Re: [IxDA Discuss] Sketching before the Wireframes
I usually start with a big whiteboard and marker to sketch the flow and wireframes. Whiteboard is relatively easier to erase and alter the wireframes, compared to paper eraser combo. Afterwards, I capture them in paper (pencil sketch) or take a photo with my mobile phone to archive them. - Rajesh (Zoho Corp) On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 5:28 AM, Mike Hales mike.ha...@gmail.com wrote: Hi I would absolutely go with the sketches, much faster and easier to knock out, experiment with etc. You'll save time later when moving onto software and/or paper prototypes etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48924 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] Sketching before the Wireframes
Hi, I guess it's whatever works best for you, although there is absolutely nothing wrong with paper prototyping first. This is pretty much how all designers start getting their ideas together, as it's very fast and cheap to do. There is a bit of guidance on wikipedia that may help. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_prototyping - although I think that cutting bits out is probably going a bit too far, and an interactive wireframe would work much better. You can also do 'scamps' which are a slightly more designery wireframe. http://community.brandrepublic.com/forums/t/11751.aspx Cheers Graham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48924 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] Sketching before the Wireframes
Sketches - yes, the beginning of your product development process. I use paper and pencil to sketch and work out the flow and design of the product. This helps me and my development team immensely to achieve what is expected from them and what the final product is to be like. After sketches, I do use InDesign for a basic flow to portray it with a must cleaner look. This again puts things in a better perspective and the issues that were raised while doing the sketches are then eliminated. It is seldom that I would use wire framing softwares like Axure. Softwares like Axure can be used for complex products. Due to the rapid development process, I rarely use paper prototypes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48924 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] Regarding Table
Hi, I recommend a clear list in a high profile, consistent location throughout all steps. A user can add items across all paginated pages to the 'delete list' and position the 'delete button' under your delete list. Or, to get around the large page size you could adopt some more AJAXy stuff with: -Continuous scrolling on a page - more results load as you scroll down (probably not a good idea) -If the lists can be grouped together you could adopt collapsible lists and load the content as each category is expanded. Not sure if the 2 ideas above are any good, but if the problem is the size of the page then there may be some other solutions to explore. I personally think a delete list will be a very good solution. Cheers Graham Sear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48916 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] Sketching before the Wireframes
well..m just a studentworking in a company for a sponsored project for my thesis application development for iPhones, etc. even i use to prefer to make wireframes on paper good deal of sketching and bit of text is more then enough to convey my ideas while sketching i feel more liberty to express myself... i also tried on omnigraffle but found it more time consuming and monotonous... thats my perception... ADB himanshu On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 8:33 AM, Richard Carson richard.carso...@gmail.comwrote: Hi Folks, I wanted to ask around on the process of creating wireframes for designing mobile applications. In creating these wireframes, should I work on paper before actually hopping into a drawing program to lay out these wireframes? I believe working on paper is faster and easier before laying out the wireframes for a project. However, the company I am working with, might be wondering if I am wasting my time. That I should be doing wireframes within the drawing program. What are your suggestions and thoughts on this issue? 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 -- Himanshu Agrawal B.Arch, M.Des(IIT-Kanpur) +91 9005 850 301 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] Smart-HDL: Curtain Solutions
Bus Addressable shades and curtain, that safe your wiring costs , no need now to run electrical wiring for automation perouse Enjoy the full range and type of shade motors blind vertically and horizontally curtain. Our Shades features are: a - Bus enabled (save wiring and conduits) b - Can carry up to 120 KG c - Can be stand alone with its 4 daily timer d - IR remote to integrate with any system e - Dry contact for integration to other 3rd party system f - Free Clutch; work in manual and Automatic together in same Time. For more info, Manuals, Films and others you can visit our website http://www.sunseeker.me http://www.smart-hdl.com For installation and Programming Film you can visit http://www.youtube.com/sbustraining 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] Mac apps for a recent convert ...
I really did not need those apps as much as i needed my social media and common chat tools. The ones i use are Seesmic (for twitter and facebook - you can set up multiple accounts in this and post on multiple account simultaneously) and Adium (supports MSN, Yahoo, GTalk, AIM, to name a few). For me the Mac comes pretty loaded enough to support my work. And yes like Adam said - MAMP. A very useful tool. And from this discussion I must say, I am intrigued with CODA and will certainly use it. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48830 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] The \magic place\ between user research and design - tips stories
On Feb 2, 2010, at 12:28 AM, Daniel Szuc wrote: Hi: There is a magic place that exists between user research (speaking with your users stakeholders), taking all that goodness and designing the product with that in mind and speaking to it. Often, user research can fall into a chasm because there is no up front thought put into how it can translate into the design. So what has worked well for you? For example: * How do you translate findings from user research into design? * What do you plan for up front in your user research to help communicate your design? * What do you use to tell a story around and to the design? * How do you help sell the design and also speak to the issues? Note - I have deliberately left out speaking to a specific UX method, rather looking for tips stories. Look forward to learning from you all. rgds, Dan Hi Dan, I think there are two parts. First, you do have to think ahead to design the research you're doing to answer specific questions. What are the concerns about the design? Where are there gaps in what the team knows? What are they having difficulty making decisions about? Second, the best teams I've met look at what they've heard and what they've seen in the completed sessions with users through a meaningful and thorough process, going from observations to inferences to opinions to theories, which they then test. Going through each of those steps is incredibly important for solving the *right* problems, answering the questions the team went into a given study with. And this is the step that I see most teams missing. Instead, they jump from observing users to design direction, without the close examination of what happened and why. Great questions - Dana :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: Dana Chisnell 415.519.1148 dana AT usabilityworks DOT net www.usabilityworks.net http://usabilitytestinghowto.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] In need of Work Placement
We're currently looking to recruit an intern if this is of interest to you? http://clearleft.com/is/hiring/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48906 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] Training for web copywriters
We're currently running a copywriting course with the excellent Relly Annett-Baker if you;re interested. http://workshopsfortheweb.com/copywriting/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48908 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] Regarding Table
I think that carrying the selection across pages is a good solution as long as you provide the review/confirm deletion step. Drupal does this pretty well (the delete confirm, not carrying selections across pages). I think it's a good pattern to follow: user selects multiple items to delete and when they click the delete button the get presented with a page listing all the items selected for deletion with a confirmation button to complete the action. Be very interested in how your exploration turns out! Regards, Jason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from ixda.org (via iPhone) http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48916 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] TV production room interaction design?
Thanks Tamy, sound advice! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48851 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] Call for Proposals for UX Australia 2010
- UX Australia 2010: Call for proposals - We are very pleased to announce the call for proposals for UX Australia 2010. The conference program for UX Australia 2010 will be based on your submissions, to ensure that the conference reflects current user experience practice and also reflects the types of presentations you would like to see. We are calling for proposals for main conference presentations and for pre-conference workshops. Key dates - The key dates are: * 21 Mar 2009: Proposals close (this is not a flexible date - we will close on midnight AEST this date) * 22 Mar 2009: Reviewing starts * mid Apr 2009: Speakers notified * 1 May 2009: Conference registration opens (with full program available) Guiding principles - The key principles for UX Australia presentations are that they are grounded in experience, focus on practice and engage the audience. For example, your presentation may be a case study for a particular project, a discussion of design principles or a description of techniques you’ve used in different situations. Your presentation shouldn’t be an idea about how something should happen, or about something for which you have little experience. Presentations should not be overly academic (research findings are acceptable as long as they are, again, grounded in practice). Most importantly, presentations should describe interesting problems and how you solved them. There will be no sales pitches for products; or presentations that primarily describe a service offering of a company. Sponsors do not get an automatic right to present. Review proposals - UX Australia 2010 is a community-reviewed conference, and we need people to help with reviewing. Reviewers should have experience in some aspect of user experience design and an interest in helping us create a great program for the conference. We'll ask you to read up to 6 presentation proposals, rate according to criteria and provide constructive comment. We expect the time required will be up to 3 hours, and will be done between 22 March 2 April. If you have time in that period, and are interested, please register via the UX Australia conference management system [http://www.conference-service.com/uxaust10/registration.cgi?] (select the box that asks about reviewing). We'll contact you in mid March to get ready. Where do I start? - Keen? Start here: * Guiding principles: http://www.uxaustralia.com.au/conference-2010/program/guiding-principles * Call for proposals: http://www.uxaustralia.com.au/conference-2010/program/call-for-proposals * Register as a reviewer:http://www.conference-service.com/uxaust10/registration.cgi ? Thanks Steve Baty UX Australia -- Steve 'Doc' Baty | Principal | Meld Studios | P: +61 417 061 292 | E: st...@meldstudios.com.au | Twitter: docbaty | Skype: steve_baty | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stevebaty 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] Sketching before the Wireframes
Definitely sketch first. Always paper before pixels. Then if you can, share those sketches with someone in your team and get their feedback. Then move to digital. Even if you don't share them with anyone, use them as a cheat sheet for your digital mockups. If anyone asks, tell them it's an interface outline. You need to know exactly what data you're working with BEFORE you start pushing pixels, else you'll waste far more time. I wrote an article about sketching that might be of some help: http://www.uxbooth.com/blog/tools-for-sketching-user-experiences/ Cheers, Jason R. http://jasonrobb.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48924 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] Sketching before the Wireframes
Putting ideas on paper might seem like a waste to a stakeholder. But the one point to get across is that you're less likely to self edit and clean up your ideas while sketching. Pen and paper allows you the ability to throw out ideas quickly and not necessarily worry about the final deliverable to the stakeholder. I prefer to sketch ideas out and put into Omni, Visio or straight to HTML prototype depending on the project. But I have noticed that working in the software as a first step, I'm definitely not as open to ideas and thinking of the issue from another angle. Also, check out these two resources. Thoughts from Will Evans on sketching - http://blog.semanticfoundry.com/2010/01/31/shades-of-gray-thoughts-on-sketching/ Great book by Todd Zaki Warfel on prototyping - http://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/prototyping/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48924 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] Sketching before the Wireframes
I always use paper and pencil (or whiteboard) to do multiple designs of a concept. Then we vet the designs and then move to a wireframe tool. Plus, it is much faster and more collaborative I find than using a wireframing tool. Happy Sketching, Sean On Mon, Feb 1, 2010 at 10:03 PM, Richard Carson richard.carso...@gmail.comwrote: Hi Folks, I wanted to ask around on the process of creating wireframes for designing mobile applications. In creating these wireframes, should I work on paper before actually hopping into a drawing program to lay out these wireframes? I believe working on paper is faster and easier before laying out the wireframes for a project. However, the company I am working with, might be wondering if I am wasting my time. That I should be doing wireframes within the drawing program. What are your suggestions and thoughts on this issue? 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
[IxDA Discuss] UPDATE: Call for Proposals for UX Australia 2010
Update: Conference dates are August 25-27 at the Langham Hotel in Melbourne, Australia. On 2 February 2010 08:38, Steve Baty steveb...@gmail.com wrote: - UX Australia 2010: Call for proposals - We are very pleased to announce the call for proposals for UX Australia 2010. The conference program for UX Australia 2010 will be based on your submissions, to ensure that the conference reflects current user experience practice and also reflects the types of presentations you would like to see. We are calling for proposals for main conference presentations and for pre-conference workshops. Key dates - The key dates are: * 21 Mar 2009: Proposals close (this is not a flexible date - we will close on midnight AEST this date) * 22 Mar 2009: Reviewing starts * mid Apr 2009: Speakers notified * 1 May 2009: Conference registration opens (with full program available) Guiding principles - The key principles for UX Australia presentations are that they are grounded in experience, focus on practice and engage the audience. For example, your presentation may be a case study for a particular project, a discussion of design principles or a description of techniques you’ve used in different situations. Your presentation shouldn’t be an idea about how something should happen, or about something for which you have little experience. Presentations should not be overly academic (research findings are acceptable as long as they are, again, grounded in practice). Most importantly, presentations should describe interesting problems and how you solved them. There will be no sales pitches for products; or presentations that primarily describe a service offering of a company. Sponsors do not get an automatic right to present. Review proposals - UX Australia 2010 is a community-reviewed conference, and we need people to help with reviewing. Reviewers should have experience in some aspect of user experience design and an interest in helping us create a great program for the conference. We'll ask you to read up to 6 presentation proposals, rate according to criteria and provide constructive comment. We expect the time required will be up to 3 hours, and will be done between 22 March 2 April. If you have time in that period, and are interested, please register via the UX Australia conference management system [http://www.conference-service.com/uxaust10/registration.cgi?] (select the box that asks about reviewing). We'll contact you in mid March to get ready. Where do I start? - Keen? Start here: * Guiding principles: http://www.uxaustralia.com.au/conference-2010/program/guiding-principles * Call for proposals: http://www.uxaustralia.com.au/conference-2010/program/call-for-proposals * Register as a reviewer:http://www.conference-service.com/uxaust10/registration.cgi ? Thanks Steve Baty UX Australia 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] Sketching before the Wireframes
Hi Richard, I always start with sketching - couple of days ago I wrote a blog post about my sketching before wireframing process here: Shades of Gray: Thoughts on Sketching http://tinyurl.com/ylpp4t8 Or The Right Way to Wireframe video I made for the IxD10 conference workshop. http://tinyurl.com/yzm96ru Cheers, ~ will Where you innovate, how you innovate, and what you innovate are design problems Will Evans | Director, Experience Design tel: +1.617.281.1281 | w...@semanticfoundry.com http://blog.semanticfoundry.com http://www.linkedin.com/in/semanticwill aim: semanticwill gtalk: semanticwill twitter: semanticwill On Feb 2, 2010, at 10:21 AM, Sean Gerety wrote: I always use paper and pencil (or whiteboard) to do multiple designs of a concept. Then we vet the designs and then move to a wireframe tool. Plus, it is much faster and more collaborative I find than using a wireframing tool. Happy Sketching, Sean On Mon, Feb 1, 2010 at 10:03 PM, Richard Carson richard.carso...@gmail.comwrote: Hi Folks, I wanted to ask around on the process of creating wireframes for designing mobile applications. In creating these wireframes, should I work on paper before actually hopping into a drawing program to lay out these wireframes? I believe working on paper is faster and easier before laying out the wireframes for a project. However, the company I am working with, might be wondering if I am wasting my time. That I should be doing wireframes within the drawing program. What are your suggestions and thoughts on this issue? 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 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] Sketching before the Wireframes
For me its often a matter of the requirements. Sometimes I'll be given a set of requirements and as I'm reading, the layout just comes to mind. In these cases, sketching is entirely unecessary as I already have a thorough idea of where everything should be in my head. However, if clarity isn't quite there, getting objects down on paper or on a whiteboard often helps the process along of brainstorming. I find the sketching process to be particularly beneficial for workflow and getting past conflicts in what I have already perceived in the design. Things become more clear when they're on paper. Good luck! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48924 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] Sr. Human Factors Engineer Sr. Usability Engineer, ATT Interactive, Glendale, CA
Hi All, We're looking for a couple experienced UX folks to join our team! If interested, please apply at the links below: Sr. Human Factors Engineer http://tbe.taleo.net/NA3/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=YELLOWPAGEScws=1rid=2578 Sr. Usability Engineer http://tbe.taleo.net/NA3/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=YELLOWPAGEScws=1rid=2435 Thanks, Eugene 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] Sketching before the Wireframes
Richard, I think the question is framed incorrectly. Sketching is not about the tools you use, but about the intention you have with those tools. Some may disagree but I have fallen directly on the doctrine that Bill Buxton proposed in his Sketching User Experience book. I also reframed it slightly to suggest that sketching regardless of the tool used has these properties: 1) disposable - not in the sense that it can be thrown out but that it WILL be thrown out. 2) volume (multiplicity) - You need a critical mass of quantity of sketches around the domains you are working on. 3) Roughness - the more refined it is the more it will illicit unintended responses from those that you are share it with I'm going blank at the moment, but if you just use those 3 and you stick w/ the intentionality of question (instead of statement) then you are sketching. Now all of that together usually leads people to paper and pen(cil). But as I said the tool is not the point. If you are drawing or even white boarding and you do 1 or 2 and then done, you are not sketching in the design process sense, but only in the type of drawing style sense. But that's my take on this. -- dave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48924 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] Interfaces Issue 81 - Design beyond boundaries - FREE to download
The latest issue of Interfaces is now available for FREE as pdf from the Interaction Website. Download Design beyond boundaries and visit the Interfaces archive at: http://www.bcs-hci.org.uk/about/interfaces Interfaces Issue 81 - Design beyond boundaries includes: * 10 tips for mobile design for development by Ken Banks and Joel Selanikio * International development and HCI by Andy Smith, José Abdelnour-Nocera, Souleymane Boundaouda Camara and Cecilia Oyugi * Access all areas by Andy Dearden * Ecomodo by Meriel Lenfestey and Tracy Currer * Engaging developing markets by Anxo Cereijo-Roibás, Mark Vanderbeeken, Neil Clavin and Jan-Christoph Zoels * Design for sustainability and empowerment by David Benyon * The creative moment by Brigitte Kaltenbacher * My PhD by Chris Rooney - Edited by Stephen Hassard * UX Book reviews by Shailey Minocha * HCI 2010 by Lachlan MacKinnon * Create10 by Ingi Helgason -- Cfps and Upcoming Events HCI 2010 - Play is a Serious Business 6th to 10th September 2010 in Dundee http://hci2010.abertay.ac.uk/ UX Competency Framework Workshop 25th February 2010 in London http://www.usabilitynews.com/news/article6092.asp HCI Educators Workshop - Learning to Design and Learning through Design 17th to 18th May 2010 in Eindhoven http://www.hcied.id.tue.nl/ CREATE! 2010 - Innovative Interactions 30th June to 2nd July 2010 in Edinburgh http://companions.napier.ac.uk/~create2009/Site/welcome.html -- About Interaction Founded in 1984, Interaction is the longest-established and largest national group in Europe devoted to HCI. A specialist group of the British Computer Society, Interaction publishes Interfaces, the award-winning quarterly magazine for members and the high-ranking international academic journal Interacting with Computers. The group also organises a prestigious annual international conference (HCI 2010 is in Abertay Dundee in September) as well as regular workshops and events including the HCI Educators Conference held annually with IFIP (in Eindhoven in April 2010). Interaction also runs a number of respected and popular websites including the leading global usability portal;UsabilityNews.com. -- Websites Interfaces Magazine http://www.bcs-hci.org.uk/about/interfaces Interacting with Computers http://ees.elsevier.com/iwc/ HCI 2010 http://hci2010.abertay.ac.uk/ Usability News http://www.usabilitynews.com/ HCI Educators Conference http://www.hcied.id.tue.nl/ 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] The magic place between user research and design - tips stories
Great topic. Success depends on connecting the wires between research results and subsequent action. Our approach for connecting the wires can be summed up in 3 points. 1) Begin with the end in mind At the start of every research project, we identify the people who are expected to take the results and turn them into a reality, and we ask to meet with them so we can identify the design parameters we can realistically impact. Ignoring them until it's time to socialize the results is a big mistake, because at that point they may actively deep six the results. The format of the results needs to be something they are prepared to own and carry forward. For our projects, this often involves conceptual wireframes with medium fidelity design components. 2) Provide specific, unambiguous recommendations Findings are great, but many clients don't know what to do with findings. They need specific recommendations, whether text or conceptual diagrams. One client actually forwarded me an internal thread that said, We're concerned that the experts are going to leave us something that is brilliant but then we don't know what to do with it. Can they sit down with us and discuss specific design changes? The answer was, of course, yes. If recommendations are brilliant but non-directional, people not intimately acquainted with the details will question the value of the exercise. 3) Give stakeholders a vivid picture of the issues Whenever possible, we include a small video reel that highlights the core issues. We often conduct in-depth interviews or ethnographic research in homes, workplaces, retail outlets, etc., so it's relatively easy to pull together video scenes that drive home the findings and support the recommendations. I've found that the busiest executive sponsor or design director will pay rapt attention to 3 minutes of video, but may get glassy eyes or start texting with the the same volume of presentation data. The details are only for the people who want and need them. In one presentation for a media company, the sponsors literally clapped after the personas presentation. Paul Bryan Usography ( http://www.usography.com ) %u2028 Blog: Virtual Floorspace ( http://www.virtualfloorspace.com ) Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/uxexperts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48929 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] Sketching before the Wireframes
I usually start on White boards/paper. It's fast and flexible, and definitely high value used in the correct circumstances. Also I don't think paper prototyping is any more or less disposable then a digital Wireframe version. I'm looking directly at a paper prototype now, on the wall infront of me, which has outlived almost every digital wireframe in the product I'm working on. Rich On Mon, Feb 1, 2010 at 10:03 PM, Richard Carson richard.carso...@gmail.comwrote: Hi Folks, I wanted to ask around on the process of creating wireframes for designing mobile applications. In creating these wireframes, should I work on paper before actually hopping into a drawing program to lay out these wireframes? I believe working on paper is faster and easier before laying out the wireframes for a project. However, the company I am working with, might be wondering if I am wasting my time. That I should be doing wireframes within the drawing program. What are your suggestions and thoughts on this issue? -- Joseph Rich Rogan President UX/UI Inc. http://www.jrrogan.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] help text in input fields - bad?
Does anyone have research to point to regarding the practice of placing instructional text in a field that is meant for user input? For example, on a site like http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ you see Google custom search inside the search field; or http://www.adobe.com/ writes Search Adobe.com inside theirs. I have read articles stating that this can depress overall usage of an input field, as some users become blind to the field if it is not empty, but can't find any now that I need them. Also, what about the use of colored input fields? Do non-white text boxes perform less well than standard white HTML input fields? 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] Regarding Table
Thanks for all the feedback so far. Some really good ideas there!!! I did propose having a Delete List at the end where users have a summary view of the items selected for deletion but we can have a lot of elements and then user may have to scroll endlessly. We currently have a Dialog Box for deletion and I also proposed that we have list at the end and a user can select certain rows that they would like to remove from delete list by clicking a button. I was told it's too much by engineers :) . Another thought from one of the engineer is to have a counter that would tell a user how many rows are marked for deletion but I think a counter is of no use as it's just a mere indication of how many rows are selected and does not give any information related to a row itself. I will keep you guys updated about what gets implemented. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48916 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] Sketching before the Wireframes
Hi Richard, Sketches (whether on paper, whiteboard, etc.) are definitely NOT a waste of time and I'm surprised anyone would complain about that. The only thing I can imagine is that you're creating fairly high-fidelity wires on paper which might be a problem from a time management perspective? Personally, I've found that a lot of my workflow is really dependent on the team I'm working with. You can be in one group where ideas are collaborative and go straight to implementation, whereas another group expects nothing else but for you to toss deliverables over the wall. Both instances will require you to work through your ideas but the latter is sort of hidden from the outside world where people might not understand your process (you handing over deliverables in x format is basically the process to them). Have an example of your sketches you us to take a look at? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48924 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] help text in input fields - bad?
I am not aware of research in this particular area but I have some general thoughts I worked on something similar recently. There are two things to consider here: 1. In your example of Search Adobe.com a user can read this and start entering their search criteria and there is no specific format they have to follow here. So, in this scenario it's pretty good way of communicating the intent. 2. In places like forms where you may have, for example a phone filed where you have listed the format a user needs to enter the details in(area code, number and ext); given that case if a user starts typing the instructional text goes away and may throw an error if a user was not able to memorize the exact format. Following is an example of handling instructional text for form elements. https://www.ubid.com/registration/default.aspx Hope this helps! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48953 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] help text in input fields - bad?
I like how http://www.krop.com has input fields with a distinct color and call to action at the same time. The Live really calls out the Instant nature of their filtered search. I don't know of any metrics that show % increase or decrease in usability. Regarding color, i am under the impression that most users are used to and prefer the default input box setting with their browser, and may assume that colored or redesigned input boxes provide unique experience. But check out Tumblr.com for their super big input custom designed input fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48953 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] help text in input fields - bad?
A lot of this is covered in Web Form Design by Luke Wroblevski. http://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/webforms/ 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] The magic place between user research and design - tips stories
This is a little out of left-field, and sort of related to this discussion on the resistance of the material: http://www.ixda.org/discuss.php?post=32320 I've found that by leveraging Hypnagogia (more commonly known as the snooze button on your alarm clock) a heightened level of associative thinking can be applied to particular problems. Here's an excerpt from the wikipedia article on the subject Receptivity and suggestibility Thought processes on the edge of sleep tend to differ radically from those of ordinary wakefulness. Hypnagogia may involve a %u201Cloosening of ego boundaries ... openness, sensitivity, internalization-subjectification of the physical and mental environment (empathy) and diffuse-absorbed attention, Hypnagogic cognition, in comparison with that of normal, alert wakefulness, is characterised by heightened suggestibility, illogic and a fluid association of ideas. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnagogia I know it's a little cranola-crunchy.. but if I've been looking at a problem for a week and feeling stuck in a rut I will make time on a Saturday morning to ponder the options, more often than not I come away with new avenues to explore. food for thought - ymmv. /pauric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48929 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] Sketching before the Wireframes
Five Steps to Take for Idiots Like That: 1. Take the paper notepad out of their hands when they're taking notes in the meeting. Look sternly at them and tell them they are simply wasting the company's time by not taking their notes on a computer in the proper word processing program. 2. Hit them over the head with the computer (j/k). 3. Once they realize their own foolish desire to be micro-managers, drive them to a whiteboard and sketch out everything. Through this iterative process, maybe they'll see how stupid it is for you to wire frame in a computer program, so that they can PRINT IT OUT and MAKE NOTES ON IT, instead of getting right the first time. (ARGH!) 4. Then take iPhone snapshots of your whiteboard masterpiece (so you remember it, just in case some idiot comes in after lunch and erases it) and open your favorite wire framing program and finish the job. 5. If they ask you to send them the file in MS PowerPoint, either quit and find a new company to work for, or say, that's not in my job description. Hand them a thumb drive with the OmniGraffle or InDesign file and say, sorry...you're on your own. Then stand back to see how much time they waste trying to find someone else that can open the file for them. Who's wasting time now? On Mon, Feb 1, 2010 at 2:03 PM, Richard Carson richard.carso...@gmail.comwrote: Hi Folks, I wanted to ask around on the process of creating wireframes for designing mobile applications. In creating these wireframes, should I work on paper before actually hopping into a drawing program to lay out these wireframes? I believe working on paper is faster and easier before laying out the wireframes for a project. However, the company I am working with, might be wondering if I am wasting my time. That I should be doing wireframes within the drawing program. What are your suggestions and thoughts on this issue? Reply to this thread at ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48924 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
[IxDA Discuss] Focus Group Questions
Can anyone point me to online resources that can guide me in the organization of a focus group? I've participated in them in the past, but could use a refresher. Thanks. Tony Zeoli Founder Digital Strategy Works 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] Sketching before the Wireframes
I would go paper first, so much easier to manipulate in the beginning of the project. - Thank you, Ken Vella k...@kenvella.com kenvella.com On Feb 1, 2010, at 7:03 PM, Richard Carson wrote: Hi Folks, I wanted to ask around on the process of creating wireframes for designing mobile applications. In creating these wireframes, should I work on paper before actually hopping into a drawing program to lay out these wireframes? I believe working on paper is faster and easier before laying out the wireframes for a project. However, the company I am working with, might be wondering if I am wasting my time. That I should be doing wireframes within the drawing program. What are your suggestions and thoughts on this issue? Reply to this thread at ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48924 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] The \magic place\ between user research and design - tips stories
On Feb 2, 2010, at 12:28 AM, Daniel Szuc wrote: There is a magic place that exists between user research (speaking with your users stakeholders), taking all that goodness and designing the product with that in mind and speaking to it. Often, user research can fall into a chasm because there is no up front thought put into how it can translate into the design. So what has worked well for you? I address this a lot in Designing for Interaction 2 (mostly because it was a gross omission in the 1st edition). The steps are pretty simple, although hard to execute well: - Put research data on the walls (make it physical) - Manipulate the now-physical data and make them into Conceptual Models (personas are one kind of perceptual model) - Ideate based on the conceptual models, particularly around pain points and opportunities uncovered in research - Create design principles based on what is known from research, plus the best ideas from concepting Dan Dan Saffer Principal, Kicker Studio http://www.odannyboy.com @odannyboy on Twitter 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] \help text\ in input fields - bad?
Hi Jayson, I did a quick bit of googling and found this article http://www.webusability.co.uk/2009/dont-put-search-in-a-search-box/ unfortunately it doesn't give empirical evidence for their claim and so you can't really take it as gospel. In terms of styling, just be careful not to style it too much, if it no longer resembles a textbox it will have the reverse effect. There are countless articles on search form design, referring to consistent placement, size of textfield, search goals and search strategies etc the Luke Wroblewski (as recommended above) presentation pretty much covers it all. Hope this is of some help Graham Sear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from ixda.org (via iPhone) http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48953 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] The \magic place\ between user research and design - tips stories
To add some resources - That magic space is so huge you could drive a tractor trailer through it. Start here: Deconstructing Analysis Techniques - by @docbaty, provides a decent overview http://johnnyholland.org/2009/02/17/deconstructing-analysis-techniques/ There are an additional 4 or 5 articles. Then move on over to Jon Kolko's Exposing the Magic of DesignL A Practitioner's Guide to the Methods and Theory of Synthesis http://www.methodsofsynthesis.com/ And just for fun, read Michael Beurittes article in Design Observer and read Michael Bierut's This Is My Process http://observatory.designobserver.com/entry.html?entry=4717 If you need complete books dedicated to the magic box - there are some of those - though a bit more academic and written for the ID crowd, but still good - one I personall love is LeCompte's Analyzing and Interpreting Ethnographic Data Cheers, ~ will Where you innovate, how you innovate, and what you innovate are design problems Will Evans | Director, Experience Design tel: +1.617.281.1281 | w...@semanticfoundry.com http://blog.semanticfoundry.com http://www.linkedin.com/in/semanticwill aim: semanticwill gtalk: semanticwill twitter: semanticwill skype: semanticwill On Feb 2, 2010, at 4:24 PM, Dan Saffer wrote: On Feb 2, 2010, at 12:28 AM, Daniel Szuc wrote: There is a magic place that exists between user research (speaking with your users stakeholders), taking all that goodness and designing the product with that in mind and speaking to it. Often, user research can fall into a chasm because there is no up front thought put into how it can translate into the design. So what has worked well for you? I address this a lot in Designing for Interaction 2 (mostly because it was a gross omission in the 1st edition). The steps are pretty simple, although hard to execute well: - Put research data on the walls (make it physical) - Manipulate the now-physical data and make them into Conceptual Models (personas are one kind of perceptual model) - Ideate based on the conceptual models, particularly around pain points and opportunities uncovered in research - Create design principles based on what is known from research, plus the best ideas from concepting Dan Dan Saffer Principal, Kicker Studio http://www.odannyboy.com @odannyboy on Twitter 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] The \magic place\ between user research and design - tips stories
Clearly I need to ignore the list and get back to IxD10 since my brain is incapable of multitasking. Cheers, ~ will On Feb 2, 2010, at 4:35 PM, Will Evans wrote: To add some resources - That magic space is so huge you could drive a tractor trailer through it. Start here: Deconstructing Analysis Techniques - by @docbaty, provides a decent overview http://johnnyholland.org/2009/02/17/deconstructing-analysis- techniques/ There are an additional 4 or 5 articles. Then move on over to Jon Kolko's Exposing the Magic of DesignL A Practitioner's Guide to the Methods and Theory of Synthesis http://www.methodsofsynthesis.com/ And just for fun, read Michael Beurittes article in Design Observer and read Michael Bierut's This Is My Process http://observatory.designobserver.com/entry.html?entry=4717 If you need complete books dedicated to the magic box - there are some of those - though a bit more academic and written for the ID crowd, but still good - one I personall love is LeCompte's Analyzing and Interpreting Ethnographic Data Cheers, ~ will Where you innovate, how you innovate, and what you innovate are design problems Will Evans | Director, Experience Design tel: +1.617.281.1281 | w...@semanticfoundry.com http://blog.semanticfoundry.com http://www.linkedin.com/in/semanticwill aim: semanticwill gtalk: semanticwill twitter: semanticwill skype: semanticwill On Feb 2, 2010, at 4:24 PM, Dan Saffer wrote: On Feb 2, 2010, at 12:28 AM, Daniel Szuc wrote: There is a magic place that exists between user research (speaking with your users stakeholders), taking all that goodness and designing the product with that in mind and speaking to it. Often, user research can fall into a chasm because there is no up front thought put into how it can translate into the design. So what has worked well for you? I address this a lot in Designing for Interaction 2 (mostly because it was a gross omission in the 1st edition). The steps are pretty simple, although hard to execute well: - Put research data on the walls (make it physical) - Manipulate the now-physical data and make them into Conceptual Models (personas are one kind of perceptual model) - Ideate based on the conceptual models, particularly around pain points and opportunities uncovered in research - Create design principles based on what is known from research, plus the best ideas from concepting Dan Dan Saffer Principal, Kicker Studio http://www.odannyboy.com @odannyboy on Twitter 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 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] help text in input fields - bad?
These are visual language elements. There's no definitive rule on their use that I know of. Whether or not they're good depends on the visual and experiential context in which they are situated. For example, helptext in fields can be useful to prompt user action, to explain the content of a field, or to explain the scope of a search. Putting text in the field can be visually cleaner than finding a place to fit the helptext in the layout, useful in tight spaces such as headers. Obviously, you have to select a text shade that doesn't make it look prefilled. Colored text fields are used to indicate required fields as an alternative to highlighted labeling. If you have a long, scrolling form (vs. a simple signup) it could make for easier scanning to find the required fields, and in theory, faster form completion. On a login form, it would be overkill, or window dressing. If you use them, avoid garish colors or color combinations that interfere with readability. Also, stick with a consistent layout grid. Color highlighting will exaggerate the jagged effect of not aligning form fields. --- On Tue, 2/2/10, Jayson Elliot jayson.ell...@gmail.com wrote: From: Jayson Elliot jayson.ell...@gmail.com Subject: [IxDA Discuss] help text in input fields - bad? To: disc...@ixda.org Date: Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 2:29 AM Does anyone have research to point to regarding the practice of placing instructional text in a field that is meant for user input? For example, on a site like http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ you see Google custom search inside the search field; or http://www.adobe.com/ writes Search Adobe.com inside theirs. I have read articles stating that this can depress overall usage of an input field, as some users become blind to the field if it is not empty, but can't find any now that I need them. Also, what about the use of colored input fields? Do non-white text boxes perform less well than standard white HTML input fields? Reply to this thread at ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48953 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] Focus Group Questions
Hi Anthony, I wrote some info about this a while back. Hope this helps: http://suzeingram.blogspot.com/2008/10/my-top-5-focus-group-questions.html Cheers, Suze. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48961 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] The magic place between user research and design - tips stories
Thanks Dan. This is particularly interesting - Create design principles based on what is known from research, plus the best ideas from concepting I see this helping get more people aligned around a product framework that may map to the UX Vision and/or how products fit together strategically potentially to business goals. Have seen many, many instances, unfortunately, where Product/Design Teams work in isolation of each other and dont have anything to link them together resulting in a broken UX. Be pleased to hear more about how you document and communicate design principles. rgds, Dan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48929 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] Could use some eyes on this chart
Took a lot of your comments into account, as well as some of my own thoughts. I tried to vastly simplify things. Here is an update, be glad to hear any thoughts. http://dl.dropbox.com/u/48702/timeline2.jpg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48697 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] Focus Group Questions
There are lots of web resources about focus groups (e.g. http://www.focusgrouptips.com/ for one). They talk about the types of questions, the order in which the questions may be asked and also give tips for moderating a group. I expect that there will be limited response to your question here (but happy to be proved wrong). Why? Many of the readers would prefer to watch users work with a product or interact in their ordinary environment (behavioral research), rather than get their verbal responses in a group (attitudinal research). In a group setting you often find participants expressing a view they don't necessarily follow, in order to please the moderator, or because of presumed peer pressure. One noisy (assertive, high verbal) participant can drown out the views of several quieter (less verbal, turn-taking) ones, whether just by talking over them. There are cultural aspects of interrupting vs turn-taking that may be unrelated to politeness, and may confound your abilities as a moderator. In a group about diet and activity levels, I might tell you I had a good (balanced, low fat) breakfast this morning, because it will put me in a positive light (to you, to the other participants, and to myself), or that I joined the gym and have been there 3-4x/week since Jan 1, because that was my New Year's resolution, and I'd prefer not to see myself as breaking resolutions before the first quarter of the year is up. (All examples purely imaginary.) Now get people to keep a food diary or photograph their snacks and meals, and you may find out more about how many calories they're eating (portion size, plus food selection). Or follow them around 3-4 random occasions over a week or two, and see what they really eat. Expensive but more likely to be representative (accurate). If you are interested in attitudes, then a focus group could be the right tool. If you're interested in avoiding most of the disadvantages of focus groups, but having a group event where you listen to users and customers, then consider a technique that is less familiar to users and more provocative of other kinds of expressive abilities. I like to use Innovation Games, and will teach a (90-min) course at CHI2010 (Atlanta - April), and a full day tutorial at UPA 2010 (Munich -May) about this topic. Or buy Luke's book and do it yourself (http://www.innovationgames.com). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48961 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] Could use some eyes on this chart
On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 5:12 PM, J. A. Fitzpatrick jaf...@gmail.com wrote: My only real confusion point in the original version was lining up the jump back to the original timeline, and the new version fixes that completely. Personally, I think the legend is confusing rather than helpful. Otherwise, it looks great :) Cheers, Jean-Anne Great, thanks Jean-Anne! I only threw the legend in there because it was suggested, but I tend to agree. I don't think it really helps. 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] help text in input fields - bad?
Use instruction text on the control when space is a concern. Ensure that the instruction text conveys the purpose of the control. For example, 'Search email' in yahoo specifically searches the inbox and not the web . Do not display critical instructions that the user needs to see when using the control. Using colors may cause some readbility issues for color blind or elderly participant. It should be ok, as long as the content is accessible even when the styles or color is turned off. Let me know your findings regarding the use of color. -Suba On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 10:29 AM, Jayson Elliot jayson.ell...@gmail.comwrote: Does anyone have research to point to regarding the practice of placing instructional text in a field that is meant for user input? For example, on a site like http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ you see Google custom search inside the search field; or http://www.adobe.com/ writes Search Adobe.com inside theirs. 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] Could use some eyes on this chart
This orientation and numbering is much easier to follow, but a few things still stand out for me: 1. Using timelines implies that the dates are laid out to some sort of scale, but they aren't. For example, the distance between 1642 and 1646 (4 years) is about the same distance as between 1646 and 2059 (419 years). So, it looks like the placement of dates on the timelines is driven by the text layout of the associated descriptions. Instead, I think you need to first lay out the dates on the timeline in a way that makes sense without the descriptions (which doesn't have to be exactly to scale), then find a way to add the text descriptions within that framework. 2. That the alternate timeline is at an angle suggests that time is progressing at a different rates on the two lines, but it seems that's not the case, since 1627 lines up vertically. Either it needs to be clearer that time is progressing at different rates, or just use parallel lines. 3. It seems the dotted line for the targeted return should drop down to the original timeline. Regards, Adam On Feb 2, 2010, at 2:51 PM, Tom DellAringa wrote: Took a lot of your comments into account, as well as some of my own thoughts. I tried to vastly simplify things. Here is an update, be glad to hear any thoughts. http://dl.dropbox.com/u/48702/timeline2.jpg 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] Sketching before the Wireframes
To follow on Dave Malouf's point: As someone who's working with many different clients who in turn have many different perspectives on what's a valuable use of my time, I feel your pain. We're always looking for ways to preserve the integrity of our process while showing our clients concepts that they can get their heads around. We ask our clients upfront about their openness to reviewing and commenting on hand-drawn sketches; some are thrilled, some are nervous, some are just not buying it. And it's not always worth it to convert a client to wholehearted adoption of hand-drawn sketches if it makes them uncomfortable. So in those cases, we quickly transfer our sketches into low-fidelity thumbnails (6 or 8 to a page) in a Visio doc, which we describe as 'concept sketches' instead of 'wireframes'. So we still sketch by hand, the client still gets something that looks slightly more finished but is ultimately still disposable. And everybody's happy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48924 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] help text in input fields - bad?
No research, but some common sense from a product point of view. Google custom search is the default suggested by Google. Google does not encourage changing it. Don't read too much into it - don't assume they considered changing it. Google custom search usually replaces internally maintained search. In that case, the prompt's usefulness is in alerting users to expect different results format. Even if it discourages searches, consider that when replacing internal searches in a working website, implementing Google search may increase the success rate of searches considerably (this is easy to measure). This may outweigh some marginal difficulty (and one that's tough to measure). Last comment: Google custom search is a particularly obnoxious display (what with the oversized color logo and a symbol character to top!). A short message, containing only an instruction or sample search, may work better (assuming it disappears on any focus). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48953 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: NYC: fulltime Sr Experience Designer w/ Visio 4 agency w/ killer UX team. Recruiter (JWG)
Senior Experience Designer NYC Fulltime, onsite, local candidates only $500 referral bonus eligibility*---pass it on! Apologies for x-post. For large, stable agency who is stretching + growing their digital offerings. Great time to get in at the early stages of this company's UX growth + grow with the team + the agency's UX offerings overall. The UX team there is top notch; second to none. Great bunch of esteemed, outgoing and approachable people, who have all come through the classical UX ranks and risen to the top. The UX team as a whole has support and backing from the highest levels of leadership. SKILLS / REQUIREMENTS: * MUST have solid, recent agency experience * Visio skills for wireframes, sitemaps, etc---should also have expertise in usability/user research, writing personae, etc. * Pharma/healthcare or related experience is a plus * Experience working on highly transactional/interactive web dev projects + application design projects is highly preferred---must be able to do the UX heavy lifting * Must be extremely proactive, client-facing, and able to form strategic alliances + relationships with cross-disciplinary teams * Some mentoring/managerial experience is a plus but not required * Masters Degree in HCI or related field is strongly preferred * Must be authorized to work in the USA * Local NYC candidates only TO APPLY, email resume + samples to: joanne (at) joanneweavergroup (dot) com * $500 referral bonus eligibility to the fabulous person who recommends the right person for this role! Thanks for passing it thru your esteemed + trusted networks. Joanne www.joanneweavergroup.com UX + Creative Talent Acquisition 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] The magic place between user research and design - tips stories
Hi Dan, To learn what the product development field knows here, a good entry phrase is fuzzy front end. Though I like your term magic place better. http://www.google.com/search?q=fuzzy front end Victor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=48929 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] Sketching before the Wireframes
Thanks everyone, For all the wonderful responses and support for sketching. It looks like EVERYONE, gave power to the sketching, before the wireframes process. Surprisingly not one person ever mention that sketching was a waste of time. Really...Not one? However, the same cannot be said for the company I just started working with, who cannot get on onboard with the paper or even a whiteboard process.The response I get is... sketching is for your own personal purposes. We just need to see the wireframes. So they'll put their input into the designing the UI, but never fully understanding how the application actually works. Richard 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
