CATALOGING THE ART AND SCIENCE OF USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Title: The Amazing Psychology of Japanese Train Stations Context: Fixing massive problems sometimes only requires small solutions. Synopsis: The Japanese rail system is where a highly cooperative society meets absolute chaos. The images of people being forcibly wedged into grossly … Continued
Title: User research — what’s tomato ketchup got to do with it? Context: If Heinz had only asked their customers what they wanted they would have made faster ketchup. Synopsis: When I was a kid, getting ketchup on your plate … Continued
Title: On Weaponised Design Context: Just when you thought it was safe to be a UX designer you find out you’re a menace to society. Synopsis: The ramifications of the decisions we make as designers are often lost in a … Continued
Title: Design is not a science — making design great again Context: Design doesn’t have to be boring. That just seems to be the way it gets practiced these days. Synopsis: If you can’t justify your design decision with a mountain of … Continued
Title: The Woman Who Gave the Macintosh a Smile Context: Just because it’s old school, doesn’t mean it still can’t teach you a thing or two. Synopsis: Designs that stand the test of time are few and far between. The … Continued
Title: How the progress bar keeps you sane Context: The progress bar does not measure progress…it mitigates the fear of death. According to this guy, anyway. Best Bit: “But once you start thinking about the progress bar as something that’s … Continued
Title: What Was the Purpose of Saloon Doors? Context: While the modern designer might have come up with the label “user experience”, they certainly didn’t invent the concept. Synopsis: Ah the Old West. Rampant violence, lawlessness, intemperance, and plenty of … Continued
Title: In Defense of Post-its Context: Sticky notes: the cause of — and solution to — all of your design problems. Synopsis: Most collaborative design processes are worth their weight in Post-its. Literally. They are the great equalizer within the … Continued
Title: The Toaster Context: Which came first: the sliced bread or the toast? Synopsis: The job of a designer is often that of building upon what has come before. We take existing ideas as a starting point and alter their … Continued
Title: In Defense of Design Thinking, Which Is Terrible Context: I could tell you all the secrets of being a designer, but then I’d have to kill you. Just kidding. Or am I? Synopsis: We designers are a misunderstood lot. … Continued
Title: What Would a World Designed by Women Look Like? Context: Diversity of thought and experience is the most effective way to address the problems impacting a world forged within a historically narrow set of perspectives. Synopsis: As I read … Continued
Title: What Design Chiefs At Uber, IBM, And Microsoft Care About In 2018–And Why Context: Suddenly big business can’t get enough of design. Took them long enough. Synopsis: More good news for us designers straight from the halls of Corporate … Continued
Title: Make me think! The design of complexity Context: By hiding complexity from people are we unintentionally making them dumberer? Synopsis: Plato (putting words into the mouth of Socrates) famously warned that the invention of writing would ruin humanity by … Continued
Title: Design in Tech Report 2018 Context: Smart folks with opinions deconstruct design’s role in technology. Reading what they write might make you a little smarter too. Synopsis: There are loads of people claiming to know the future. Few are … Continued
Title: Decoding the Design History of Your Coffee Cup Lid Context: Not all user experience problems are about saving the world. Synopsis: One of my all-time favorite design books is Henry Petroski’s “The Evolution of Useful Things”. I find the … Continued