Re: [IxDA Discuss] Teaching IxD through design challenges: Which challenges?
Hi JD, That sounds like a really good exercise, certainly meaty enough and realistic enough to teach some valuable truths. And it gives me one thing I hadn't previously considered for the list of lessons worth learning: * Content is often imperfect and inconsistent. Thanks for sharing John On 29 Jun 2009, at 22:00, JD Vogt wrote: Hi John, I designed and instructed a class last Spring at Virginia Tech, Designing UX for the Web, and it was meant to be a very hands-on sort of class. One of the assignments (mid-term) was for the students to assume that they had landed an architectural firm as a client who wanted a redesign of their website - with a particular emphasis on improving the portfolio section. My objective was to get the students thinking about the flow of moving from the home page to detailed information about a particular building project. Something we as professionals are often asked to do - move people from broad content to details so that decisions can be made. The content was based off of a real architectural firm's site with about 60 building projects of varying detail. However, they had to accommodate the fact that sometimes there was a page of info on a given building, sometimes there was only a paragraph. Sometimes there was one photo, sometimes there were 6. Imperfect content, just like the real world. 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] Teaching IxD through design challenges: Which challenges?
Hi all, I am interested in teaching interaction design through problem setting. I've seen a lot of books with titles like Programming challenges and it makes a lot of sense to learn programming through hands-on problem solving. I consider that the same is true of Interaction Design. That being the case, my questions are: 1. What graded list of problems or challenges would constitute part of a good IxD course? 2. What underlying lesson(s) does each problem illustrate for the student? I envision giving these problems out so that the Student works on them in their own time, then meeting to discuss their solutions and approach and try to draw out the underlying lessons. John 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] Teaching IxD through design challenges: Which challenges?
Hi Parag, Many thanks for your response Just wanted to say that within the field of design, where the designer is involved in reflective practice, the problems are set by the designers themselves. Even when designers are given a problem by their clients, they do not accept the problem as given. Instead, they view the problem given as an ill defined problem which is then solved by setting and resetting the problem. Sure, problem setting is as much a part of design as problem solving. In practice, I spend more time defining and understanding the problem than I do in solving it. But that doesn't change what I'm looking for. I would like to compile a set of design challenges that people can undertake in the context of a design process, including problem setting. I'd also like to define the sorts of issues the challenge illustrates, so that discussion of the challenge can be an opportunity to learn more than just what one solution to one instance of a problem might be. This is akin to an IxD pattern library, although not exactly the same thing. Each pattern in a library sets out a common problem and discusses potential solutions. I'd like to do the same thing, but not provide a solution – just set the problem, and I'd like good notes on what sorts of common interaction design issues each challenge poses. Does that make sense? A good example of the sort of thing I have in mind is the problem set in Cooper's Interaction Designer recruitment aptitude test (http://www.cooper.com/documents/Careers_Exercise_IxDG.pdf ), where applicants are asked to look at a poorly designed interaction in MS Word and redesign it. If I could compile a list of challenges of that sort of scale, with good notes as to the nature of the Interaction problems encountered in each challenge, that'd be ideal. I have used this process to teach interaction design at the University of Limerick, Ireland for last four years and I have seen very encouraging results. I'll be happy to discuss more on this should you have any questions or comments. Sure, I'd be happy to talk to you off list on this. regards John 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] Teaching IxD through design challenges: Which challenges?
Hi Pat, I suppose defining learning objectives is a more precise statement of Part (2) of my project. I do need to engender some observable change in behaviour, and I know that defining and measuring such things is a specialist task. To give you some context, I'm creating a mentoring/professional development programme at work, so the goal is to get people to a good level of competence in IxD even if they are principally IAs, usability experts or some other flavour of UX professional. So there's no formal assessment here. However, I do see the benefits (and pitfalls) of creating good learning objectives and I'd be pleased to get your advice on the development of these when I get that far. I'd be most interested, though, in what you and others on the list think these objectives should be? Maybe I should kick off with a few examples, I'll have a think about it and post again. kind regards John Hi John, Call it what you will, case-based, scenario-based or project based learning, they're great for teaching analytical and critical thinking skills using real world challenges. The key to doing this well is to carefully consider what outcomes you wish to achieve. Coming at this from an instructional design perspective, you need to figure out the learning objectives for your students which are measureable, observable results. Rather than what lessons do you want them to learn, what identifiable skills do you want them to learn? I'd be willing to talk to you about this offline if you're interested. Developing learning objectives isn't always as straighforward as it seems. Cheers, pat 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] User stories vs. user personas
Hi Oliver, when you say user stories, do you mean: a) Scenarios - narratives that describe some user doing something in the system. b) User stories - a means of writing software requirements often used in Extreme programming and other software engineering methods. They are quite different things, and I presume you mean (a) rather than (b). John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=26430 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] How to transition from technical writer to interaction designer?
Hi Martin, I made this tranistion, and feel it is a very natural one to make. I don't know how much advice I can offer, but I can describe the path I took and you can see if there's anything worthwhile in that. I started with a transition to business analyst from tech. pubs manager, which occurred because I was drafted in to research and write lots of specifications on a large web project my employer undertook. I was already sick of writing good documentation for badly designed software, and seeing the requirements process up close I could finally start to see why the software came out of the process in such poor shape. One day, we got a complaint from a customer about 'poor usability' so my boss sent me off to discover what this usability lark was all about. I read, a lot, went to a N/N Group conference and wrote a report on what I had learned. This got me a license to buy a portable usability testing lab and hire in some consultants, who I worked with closely. All of this was to little effect in that the poor software just kept coming - my employer needed culture change more than user testing. I left and went freelance, doing tech writing and a little bit of usability consulting. All of the noise I made in my last job got me a reputation as someone who knew about usability, though I must admit I was a very raw back then. After about a year freelance, I got a job user testing and designing assistive technologies at an organisation for blind people. I stayed with that for a year and a half, and got my first experience of design work as opposed to merely critiquing other people's efforts. I then moved to my current job, were I have been a consultant on interaction design and related matters for about four years. Reading through this, I'd say that making good contacts and being a self-directed learner were the keys to getting to where I wanted to be. I did start a course in cognitive psychology (which I did not complete) which provided useful background. I'm sure a course in IxD would be a good start, but I've interviewed job applicants from some of these courses and was not terribly impressed. In fact we are now resolved to hire self-directed learners with clear passion for the role, putting relevant experience and education second and third in priority. I'm not sure this was much help, Martin, best of luck. John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=25702 *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] [JOB] - Sr. User Experience Design Consultant - Dublin, Ireland - iQ Content - Full Time
iQ Content (www.iqcontent.com) is a user experience design consultancy based in Dublin, Ireland. We help smart organisations design and build websites and web applications that are better for their users and better for their businesses. We have an opportunity for a senior user experience design professional to join our growing consulting team. Senior Analysts are responsible for researching, designing and communicating user-centred design solutions for our clients. RESPONSIBILITIES As a Senior Analyst you serve as the principal user centred design expert on a project. You will work on a variety of projects for clients of all sizes, in the public and private sector and in many different industries. You will work alone or as part of a small team that may include other UxD professionals, a project manager, a graphic designer, web developers and client stakeholders. You will plan and conduct requirements gathering and user research activities aimed at understanding the needs of our business clients and their users. You are responsible for creating the architecture, navigation, task flows, search functionality, information and interaction design elements on a project and for communicating these to the client and to other team members. You will provide ongoing consultancy to clients to help them implement and evolve their user experience strategy, including training and mentoring client staff. In a wider context, you will contribute to sales and client relationship management activities. You will also help define and improve our tools and techniques and to train and mentor less experienced colleagues. REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE You will have substantial practical experience of user experience design, preferably in a commercial environment. Experience in consultancy is a definite advantage. You should have proven ability in two or more of the following skill sets: * Usability evaluation and usability testing methodologies * Interaction design * Information architecture * Web analytics * Using personas and scenarios to model user behaviours * Designing business processes for content management * Web accessibility * Writing for the web and the creation of usable, persuasive content In addition, you should have the following characteristics: * Strong communicator. You must have the ability to articulate complex ideas and concepts in a simple and straightforward manner, either verbally, in writing or using designs and illustrations. * Presenter and facilitator. Presenting ideas and running workshops are part and parcel of what we do. You must have expertise in both. * Consensus builder. Our clients often have diverse and conflicting ideas and objectives. You must be able to consolidate these requirements and build consensus through high-quality designs and solutions. * Delivery focused. Good solutions are useless if they are not delivered on time. You must have a strong delivery-focused ethic and the ability to get things done. * Technology savvy. This is not a technical role, but you must be comfortable talking to our clients about content management systems, style sheets, XML and other basic aspects of web development. ABOUT iQ CONTENT iQ Content is a user experience design consultancy based in Dublin, Ireland. Our client base is largely in Ireland and the UK, although we have undertaken engagements in the United States and continental Europe. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work and on being a great place to work. iQ Content is dedicated to building a smart, motivated team and a great working environment. We try to provide our people with every opportunity to learn and to grow in their roles. Every member of the team has the opportunity to contribute to the growth and culture of the company in a real way, and to help build what we consider to be one of the best little companies in Ireland (or anywhere else). HOW TO APPLY If you are interested in applying for this role, email your resume or CV to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject line Senior Analyst application. Applicants should be eligible to work in the EU. *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
