If we design everything so that users don’t have to think, users will simply stop thinking.
Title: Seams Context: The act of simplification is also the reduction of possibility. Use the power of design to simplify wisely. Synopsis: Sometimes we designers treat our customers like children. Oh, we do it with the best of intentions. All … Continued
Pictures and words: perfect together.
Title: 5 principles for great interface copywriting Context: All design is not visual. All design is communication. Synopsis: The main focus of design is invariably, visual. This makes sense to us because we tend to think of design as an … Continued
Designing for a specific screen size first guarantees one thing: users are last.
Title: Mobile First? Not So Fast. Context: “Mobile first!” is the lazy UX designer’s rallying cry. Understanding context is hard. Synopsis: Why should we design for mobile devices first? Because industry thought leaders tell us to? Because executive stakeholders have … Continued
#ux iota: I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger icon from 30 years ago.
The ubiquitous hamburger icon is as familiar as it is mysterious…until now! Best Bit: “Interesting inside joke… we used to tell potential users that the image was an “air vent” to keep the window cool. It usually got a chuckle, … Continued
Everyone deserves good design. So why is it so hard to get some?
Title: Everyone Deserves Great Design Context: A brief manifesto on the need for universally beneficial and demonstrably good design. Synopsis: Sometimes we look at design and treat it like a cute puppy; we “ohhh” and “ahhh” over it without every … Continued
Is that a bra in your spacesuit or are you just happy to be going into outer space?
Title: Bras in Space: The Incredible True Story Behind Upcoming Film Spacesuit Context: How a brassiere company that knew what they were doing beat the literal pants off lots of military contractors with no expertise in the race to design … Continued
Designers are the savior of all businesses everywhere. If they don’t put you out of business first.
Title: Designer Duds: Losing Our Seat at the Table Context: First no one in business listened to designers. Then they all did. Now only some do. But really, they all should. Synopsis: For a while there it looked like designers … Continued
Getting everyone on the same page first requires that everyone is capable of reading the same language.
Title: The Broken Telephone Game of Defining Software and UI Requirements Context: Every additional step in the process between your design and engineering teams is a potential point of failure that must be guarded against. Synopsis: The PM takes the … Continued
Throw your hands in the air and wave ’em like you want to turn off your smoke alarm (In case of fire cease waving)
Title: Nest’s Smoke Alarm Stumble Is a UI Lesson for Everybody Context: When every gesture can be interpreted as a command how can we tell which gestures are actually commands and which are simply gestures? Synopsis: The Nest line of … Continued
Once upon a time there was a piece of software that did some stuff and you should totally buy it. The end.
Title: Telling stories about screens for screens Context: Telling people about your software. One story at a time. Synopsis: If someone were to ask you to tell them about the software that you designed what would you say? Would you … Continued
If I have to pull this car over 1 more time just to change the radio station we’re turning around and going home!
Title: A New Car UI Context: A touchscreen interface in your new car is indeed a very cool feature. If you can survive using it. Synopsis: It is against the law to text while driving. Why? Because paying more attention … Continued
Everyone—regardless of gender—is an idiot when it comes to doing the laundry.
Title: Washing Machine for Men Context: I’m sure we’ve all tried to do laundry in a washing machine we’ve never seen before, but how many of us have been successful? Synopsis: No one knows what “Eco Perfect” means. Those meaningless … Continued
#ux iota: This is your brain on beer. Any questions? Other than where you can get some beer right now.
You know all that coffee you drink at work to keep you alert? You’re a damn idiot. Drink beer instead. It makes you more creative as well as more sexually attractive. Win/win. via ilovecoffee.jp
Just because nothing is there doesn’t mean that nothing should be there.
Title: Design the Details: Empty States Context: An empty UI does not mean a useless UI. Think of it as an opportunity to speak to your user, What would you say to them? Synopsis: Most applications do not come preloaded … Continued
Study: Design-led companies make more money. Water still wet. Sky still blue.
Title: Study: Good Design Is Good For Business Context: Design isn’t just a business differentiator, it’s a business driver. Synopsis: Apple, Coca-Cola, Ford, Herman Miller, IBM, Intuit, Newell Rubbermaid, Nike, Procter & Gamble, Starbucks, Starwood, Steelcase, Target, Walt Disney, Whirlpool. … Continued