Re: [IxDA Discuss] Your favorite rating interface
Clearly, the Michelin guide's ratings system is superior, since they
only have 3 stars. Of course, 99.99% of restaurants are beneath
their notice and receive no star, so they're only providing ratings
from excellent to superlative. Which is actually a good way of
controlling your ratings.
If I'm being asked to give ratings, I tend to prefer a system that's
spelled out. For example:
1 -- I'll never shop here again, you suck
2 -- It would take a major sale to convince me to shop here again
3 -- I will probably shop here again
4 -- I'll definitely shop here again, and recommend you to friends
5 -- Please, take all my money, I love you so much
I think spelling out the ratings prevents me from having to think too
hard about it ("hmm, is it a 6 or a 7?"). You might also shame people
into not giving you such a lousy rating by using over-the-top humor.
Movie/book ratings are always hard because you can either rate all
movies against each other or you can rate within genre. So, Eragon
might get a 1/10 compared to movies overall, but a 4/10 compared to
other fantasy movies. I've also noticed that I tend to rate movies
higher if I had low expectations and lower if I had high
expectations. One might get better results if you asked people to
rate movies compared to other movies. That way you can control
whether they're within genre, for example.
-- Kim
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Kim Bieler Graphic Design
www.kbgd.com
240-476-3129
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Re: [IxDA Discuss] 'Select Country' dropdown
From a usability point of view, if 90% of your users are in the
U.S., it makes sense to put it at the top of the list. However, some
websites (like multinational corporations or NGOs) might not want to
play favorites, for political reasons.
I think if I were putting multiple countries out of alphabetical
order at the top of the list, if would be nice to have a divider to
separate where the alphabetical list begins. That way people can more
easily understand what's going on.
-- Kim
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Kim Bieler Graphic Design
www.kbgd.com
240-476-3129
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Re: [IxDA Discuss] The mighty UX guru has spoken - Discuss!!
Murli, I think that's a really useful distinction -- good design versus not- bad design. Perhaps unusually for a designer, I long ago put myself in the not- bad design camp. To flourish as a designer and business person, I had to let go of the conceit that every job has to be award-winning -- or even portfolio-worthy. So much of what we do as designers is turn things from bad into not-bad. And it's still, as often as not, putting lipstick on a pig. Very seldom do we get the chance (or the inspiration, or the budget, or the daring clients) to do something great. And usually, the only people who can tell it's something great are other designers. 95% of what's wrong with most web sites can be cured by applying the not-bad prescription. And, as you point out, most of this prescription is an objective set of rules and standards that any clever, motivated person can understand. (Unfortunately, democratizing design will always scare the people who have a vested interest in exclusivity and mystique. But that's another topic...) I have to view Nielsen's design-agnostic persona (and website) as a design statement in itself. I think his point is, people don't care about the wrapping as long as they're convinced they want the present inside. Or, put another way, content is king. And yes, I do think he's thumbing his nose at all those lipstick- wearing pigs out there. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Poorly designed product detail pages
Good topic! I'd also add: - Product zoom images too small (make these as big as humanly possible) - Hard to tell what fabric/texture/detail is like - Hard to tell what size the product is (environmental photography or item in use would be helpful) - No stock information on product page (I don't want to get 3/4 of the way through the ordering process only to find out the item's back ordered for 3 months, or that they don't have black) - No side-by-side comparison of similar offerings (e.g, cell phone plans, software versions, digital cameras, car models) - Cross-sell items are similar, not complementary - Color names are too artsy (boysenberry? frappucino? mist?) - Technical terms in descriptions are not linked to glossary -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com c. 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] PDF form v. HTML
I'm looking for information on the pros and cons of using a PDF form to enter information that will feed into a database, versus a plain old HTML form. I don't have any experience with online PDF forms but my gut feeling is that they might be less accessible and possibly harder to use because of font issues and the like. Any thoughts? -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com www.stargazertees.com c. 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Prototyping with Adobe CS3
I hope this isn't a dumb question, but are there any prototyping tools (Visio, Axure, Fireworks, etc.) that actually give you a usable website at the end? I'm just wondering if it's worth spending the time applying all this functionality to a prototype, if it's all going to have to be re-coded afterwards. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com c. 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Complex Field Requirements
This is what I'm doing on a project: Put a drop-down list next to each phone so they can indicate business/ home/mobile, but add a "required field" asterisk next to the first phone field. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com c. 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Book proposals to look at
David, The best resource for help with query letters, proposals, and the like is the Absolute Write forums: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/ I don't know about non-fiction, but many fiction writers turn out two to three 90,000-word books a year. So, it's possible. 20k in 8 months is only 2500 words a month. I'll bet you've written blog postings longer than that. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com c. 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] 37 signals outage
Naturally, as soon as I posted, they got the site fixed. -- Kim *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] 37 signals outage
Anyone else amused by the increasingly abject apologies on the 37
signals site (www.37signals.com)?
I can't help being reminded of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=gk4_Bt0yNgw
-- Kim
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Kim Bieler Graphic Design
www.kbgd.com
c. 240-476-3129
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
*Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah*
February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA
Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/
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Re: [IxDA Discuss] Savannah Airport
Actually, speaking of Savannah, I've been meaning to ask: How do you
get from the airport to the conference? Is there a bus or something?
Also wondering if there are other graphic designers going who want to
meet up.
Cheers,
-- Kim
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Kim Bieler Graphic Design
www.kbgd.com
c. 240-476-3129
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
*Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah*
February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA
Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/
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Re: [IxDA Discuss] Continuous Scroll
It's a neat implementation. However, there's something vaguely Sisyphian about scrolling and scrolling and never getting to the bottom. I kind of like the "page 1 | 2 | 3" links because they tell me how much content to expect. I'd prefer the Ajax pagination if it gave me some indicator about how long it was going to keep adding content. Another thought: with shorter pages, you keep the navigation and identity information visible at the top of the screen. There are probably some applications for which this is an improvement, however I'm not seeing it as a wholesale replacement. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com c. 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] [Iai-Members] navigation structures and mouseover vs click triggers
Marlene, I'm sorry I don't have any research to support these comments, but on a gut instinct level, I don't think clicking in the top navigation to activate the drop-down menus is good usability. Especially if sometimes when you click, you get taken to another page. I assume that on the pages with the drop-down, you'd have to repeat the parent page name if there is one, so that users can then click to go there. This sounds confusing. I think if you mock this up you'll find that it looks funny and the inconsistent function of the buttons is troublesome. While I agree that the rollover drop-down can be a hassle to some, I think it's becoming more and more standard. The scenario you describe with clicking is not familiar to me at all. Is there research showing that some people prefer clickable navigation to rollover menus? It sounds like you're running into the problem where some parent labels in the navigation are just a basket term for a collection of subpages with no landing page of their own? You might be able to solve this using a hover underscore style for menu items that link to a subpage. Or, as I've done in some cases, throw together a brief landing page that summarizes the sub content. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com c. 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Log out functionality
Question on standards: When users log out of an application, is it better to: 1. Give them an exit message, like "You have successfully logged out"? (i.e., a positive indication that they are logged out) or, what I would prefer: 2. Just send them back to the original log in screen? (i.e., log out is implied) Option 1 seems excessively bureaucratic to me. It's not like I'm working with a financial database or other application with particularly sensitive information where people want to be absolutely sure they've logged out. On the other hand, if people are expecting a message, I don't want them to be confused when they don't get one. Is there a standard rule of thumb? -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com c. 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Log out functionality
Gang, Thanks for the suggestions. I have decided to provide a "you've logged out" message on the login page; a neat and tidy solution. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com c. 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Design Police stickers
Am I wrong, but did they make a sticker saying "Helvetica was an unimaginative choice" -- in Helvetica? -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com c. 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Enterprise phone systems
I'm going to be designing a *printed* user guide for an enterprise- level phone system -- actually a much more interesting job than I would have thought, assuming they actually want some design and not just a layout. Anyway, I have a copy of of the manuscript and I see that this system is loaded with features and combinations of buttons to do all kinds of crazy stuff with your phone. So I'm wondering if anyone can point me in the direction of a study, or any anecdotal reports, of how people actually use these things? Obviously, I'll be asking my client if they have any such information, too. My guess is it follows the 80/20 principle -- 20% of the features (accessing voice mail, recording an away greeting, etc.) are used 80% of the time, with most of the features going unused. So I'm wondering if something like scenarios would help people discover the more advanced features that they might not otherwise know about. Like "I'm going on vacation," or "I want my calls to roll over to my assistant," or "I want to tell everyone in my division that we're having birthday cake on the fifth floor." Any suggestions? (You can probably tell I never let a completed manuscript stand in the way of suggesting major overhauls to the copy... ) -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com 301-588-8555 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Monday. Ugh!
Am I the only one who's finding this Monday particularly painful? Not to mention it was 16 degrees this morning. B! I feel like I need to spend a week on a mountaintop meditating on all the things I learned over the weekend. And following up with all the great people I met. And reading all the books I need to read. Despite my extreme exhaustion on the (delayed) flight last night, I got inspired to redesign the interface for my crap-ass HP printer. It's a sickness! But at least I finally know what I want to be when I grow up. Anyway, thanks to everyone who organized the conference so seamlessly. And to SCAD for putting up with us and seeming glad to do so. And to Bill Buxton, who missed his boarding call because of his "great powers of concentration," proceeded to regale the rest of us airport strandees with tales of his past life exploits over dinner, and then actually said he was glad he'd missed his flight. Go figure. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Sources for Design Inspiration
There's a strong "Web 2.0" bias at work here, but still... http://www.flickr.com/photos/splat/sets/981332/ -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com c. 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Creating personas
I came away from Interaction '08 convinced of the value of personas in focusing and directing the design of a project. Or, more accurately, I was already convinced -- I came away DETERMINED to start incorporating personas into my workflow. However, for a lot of my projects, I'm working as the subcontractor of the contractor (or sometimes a few more removes even than that!) and don't have any direct contact with the actual client, the users, or the original thinking that went into the project. So I'm wondering how to build personas when I've got no ability to do traditional user research. Here's what I've got so far: 1. Use my imagination. 2. Lurk around internet bulletin boards related to my project topics. 3. Ask my client if they've got any user research (duh). 4. All of the above and hope that half-assed personas are better than no personas. Think that will work? -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com Office: 301-588-8555 Mobile: 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Starting a DC affiliate
Folks, I seem to have volunteered myself for kickstarting a Washington DC affiliate of IxDA. The first step is to gauge interest, so if you're in the area and would like to participate, email me off-list at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'm pretty sure we've got more than a critical mass of interaction designers in the area who aren't being served by UPA, AIGA, RefreshDC, and the like. Not to mention that DC has some particular niches (government, biotech, nonprofit) that might benefit from a local IxDA group. And if we get really successful, we can hire our own lobbyist! -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com Office: 301-588-8555 Mobile: 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] friday fun: what's the coolest thing you've designed?
Sadly, we're no longer in business:
http://www.kbgd.com/clients/ultradarklight/
-- Kim
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Kim Bieler Graphic Design
www.kbgd.com
www.stargazertees.com
c. 240-476-3129
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
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Re: [IxDA Discuss] “The Most Frequently Used Featu res in Microsoft Office”
I use CopyWrite (http://www.bartastechnologies.com/products/ copywrite/) for fiction writing. It's got a full-screen mode that is very calming, as you say, and it's otherwise quite minimalist. Oddly, at work, I often find myself using an email window to jot down notes or compose forum posts or whatever (FWIW, I'm on a Mac). Then I just save them into the drafts folder if I want to file them for future reference. On Feb 19, 2008, at 9:55 AM, Bill DeRouchey wrote: > This is why I love products like WriteRoom. It is pure writing and > reading. It removes every distraction. You see no menu bar, no > buttons. It's just you, a blank white screen, and words. That's it. > When I use WriteRoom, I actually work better. I focus on the words. > That's the feature I want from a "word processor". > -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com c. 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Where are all the designers?
I'm wonder, too, what kind of opportunities are out there for consultant designers like me? There are lots of jobs out there, but how difficult is it to do interaction design when you're not part of the organization? I know we've got plenty of consultants on this list, so I guess my question is for them, but also for the people who are hiring. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com c. 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Help with navigation levels on website
I agree with Alexander. You should be able to take the "customer" category out of the navigation entirely. A few suggestions: - Color code the banner to indicate which customer area user is in - Or simply include the customer type as a running head at the very top (small, discreet) - You'll presumably have a search feature, so users can still find products that aren't categorized under their customer type. - Detail of product may not require fixed navigation. As an example, check out www.bestbuy.com. They've got two levels of navigation across the top, but after that, everything is handled in breadcrumbs. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com www.stargazertees.com c. 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Slightly OT: Where is the sustainable PC?
I've just finished installing a RAM upgrade to my three-year-old Mac to keep it viable for another year and I'm wondering: Why is no-one out there building a sustainable desktop PC? In graphic design, we've got to buy new hardware every 3-5 years (sooner, if you're not a cheapskate like me) just to stay compatible with the rest of the world. I'll be forced to buy a new a Mac in a year or two because they've switched to Intel-based processors and pretty soon, none of my software will run properly on the old processor. Old computers pile up like (giant, expensive) dust bunnies around our house. I went to our local computer recycling station eighteen months ago with an entire SUV's worth of old equipment, and already the attic is filling up again. It's as if the auto industry switched fuel every four years, forcing you to buy a new car. But even car manufacturers let you trade in your old vehicle when you buy a new one. I realize this isn't an interaction design question, but there are a lot of bright minds here. How come no-one's stepping up to the plate and saying, "we've got to end the madness!" How hard could it be to build something modular, where you could upgrade the insides periodically, and ship the old parts back to manufacturer for a rebate (and to be recycled)? -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com Office: 301-588-8555 Mobile: 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Slightly OT: Where is the sustainable PC?
I've just finished installing a RAM upgrade to my three-year-old Mac to keep it viable for another year and I'm wondering: Why is no-one out there building a sustainable desktop PC? In graphic design, we've got to buy new hardware every 3-5 years (sooner, if you're not a cheapskate like me) just to stay compatible with the rest of the world. I'll be forced to buy a new a Mac in a year or two because they've switched to Intel-based processors and pretty soon, none of my software will run properly on the old processor. Old computers pile up like (giant, expensive) dust bunnies around our house. I went to our local computer recycling station eighteen months ago with an entire SUV's worth of old equipment, and already the attic is filling up again. It's as if the auto industry switched fuel every four years, forcing you to buy a new car. But even car manufacturers let you trade in your old vehicle when you buy a new one. I realize this isn't an interaction design question, but there are a lot of bright minds here. How come no-one's stepping up to the plate and saying, "we've got to end the madness!" How hard could it be to build something modular, where you could upgrade the insides periodically, and ship the old parts back to manufacturer for a rebate (and to be recycled)? -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com Office: 301-588-8555 Mobile: 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] iPhones on Campus
Oooh, geezer thread! I remember what a pain it was to type my term papers on a manual typewriter with two fingers and no correction ribbon. Footnotes, anyone? On Feb 27, 2008, at 4:15 PM, Matthew Nish-Lapidus wrote: > i agree completely. .. i remember what a pain it was to transcribe all > my course schedules into my old palm (yes, i was/am a nerd) ... if > that type of information was available in a consistent way it would be > amazing. > > -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Nokia Morph & Nanotechnology
I think it's interesting that the video uses "hand-drawn" animation and a handwriting-style font to humanize the technology. The music is really touchy-feely and the woman is not in a business setting, but at an outdoor cafe. They're trying to suggest that this will be the complete opposite of most people's experience with technology, which is often frustrating and intrusive. I'm finding that the main problem with "portable" electronic devices is the proliferation of batteries chargers and power cords. Do away with those, and suddenly today's iPod and laptop and cell phone are a lot closer to this rosy vision of the future. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Email Registration
Jason, It depends on the offer. If what you're offering is compelling enough, people will fill out more fields. If you're asking for personal information that doesn't seem (from the customer's POV) to be relevant, you've either got to do a good job explaining how collecting this data benefits THEM, or the offer has to be so worthwhile, it overcomes their resistance. On Mar 4, 2008, at 3:46 PM, Jason Wei Lee wrote: > Hi list, > > When designing sites, I often come up against the question of what > required fields to include for an Email Registration form. By > Email Registration I mean registering for updates/promotions from > the site. > > I have always felt that less fields is a better approach (ie. just > email address if possible), but sometimes various stakeholders want > to capture other data like name and location so it can be used for > other marketing efforts. > > Any thoughts/research on this? Like are people people deterred > when they see too many fields? > -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] NN/g IxD immersion course
I got a postcard advertising Nielsen Norman Group's Interaction Design 101 3-day immersion course and I'm wondering if anyone's been to it and would like to post a review. Here's the curriculum: http://www.nngroup.com/events/tutorials/interaction.html I'm particularly interested in the "gathering requirements" portion, since I desperately need some clues about interviewing and research. Thanks, -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Log in fields on index page
I've run into some cases where the client didn't want the home page to become a PHP or ASP page by virtue of having the login or other forms on it. Whether this is a valid concern or not, I don't know. Another possibility is that the login was added after the site went up and there was no room for it on the home page. Or the login has more than one or two simple fields. Or the designer didn't like having to accommodate login on every page and so stuck it on a separate page because that seemed tidier. My feeling is that, for a membership-based application, login should be available on every page of the external site in a consistent but out-of-the-way location. On Mar 12, 2008, at 2:15 AM, Howie C. wrote: > Hi, > > Anyone have any clue on the notion of why some websites have their > log in > fields presented upfront while some, prefer to just provide a link > to a > separate log in page? > What considerations should one take note of in order to make a better > decision? > > I know for sure that by presenting the log in fields upfront makes > it easy > for user to log in, especially so for social websites. But that > might not be > the main reason for doing so... > > Cheers, > Howie > http://user-experience.vox.com > > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > List Help ...... http://www.ixda.org/help -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] IxD: Mac Resources
Utilities:
- Linotype Font Explorer if you have more than 25 fonts. It's free!
And much less buggy than Suitcase.
- An FTP client like Fetch
- Stuffit compression app
-- Kim
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Re: [IxDA Discuss] IxD: Mac Resources
See, that was all part of my secret plan to find better versions of the old utilities I am still using out of habit... On Mar 18, 2008, at 10:48 AM, Matthew Nish-Lapidus wrote: > IMHO, Fetch is pretty bad.. if you need FTP frequently there are free > apps like CyberDuck, my favorite is a paid app called Transmit. > > Do people still use Stuffit? Now that zip is built into OSX i don't > really see the need to continue with Stuffit.. I use an app called The > Unarchiver that support almost every format and is better than the > built in archive app. > -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] what helped most in your career? : Dealing with criticism
Lukeisha, I took a job once where I hoped the firm owner would become a mentor. I said as much in the interview. Not only did this not happen, but after a year of working there, I had nothing to show for it professionally. Everything I had worked on was the continuation of a previously existing project and I became suspicious that he had stopped assigning me new design work. I mentioned my suspicion to him and he confirmed that yes, he didn't have confidence in my design ability. I was floored, but at least I knew the truth. So, I was faced with a dilemma. I could either believe his assessment that I was a bad designer, or I could believe my clients and others who said I was a good designer. I had a lot at stake -- my career, my self worth, my dreams. Ultimately, I decided that his opinion did not count and that moreover, I couldn't afford to believe him. That realization -- that I had a CHOICE what to believe -- was enough to empower me. I put in my resignation the next day and embarked on a freelance career that I have never regretted. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] virtual vs. physical social behavior
It doesn't matter what I consider rude behavior. What matters is what the person I'm talking to thinks. It's common courtesy not to presume that others have the same values as me. Along those lines, if you're giving a presentation, it might be helpful to mention that you would or would not be offended if people take notes or read blogs or text each other. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Organizing files and folders
Kristof, Did I understand you correctly? You designed a custom wallpaper with zones for organizing your folders? That's the cleverest thing I've heard all month! -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Coming Soon Pages
In my experience, the "coming soon" page is a license to procrastinate over putting up real content. It's easy for the client to forget that there's nothing behind that "About us" link, because they never visit their own site. However, I think the main problem with "coming soon" is that it presumes users are so excited about your site, they'll check back every week to see if you've put up some content. Clearly, this is false. It's really the web equivalent, of "move along, nothing to see here." Honestly, if they've got the energy to put up an "About us" page, surely they can give you a couple of sentences and an address? Any content is better than none. Or better yet, just write your own copy to stick up there. 99 times out of 100 it'll be better than whatever they would have given you. Seriously, I do this all the time. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Digital patina
John, Would you say that typing "www.sitename.com" into the Google search box constitutes a "desire path"? It's not exactly the straightest line between two points, but it's a preferred route for many. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Add to Cart Ethics / Best Practices - Studies?
Thomas,
Yikes! This violates a basic trust principle of shopping carts. Here's
Jakob Nielsen on the subject ("E-Commerce User Experience," pp.84-85):
> "Trust is also related to pricing. High prices, shipping costs that
> appeared unreasonable, and hidden prices caused 5% of the sales
> catastrophes in this study. ...
>
> "Our users commented negatively on hidden prices. They were
> unpleasantly surprised by high shipping costs that were not shown
> until after they had gone through a lot of effort to find suitable
> products. ...
>
> "For these reasons and more, show the total price -- including
> shipping charges, taxes, duty, and any other fees -- as soon as
> possible. Don't wait until after the customer has placed an order."
-- Kim
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Kim Bieler Graphic Design
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Re: [IxDA Discuss] REQUEST: Stats on Mac IE 5 ...
I'm monitoring Google Analytics on two sites. Out of 3,600 total
visitors to both sites, one person came in on Explorer for Mac
(version 5.23). We had more visitors using Netscape (14).
-- Kim
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Kim Bieler Graphic Design
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Re: [IxDA Discuss] Corners, edges and multiple monitors
Mattias, Based on how I use my two monitors, I would suggest you do something closer to your first solution. I'm thinking that if you create a zone all the way around the inside of screen 1 where the cursor activates the navigation, as soon as I travel over there with my cursor and see a navigation bar pop up, I'm going to slow down my mouse. So, it wouldn't take long before I "got" that the edges are where the navigation resides. You could help the user by making the right and left zones a bit wider, in case a second monitor is present. I don't know if this is helpful, but Adobe palettes detect screen edges, even if there are two monitors (on the Mac -- I don't know about Windows). If I want to anchor my palettes to screen 2, they seem to be aware of where the edge is. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] OT: Peel P50 microcar
Not IxD-related. Just fun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqf1yKxb9hI -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] RANT: OmniGraffle Leopard Version
Am I just retarded or is the canvases window in the new OmniGraffle really confusing? The icons next to each layer only tell you which ones are NOT active, not the ones that are (i.e., visible icons indicate a negative, not a positive). And when you mouse over, a bunch of icons come up that are hidden under the cursor. I'm constantly selecting the wrong layers to show and hide because I can't tell what's going on, which makes me feel very dumb indeed. Let the voting commence: A.[ ] User is retarded B. [ ] Layer icons are poorly implemented -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com Office: 301-588-8555 Mobile: 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] ISO: Research on interactive kiosks
Hey all, I'm looking for any and all information on interactive kiosks I can dig up: trade magazines, research papers, marketing surveys, best practices, anecdotes, screen shots, whatever you can send my way. Basically, I'm not having much luck doing Google searches on this topic, and the only magazine devoted to kiosks seems to have folded several years ago. Thanks much. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Wireframe vs. Prototype
Troy, I'm way behind on my IxDA emails and just saw your post of several days ago. Do you have any examples of statemap/lifecycle diagrams you can share? I'm curious as to what these look like and how they work. Cheers, On Apr 23, 2008, at 4:21 AM, Troy Gardner wrote: > I develop RIA and games, where I find that webpage methodologies break > down, and use several terms/tools: > > Wireframe - a single screen as output by IA's, typically representing > one state at a time, a skeleton to serve as a container for available > copy and for graphic design to flush out as 'Comps' > Storyboard - sequence of wireframes + graphical interaction (mouse > clicks, drags), typically a one way trip through a system, trying to > get buyin from the entire team. > Comps - a single screen as output by graphical designers based on > Wireframes. > Interactive Wireframe - aka clickthroughs, wireframes stacked in time, > selectively hiding an showing things, to help flush out the > interactive architecture. As somethings have to be played to be > understood. > Mockup - a high graphic fidelity, but limited in interactivity similar > to a theme park ride. Great fun on the ride, but get a few feet off > the track and the whole thing breaks down. > > Statemap/Lifecycle - a heirarchical statechart of all system states > and events between them, frequently having links/thumbnails to various > fidelity comps. Like a subway map it should encompass at varying > levels of detail the entire system of states relevant. I find this > missing in most designs. Screw this up then everything is already > broken. Been compiling a library of common LifeCycles (user > registration, media players), as I find that they are constantly > rediscovered, and getting them right..can be tricky. > Flow - a particular usecase/workflow across the statechart. > > Prototypes - a typically technically driven 'spike' to answer a narrow > question if something is feasible or not, or better than another > scenario. Often using whatever is available ducktape, wood, paper + > glue. typically disposable. > > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > List Guidelines ........ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com www.stargazertees.com c. 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Iron Man
As if dishy eye candy Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow weren't enough, the new Iron Man movie is chock-a-block with cool user interface design. Surely interactive holographic CAD drawings are just around the corner, right? And a heads-up display in every window of my house? Still, there's no tech like low-tech. I think I fell in love when the hero sand-casts a titanium o-ring while being held captive in an Afghan cave. -- Kim Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Iron Man
I beg to differ. The most unrealistic moment was when the heroine, wearing five-inch heels, ran (!) away from the giant robot across a gridded floor without getting stuck. Back to UI: The holograph thing was really cool, especially since he used a wand to point the file off his desktop display onto the holograph table display. I can tell a lot of us are going to be watching the DVD in slow motion to see all the nuances. On May 8, 2008, at 12:30 PM, Michael Micheletti wrote: 1. Most unrealistic moment in the film: when Jeff Bridges plugs the stolen power supply into the Evil Robot and it works first off, without needing to shim, rewire the connector, configure the IP address, etc. I laughed aloud. Flying robots and 3-D talking holograms seem much more likely somehow. -- Kim Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Iron Man
I second this idea. Lots of people spend their working day doing intensely physical activity like picking fruit or hanging drywall. There's no reason that we sedentary computer jockeys couldn't get used to a standing/waving work environment instead. I actually like the idea since I hate being chair-bound all day. For a while in 2004, I had a very bad back and had to change my workstation to a standing one. It was tiring, but I still got things done. Over time, I think I would have gotten used to it. (Although, obviously, I didn't love it enough to keep standing after my back was fixed.) On May 8, 2008, at 11:13 PM, mauro pinheiro wrote: On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 2:44 PM, Jeffrey D. Gimzek <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote: one of the things that was brought up - maybe on this list, i can't recall - with the Minority Report 3D gestural interface was that it would ridiculously exhausting to stand around all day with waving your hands in the air with your arms raised up hight than your chest. try doing it for 10 minutes. jd Jeffrey, I believe that it would be better than our current "seating and pointing + clicking a mouse all day long" situation. A friend of mine develops a research about the harm of being seatedall day long. One of the key issues that she points out is that the human body was designed to work, and move, as a whole. Just think about mundane actions, like walking. We move the whole body, not only our legs. Every and each part of the body is connected to the whole. When we seat and work with computers in our workstations, the only part of our body that moves are our arms and hands. And that's why we have several injuries on those parts. From Homo Sapiens, we became Homo Sedens. And many "ergonomic" tools only reinforce this, making supports for our hands, arms, even our head! But still, this only makes us stay seated and moving just part of our body. Of course, standing all day can be exhausting, but it's something to think about...I guess an user interface that allows a stand-up position, and that allows us to make wide movements would be better. -- prof. mauro pinheiro universidade federal do espírito santo centro de artes depto. de desenho industrial Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com www.stargazertees.com c. 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Is a Flash-intro to a personal portfolio still good/relevant?
Alan, I've lately come around to the idea that designers' sites can still be effective in Flash. Most of us don't really need to worry about SEO since we're getting business though referrals, not cold visits, and it does give you a chance to show off a little more. But what I disagree with is a Flash introduction that has no relationship to the rest of the site. Especially if all it does is animate your name or some goofy tagline or waste my time loading the navigation in a sexy way. If you have a strong concept for the site and your Flash intro reinforces that concept in an extremely effective way, that is cool. And rare. Most people coming to my site are just idle visitors or people who got there by mistake. I don't care about them. The people I do care about are qualified referrals -- people who heard about me from a friend or business associate. These are folks who need a designer and are checking the site to vet me before making a call. All my site needs to do is convince them to call me. (Insert caveats about the lame-ass state of my current website here...) I'm guessing a snazzy Flash intro will convince the people who want one for THEIR site. But everyone else is going to be wondering, "Yeah, but has he got any experience designing for MY type of project?" My advice: skip the eye candy and cut to the chase. After all, isn't that what you'd advise clients to do? On May 21, 2008, at 9:32 AM, Alan Wexelblat wrote: Let's assume that you've done the proper work to provide a "Skip Intro" button. Let's further assume that you've done at least the minimum to make your content accessible to people without the Flash player. The question I ask, then, is: does having a Flash intro to a personal site, which may include one's portfolio or resume, make sense in today's job market and design environment? Or does this brand the designer as someone stuck in the last decade? As usual, I suspect the answer is "it depends"; what I'm really interested in is exploring issues around how we present ourselves in online presences and the Flash-intro or Flash-site is a method I still see from time to time, though not nearly as much as I used to. Best regards, --Alan Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com www.stargazertees.com c. 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] ISO: Something do to in New York, June 5
I might have some down time tomorrow afternoon between meetings. Is there some fabulous IxD-related exhibit or anything I ought to check out while I'm in NY? Looks like I just missed a glass-making demo at Cooper-Hewitt. :-( Cheers, -- Kim Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] ISO: Something do to in New York, June 5
Midtown, mostly. I'm staying on east 52nd. On Jun 4, 2008, at 9:04 AM, Four Hewes, Caspian Design wrote: Kim, What part of town will you be able to reach in your free time? Four At 8:47 AM -0400 6/4/08, Kim Bieler wrote: I might have some down time tomorrow afternoon between meetings. Is there some fabulous IxD-related exhibit or anything I ought to check out while I'm in NY? Looks like I just missed a glass-making demo at Cooper-Hewitt. :-( Cheers, Kim -- -- Four Hewes, Principal, Caspian Design -- Kim Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] ISO: Something do to in New York, June 5
Why is everyone intent on sending me to Brooklyn? Is Manhattan no longer cool enough? On Jun 4, 2008, at 12:01 PM, Rich Rogan wrote: For something a little out there, more ultra modern/ (post modern, who knows), Japanese art, which incorporates old/new, commerce and art, structure, experience, painting, video, sculpture and general wierdness - it would be hard to beat the Murakami exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum, see: http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/ I saw it on Sat, and it was great, very different then a regular art exhibit... Rich -- Joseph Rich Rogan President UX/UI Inc. http://www.jrrogan.com Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help -- Kim Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] I love the "cloud," but...
... when Google Docs goes down, you can almost hear the collective moan around the world. -- Kim Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] [Iai-Members] Label Suggestions Needed
I see a lot of sites using "My" for these kinds of activities, like "My Account," or "My AgencyName." That said, slotting "file a claim" and "change my address" under the same menu item seems dodgy since they're totally different kinds of tasks with different priority levels, I would have thought. I agree with Austin -- maybe an open card sort is called for. You might find that customers don't want all these activities grouped together. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com Office: 301-588-8555 Mobile: 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] [Iai-Members] Retention of URLs in offline media
John, I don't think people bother remembering URLs at all any more. In the scenario you describe, I think you'd find that most people rely on "Google bookmarking." That is, the use of the Google search field to find anything and everything, including URLs they know perfectly well, like "bankofamerica.com." And I mean that people will literally type "bankofamerica.com" into Google. If I knew that Apple was having a big sale, I'd probably type "apple" into Google to get there, then expect to see something about the promotion on the Apple home page. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com Office: 301-588-8555 Mobile: 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] turning freelance work into a sustainable design business
Wendy, Lots of good advice here. Ron's suggestion about finding a partner is a good one, however a partnership is like a marriage -- not to be undertaken lightly. Make sure that any prospective partner is someone you can live with every day and who shares your philosophy of work. I think the most important thing about freelancing in the creative services industry is that you have to think of yourself as a consultant, and charge accordingly. There is absolutely nothing to be gained by having low rates, no matter what the current economic climate is like. In my experience, women have more trouble charging what they are worth than men, so keep that in mind. Begin as you mean to go on and you'll be much happier. Running your own business requires a lot of overhead time -- in a 40-hour work week you might bill as few as 25 hours, so it's important to factor that in. For calculating project costs, I'd refer you to Andy Rutledge's matrix: http://www.andyrutledge.com/calculating-hours.php At least 90% of your business will come from referrals. This means that traditional marketing -- advertising, cold calls, direct mail -- is largely a waste of time and money. You will see the most bang for your buck by marketing to existing clients. Here's a quick list I put together for myself: - Get to know clients personally - Face time counts, take them out to lunch - Keep them informed—documentation - Keep abreast of their business & industry—Google alerts, business news - Up-sell your services - Tell them what you're up to lately—completed projects, new hires, new competencies - Ask them for referrals Other good sources of referrals are friends and family. The hard part with these folks is they often have no idea what you do for a living, so they can't describe it to others. So, make sure you have a snappy elevator pitch and that you can clearly and specifically articulate to others who your ideal client is. I don't know if this needs to be said, but professionalism is the key to success. Keep regular business hours, return calls and emails in a timely manner, keep your work and private lives separate, create standard processes and documentation, manage expectations with clients through frequent and clear communications. Good luck! -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com Office: 301-588-8555 Mobile: 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] I love the "cloud," but...
Actually, speaking of keeping backups, is there any consensus on what business risks are involved with cloud computing? I'm looking at Mingle as a project management tool and wondering what happens if they go under in two years. Is it comparable to the risks involved in any technology, where you assume you'll have to upgrade periodically, or abandon old technology in favor of the new hotness? -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Pattern Tap : Interface Design Inspiration
A few web design collections: http://www.flickr.com/photos/splat/sets/981332/ http://bestwebgallery.com/ http://www.templatemonster.com/ http://www.designmeltdown.com/ On Jul 23, 2008, at 6:00 PM, Jeremy Yuille wrote: btw - does anyone else here have any design driven sources that I could share with my students? -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Q: Soliciting client testimonials
I'm doing a website overhaul (rebranding, everything) and I would like to incorporate client testimonials. I don't want to ghost write these things but I know that many people hate to write and wouldn't know what to say, even if they wanted to say something nice, so I'm thinking about giving them some questions to nudge them in the right direction. Such as: - Did we finish the job on time and within budget? - Did the project meet or exceed your expectations? - How would you describe the working relationship? - Would you hire us again? - Would you recommend us to a colleague? ...that kind of thing. Any suggestions or advice? Thanks! -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com Office: 301-588-8555 Mobile: 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Wireframes: Illustrator/Indesign question%u2026
Meikel, I think you might be better off creating your wireframes in InDesign. You can create a master page with common elements, then put each wireframe on a different page. InDesign CS3 you can import other InDesign documents as graphics and if you choose "show import options" when you place the file, you can select which page is shown. This will update automatically when you update your wireframes document (I ran a quick test). One disadvantage to your method (and this would hold true with Illustrator) is that you'll be placing over and over a file that might be very large, which will tend to weigh down your document. To keep files slim, it would be better to make a different file for each wireframe, or at least keep them down to fewer pages. Good luck! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=32153 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] [Iai-Members] Avatars in the Marketplace
Am I the only one seeing similarities between avatars and Philip Pullman's concept of "daemons"? Especially in the context of how they change as you get older... -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Siteseeing: What happens in Vegas...
...becomes a kiosk confessional where you can tell the world what was supposed to stay in Vegas. Sadly, the concept is undermined by a distinct lack of juicy confessions (example: "Having the time of our lives!") and a weirdly clunky interface. Here's what I'm wondering: I think this would be more fun if they implemented a negative ratings system, where viewers (assuming there are any) punish people for not being forthcoming with genuine dirt. I've never seen a ratings system like that -- do they exist anywhere else? -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] MooseJaw.com
I didn't realize REI had a new site. What a breath of fresh air! I love it. Moosejaw, not so much. I still haven't gotten past the home page due to its crimes against design. - Very slow to load. - No products on the home page - No visual hierarchy, just a lot of type everywhere. - False claims, like "It's the best site ever." - Is that used toilet paper along the edge of the content area? - Most of home page taken up with almost invisible keywords = imminent placement on search engine blacklists - If you spend too long reading all the irrelevant copy in the "my cart" popup, the Flash covers it up - Aforementioned popup trying to do WAY too much work. This should be all business, not a place to express your inner toe thief. - Excessive word spacing in type graphics - Unzipped hoodie spells: moos ejaw - Futura and Bell Gothic and Impact and Verdana, oh my! - Ugly, convex search box - Accidentally rolling over the "madness" link at the top has rendered me temporarily speechless. Thank god for the Flash that obliterates everything in its path. All I can say is, I must not be the target market for this site. It pretty much rubs me the wrong way in every direction. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] touchscreen predictive text input: Swype
I would like to see someone using this with their finger, not a stylus or pen cap. One thing I've been wondering about the iPhone -- yeah, the keypad is hard to use. So why don't they just give you a bigger version in landscape mode (if that's the right term for it)? I've keep tilting my phone hoping one day the keypad will rotate... -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] touchscreen predictive text input: Swype
Cheers, Dave. Yes, I think the iPhone keyboard is hard to use -- in part because the touchscreen is so sensitive. Luckily it often knows what I'm trying to type, even if every letter is the one to the right of the one my fat fingers are trying to hit. Also, I am getting better at it with practice. On Sep 11, 2008, at 10:38 AM, David Malouf wrote: If you want to see the keyboard in landscape then go to a web page w/ a form element, be in landscape and focus on that form element. It will be in landscape. You will see why they don't do it. There isn't enough space in that direction to support the keyboard and give you enough context of the screen. I used to do it, but have stopped out of frustration. Is the keyboard REALLY that hard to use? I still resist this assumption. Also, about the swype style keyboard being usable w/o a stylus. I've had a lot of success with it. I would say that the accuracy of the expereince is 100% b/c of the amazing logics behind the keyboard and not due to any increase in physicality due to swyping per se, though the aesthetics of the motion is intriguing. I don't like it for composing but I do like it for one 2 two word writing. Where it might really be interesting is in the password space. -- dave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=32873 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Advertising in desktop software
Matt, Maybe a good analogy is advertising on TV versus advertising at the movies. Broadcast TV is free (sort of), so you expect to see ads. Plus you can change the channel or turn off the sound if you don't like the ads. But if I've just paid $10 to see a movie, I feel heartily abused when I'm forced to sit through advertising. Not only have I paid for the privilege, but I can't turn them off or change the channel -- I'm a captive audience. Amazon is a retail store, so I expect them to be pushing merchandise at me. Similarly iTunes. But a desktop application is usually something I'm paying to use. Even if it's free, like Quicktime, it's a linear, captive experience. I'd say the worst of all is when I feel like the vendor is deliberately slowing down the experience so that they can stuff more ads in. Like when I'm on hold with my credit card company. This is all purely anecdotal, of course. But my guess is that the perception of choice plays a large part in how consumers feel about ads. That, and perceived value. On Sep 22, 2008, at 12:31 PM, Matt Doe wrote: For a product we are redesigning, we are beginning to add advertising to our desktop software. This will come in the form of contextually relevant ads because of something the user searched for and they will also be delivered on the homepage of our application. The ads on the homepage will not necessarily be spam. They will be things that have the potential to be relevant to our users, but in no way help users reach their goals of why they are using this application. My question is, you can have a page like Amazon.com. When I go to their homepage without logging in, they just push items to users. The chance of this item being related to what the user wants is pretty slim...but for some reason, users put up with it. When I open up an application like Quicktime, I am just spammed with content that I could care less about. I know they are trying to this to drive revenue to their iTunes store, but for some reason in a desktop application, it feels more like spam than it does on the homepage of a website. Has anyone had experience with integrating advertising in desktop software, or know of any research of user attitudes towards ads in desktop software vs web sites? Thanks! Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Q: Information overload: how do you keep track?
There is so much great information and new concepts and exciting theories on this list, and links to same. My feeble brain can't keep up. How do I keep track of the stuff I want to remember? In a format where I can remember WHY I wanted to remember it in the first place? I feel like I could spend my life tagging in delicious.com and still never keep up. What do the rest of you do? -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com Office: 301-588-8555 Mobile: 240-476-3129 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Identifying PDF/Word links
I built a site for a client a while back with a lot of links to PDFs, Word docs, etc. At the time, I understood the best practice was to identify the link type and document size in parens after the link: 2007 Strategic Report [256kb PDF] but I'm starting to feel like this junks up the screen a lot when you've got a long list of links. I've seen other sites that put icons next to each link, which seems useful for quickly identifying the link type, but a ton of little icons is just as junky as text, if not more so. I'm considering dropping the file size information, since download times aren't such an issue any more (although my client does have a certain number of visitors from developing countries) and maybe putting the [PDF] tag in grey, so it's less obtrusive. Is there a better way? Maybe I'm overlooking something obvious that would be much more elegant. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Identifying PDF/Word links
These are good points. I always like to know whether I'm about to download something before it happens, which is why I wanted to distinguish between links that go to another site versus links that have a file behind them. Since I don't know whether users have PDF plug-ins to their browsers, I didn't want to treat PDFs as a site link. I do like the mouseover solution, so thanks for that tip! -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Iron Man
I assume this thread is coming back to life thanks to the DVD release this week? If you check out the DVD main menu, it's obvious the movie's UI design made a big impact all over. -- Kim Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Mobile phone - environment interactions?
I'm looking for clever example of mobile phones interacting with the environment, like in a museum or a retail space. I'm thinking of interactions like pushing information to phones while the person is on- site, or having them use their phone to make queries or send text messages to an on-site system. I feel like this has come up on the list before, but I didn't find anything in the archives. I'm not sure if this technology would just be a gimmick, or something that could be made useful and/or fun. Obviously, I'd prefer useful AND fun. Thanks! -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Design Books
Ah, The Cheese Monkeys. No designer should be without it. Don't buy the paperback, though. Troll your used book stores for the original hardcover. I'd also recommend: A History of Graphic Design, by Phil Meggs http://www.amazon.com/Meggs-History-Graphic-Design-Philip/dp/0471699020 -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Kim Bieler Graphic Design SOON TO BE --> Apt Media www.kbgd.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] [Iai-Members] Your Thoughts on MyFemBot?
Will, et al. -- I think you'll find that "fembot" dates waaay back to the Six Million Dollar Man, not Blade Runner. And I won't say how old that makes me. As for the website, I'm not buying it. I associated "fem" with empowerment, not fashion. If the site is supposed to be geared toward women in technology why does it have a chick-lit style illustration of a girl with shopping bags and a cell phone? My immediate take is: patronizing & off-target. Also, calling oneself a "goddess" or "diva" does not make that so. But then, I am s old. On Oct 14, 2008, at 9:42 AM, William Evans wrote: Ever since blade runner I have been a fembot fan -- Kim Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] KUDOS: IxDA NYC!
Kudos to the IxDA New York group for putting on such a fun and instructive workshop last night. Definitely time well spent. Maybe you guys could give us some tips on how to replicate this in DC (and elsewhere)? -- Kim P.S. I want my magic paper! Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] ISO: Films about interaction design
Are there films (shorts or features) that you would consider good viewing for an interaction designer? Any and all suggestions appreciated! -- Kim Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Fwd: Tips, Tricks, and Techniques
Dan, I haven't explored this idea rigorously, but something I'm always thinking about is funneling. Or maybe a better way of putting it is, setting & fulfilling expectations. Is this the same thing as progressive disclosure? It's certainly related to the paradox of choice. I'm talking about building pages so there are clear indicators for what to do next and what I should expect when I get there. An obvious example is a shopping cart or well-designed signup funnel. But even in information sites, you can lead users through the content in a way that builds commitment or engagement. Slideshows accompanying newspaper articles, for example. Suggestions for further reading based on what the user has already viewed. Feedback, ratings, and comments. Like I said, not very well thought out. But I would suggest "What next?" as a design principle, if not an IA principle. -- Kim Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] [ISO] Survey data on schools
Can anyone on the list help me find survey data for technology in U.S. grade & middle schools? I need to find out what percentage have internet access and access to computers that can play a CD and DVD. Thanks. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + www.kbgd.com twitter: @feadog + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 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] Dashboard for non-trending data?
Adem,
Stephen Few defines a dashboard as: "a visual display of the most
important information needed to achieve one or more objectives;
consolidated and arranged on a single screen so the information can be
monitored at a glance." ("Information Dashboard Design," O'Reilly:
2006.)
The key idea here is "objectives." If you can identify what your users
would like to do with dashboard data, then you'll know how to design
it. Is there snapshot or overview that users will find helpful? Key
performance indicators that need to be monitored? What I find sexy in
an application is when it behaves the way I expect it to and surprises
me by anticipating my needs.
Hmm. Actually, I find that attractive in people, too. :-)
On Dec 16, 2008, at 10:09 AM, Adem Hamidovic wrote:
I've been tasked with designing an interface for an application that
reports on SQL and Sharepoint data. I'd like the default home page
of the application to present some sort of summary information, and
I thought a dashboard would not only jazz things up a bit (I've also
been asked to try to make reporting 'sexy' - not an easy feat!), but
also provide an entry point for newer users.
However, dashboards tend to lend themselves to trend-type data, or
reports that generate simple numerical results such as 'number of
databases: 24'. The main focus of our reports is on permissions,
and so doesn't quite lend itself to these types of results. I'm
wondering if any of you can suggest relevant home page content for
these types of reports? I thought about listing some of the most
recently used reports, but I'm trying to present this information in
an engaging and even 'sexy' way :)
-- Kim
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
www.kbgd.com
twitter: @feadog
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
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Re: [IxDA Discuss] Interaction Designers: What is your elevator pitch?
I'm stealing this one: On Dec 18, 2008, at 11:35 AM, Michael Micheletti wrote: I've been known to say, "I design software and websites that people don't hate." -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + www.kbgd.com twitter: @feadog + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 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] What's your favorite memory of Interaction 08?
Being stuck at the Savannah airport on the way home along with Bill Buxton and about 15 other people for 5 hours. Bill missed his flight because he was so caught up in a story he was telling. It was like a weird after-party -- that existential limbo when you're not quite drunk anymore but not yet hung over. I don't think anyone wanted it to end. -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + www.kbgd.com twitter: @feadog + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 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] ISO: Web designers who also wireframe
Are there any solo web designers on this list who also produce wireframes for clients? If so, I'd like to ask you a few questions for an article I'm writing. If you're willing to share a before-and-after wireframe/home page design, that would be even better. Please contact me off-list: kimbie...@gmail.com Thanks! Kim Bieler Apt Media + + + + + + + + + + + + + + www.aptmediainc.com twitter: @feadog + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 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 examples of Gui\'s for persons who never seen/used a computer. For example the GUI of the one laptop per child project
I can't find it but I remember reading an article about a touchscreen UI that was used for intake at a pediatrician's office. Kids were MUCH more likely to respond honestly to mental health questions (e.g., do you ever think about suicide?) on a computer than they were if a doctor or nurse asked them the same question or gave them a paper questionnaire. So I suspect you are correct that the computer feels more like a neutral or non-judgmental intermediary. If your audience is illiterate, you'll need to provide spoken instructions on the kiosk itself. The start screen might have a picture of a hand or something that indicates it can be touched. Or maybe one of the staff can help the user get started by selecting the right language for him. You'll probably have some persistent navigation like "help," "repeat," "go back" and the like. Explain in the beginning what these buttons do and highlight them when the narrator talks about their function. Color cues may be a problem if your users are color blind, so combine this with common symbols and/or shapes. Not sure how you will do the intake portion without a keyboard. I imagine you'll have to present a short multiple choice list (with photographs?), read the choices to the user, and allow him to touch his choice. Does it make sense to have them speak their answers to the kiosk? Privacy, dialect, and enunciation may be problems with this. My experience is that people really like touchscreens. If done correctly, they are empowering to the user and give him a feeling of control, and in your case, hopefully, dignity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=39252 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] Need help with a directory style menu
Okay, I've managed to design myself into a corner and need help getting out. I'm working with a maps database that allows the user to create nested folders for organization. I'm limiting them to two nested folders, but even so, this creates a situation where some folders merely contain other folders. I designed the main maps page as a directory so that you're always one click away from a list of maps, e.g.,: Topographic maps (5) - link Political maps - not a link - County maps (7) - link - City maps (4) - link However, when I get into these pages, I'm stuck on how to deal with the navigation. I started with a left-hand scrolling menu containing the full directory, but I'm afraid there's not enough horizontal space to make this readable -- some of the folder names are long and I'm obliged to use indents for the nested folders. The client currently uses dropdown menus in the breadcrumbs, which is weird and not entirely satisfactory. But I'm not sure my solution is better. I think my basic premise might be wrong but I'm having trouble digging myself out. Or maybe there's some nifty way of treating my menu that I haven't thought of. Any clues will be much appreciated. 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] Getting Started
Brock, I'm a graphic designer and I found Cooper's "Inmates" book tremendously helpful. It's also a good read. About Face is extremely comprehensive but a little overwhelming if you're just getting started. Bill Buxton's book is a lot of fun for graphic designers because he takes a "Big D" approach to design which I found very liberating and inspirational. As with most things, the best way to learn is by doing. If you aren't able to get any paying IxD work yet, a good way to get your hands dirty is to start redesigning the interfaces around you: your microwave, your TV remote, your favorite web site, the checkout kiosk at the supermarket. Combine this with reading and you'll start to get a feel for the issues very quickly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=42406 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] infographics
I love doing this kind of thing and I would also recommend my friend in London, Peter Grundy: http://www.grundini.com -- Kim Apt Media Inc. www.aptmediainc.com twitter: @feadog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=43202 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] ARTICLE: Designers who wireframe
I wrote an article recently exploring the potential pitfalls of designers who also do IA (in this case, wireframes) and I'd love some feedback. I'm also interested in adding more before-and-after examples if anyone is willing to share. http://www.aptmediainc.com/About/Apt-Lab/Designers-Who-Wireframe Thanks! -- Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Apt Media Inc. www.aptmediainc.com twitter: @feadog + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + PS. Wireframes are not dead! 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] ARTICLE: Designers who wireframe
Thanks for your feedback, Ambrose. I suspect the conflict I'm having comes from the design side. As a designer, I'm always worried I'm not being creative or conceptual enough. Blaming design hackery on wireframes is probably just another manifestation of my insecurity. ;-) For whatever reason I'm more confident in my IA decisions than my visual design decisions. I'm tempted to say it's because the latter are more subjective, but I wonder if that's really the case. Kim Apt Media Inc. www.aptmediainc.com twitter: @feadog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=43222 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] Q: Persistent header bar from FB and LinkedIn
I've noticed that if you click on an external link in Facebook or LinkedIn (and other sites) it sometimes loads the new site in a frame below a header bar that's branded for the originating site. What I'm wondering is: 1. Is there a name for this technique? 2. How are they usually coded? 3. How do people feel about these headers? Are they helpful or intrusive? Thanks (and apologies for my ignorance), Kim + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Apt Media Inc. www.aptmediainc.com twitter: @feadog + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 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] date pickers starting on Sunday
Interesting topic. Since I've been able to choose (thanks to software-based calendars) I've always preferred to start my week on a Monday. I'm a visual thinker, so in my mind, the week is a 5-day chunk followed by a 2-day chunk. I don't know how universal this is but I find it far easier to grasp immediately what my month looks like if the calendar has Saturday & Sunday next to each other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=44080 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] Why isn\'t the OS a browser?
I hope this isn't a dumb question, but I've been thinking about how much duplication there is between the OS and the browser -- each has its own navigation, its own file structure, its own applications and plug-ins, and all that real-estate-hogging chrome! Sure, some businesses are never going to be comfortable with cloud computing, but the rest of us don't really care whether an application is launching from a remote server or a local hard drive. Why should I have to remember whether a file is in Google docs, or saved in Delicious, or nested somewhere on my hard drive? I assume there will be convergence between the OS and the browser at some point -- or are there good reasons to keep them distinct? 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] Why isn't the OS a browser?
I'd like to get back into this thread, but I'm only able to see the first response. Not sure if it's me, or the server... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=.1802 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] Why isn't the OS a browser?
Ah, I'm finally able to see all the responses! Thanks to the clever gnomes who make this discussion list work. My original question was "why isn't the OS a browser," not, "why can't my browser be the operating system." I think there's a difference. Several people pointed out that you will always need the OS to run keyboards, RAM, and other background functions. And at least for the foreseeable future, memory-intensive programs are better off running natively. But it seems to me there's no reason the whole OS couldn't become a background application doing those things behind the scenes. Kind of like the way Windows runs in DOS. Hardly anyone remembers that DOS used to be the operating environment. Now it's completely invisible. Kids growing up with technology in the coming years aren't going to concern themselves with memory management, screen redraw speed, devices -- probably not even physical keyboards. And many of the OS controls Dave mentioned -- power, security, wireless, user management -- are the sort of thing you worry about once, when you're walking through the setup wizard, and then never think of again. So I do think it's valid to ask whether the average user cares about the distinction between the OS and the browser and -- if not -- what can we do to make the experience more transparent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=45492 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] Product ratings
See also: http://www.goodguide.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=46376 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] DISCUSS: Electronic medical records: bad, ugly, and dangerous?
There's a fascinating article in the Washington Post this morning about the failure of electronic medical records in U.S. hospitals and clinical settings: http://bit.ly/2Rb7lG There are obviously a lot of culprits in this story -- design isn't the only issue. But I'd be interested in hearing back from any of you who've worked on medical records or devices. Do the issues and problems presented here sound familiar? If so, how did you overcome them? You may need an account to read the article, so I'll summarize the main points: - There's a strong incentive to adopt EHRs: Under Obama's stimulus program, hospitals and physicians can claim millions of dollars for IT purchases, and will be penalized if they do not go digital by 2015. - While some studies show that electronic records reduce mistakes and benefit outcomes, anecdotal evidence suggests major problems. - Complaints about existing systems include: Faulty software that miscalculated intracranial pressures and mixed up kilograms and pounds and a computer system that systematically gave adult doses of medications to children. - Small, often unwilling, user base: Barely 8 percent of U.S. hospitals have even a basic electronic medical system. Only 17 percent of physicians use electronic records, and many of those are uninstalling them. - Data entry takes too long: Physicians spent nearly five of every 10 hours on a computer. "I sit down and log on to a computer 60 times every shift. Physician productivity and satisfaction have fallen off a cliff." - Poor design and usability: "I can't tell from the medical display whether a patient is receiving 4mg or 8mg of a certain drug. It took us two years to get a back-button on our [EHR] browser." - IT-related mishaps are hard to quantify: Electronic medical records are not classified as medical devices, so hospitals are not required to report problems. Many health IT contracts do not allow hospitals to discuss computer flaws. - EHR systems are mission-critical: "The system crashed soon after it went online. I walked in to find no records on any patients. It was like being on the moon without oxygen." 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] DISCUSS: Electronic medical records: bad, ugly, and dangerous?
Thanks for the responses. I'm hoping not to turn this into a political discussion about the lamentable health care system in the U.S., but that may be inescapable. I don't work in this space and (luckily) don't interact with the health care system very often. But I'm amazed at how technologically backward the industry seems to be. On one occasion, my own GP's office had to call me to confirm an appointment because they had no way to look it up by my name. I asked and they informed me they had no patient database, not even an electronic calendar! Admittedly, they're a tiny operation, but this seems terribly basic. I'm all for electronic records if for no other reason than I think patients should be able to have their own portable copy at all times, especially those who have to see doctors and specialists frequently. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=47008 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
