CATALOGING THE ART AND SCIENCE OF USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN
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: In the future, design principles won’t be about design Context: Everybody has got design principles, but how many really live by them? Synopsis: Design principles are the new hotness. Can you even claim to be a design thinking company … Continued
Title: The Internet of Things Needs Design, Not Just Technology Context: We’ve finally hit the point where we all agree that technology without design is bad, right? RIGHT?!?! Synopsis: A fully networked world is coming. Your toaster will talk to … Continued
Title: When It Comes to UX Design, Simplicity Is Overrated Context: Simplicity is in the eye of the beholder. Clarity is universal. Synopsis: Einstein once said something clever about simplicity and making things as simple as possible but no simpler … Continued
Title: The UX of UP: Urinals and Usability Context: All UX designers must wash their hands before returning to work. Synopsis: UX can be found all around us. Yes even…in there. Our natural bodily functions — as gender-specifically universal as … Continued
Title: 4 Design Lessons From The Pixar Team Context: Pixar doesn’t just “make” movies, they design them. And like all design, they have a process. Synopsis: Creative genius is messy. You could not possibly recreate the superlative talents of a … Continued
Title: Well-designed interfaces look boring Context: Shiny new things are sometimes better dull. Synopsis: Ah, the future. It’s going to be great. Touchscreen, holographic, virtual reality user interfaces everywhere we will look, controlling everything we will do, ubiquitous everywhere we … Continued
Title: Deceptive Simplicity Context: If achieving true simplicity was really simple, everyone would simply do it. Synopsis: Simplicity has it so easy. Should things be simple to use? Of course they should. Complexity is the enemy of usability. Simplicity is … Continued
Title: A conversation about design Context: Very brief insights from the Google design team. They say “simple” a lot. Synopsis: Design cultures all have their own core set of beliefs, yet at the same time those beliefs are also predicated … Continued
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
Title: The No UI debate is rubbish Context: Context is king. Synopsis: I forget where the user experience zeitgeist is at this week. Are we against all forms of UI controls now or is it back to the tried and … Continued
Title: The Next Big UI Idea: Gadgets That Adapt To Your Skill Context: Using UI adaptability to appeal to both power users and novices without alienating either. Synopsis: Every new feature adds complexity. Only a fraction of your users will … Continued
Title: Your app makes me fat Context: How long before the Surgeon General places a warning on your app about how harmful it can be to your users’ health? Synopsis: You know what’s hard? Choosing salad over cake. At least … Continued
Title: Cognitive Overhead, Or Why Your Product Isn’t As Simple As You Think Context: Making software is hard. Using software better not be. Synopsis: 8 billion features later you don’t have a piece of user-friendly software, you have a usability … Continued
Title: Complexity and User Experience: Understanding features in terms of complexity instead of functionality Context: Reducing complexity involves ruthless editorial control over feature inclusion. Now if we can just convince the sales guys that this is the right thing to … Continued