ux research * Study design scripting * Participant recruiting options * Moderating in the remote environment * Tools for screen sharing, recording, and communication * What can go wrong and what to do about it What You'll Take Home --- * A Trapper Keeper full of script outlines, consent forms, and software comparisons * A starter account for Ethnio online recruiting * A coupon for 20% off our forthcoming book, Remote Research * 15% discount on all Rosenfeld Media books * A newfound confidence in conducting your own remote research! Register now at: http://escapethelab.com/register.html (Space is superduper limited.) Hope to see you there! Bolt | Peters User Experience http://boltpeters.com Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Usability of Buttons versus Links for Navigation
Have you considered calling the link 'Return to search results' if they've arrived via site search results? Do you really need a back link / button for other situations? What if they've arrived via search engine? I'd let the browser Back button take priority here, apart from if they've come via the site's search results. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44185 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Aesthetics and Interaction/Usability
I'm doing some study on the relevancy on Aesthetics to HCI, mainly how Aesthetics can help improve usability of software. Does anyone has any knowledge or would like to express their views on this? Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Aesthetics and Interaction/Usability
http://www.ixda.org/discuss.php?post=44186 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44234 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Charles Eames Quote: Role of the Designer
Excellent analogy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44227 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
