Re: [IxDA Discuss] Young Designer Seeking Advice
Hi Matt, As a fellow New Yorker, I would highly recommend that you look into R/GA (www.rga.com). They are an interactive agency located on 39th Street, between 8th and 9th (Hell's Kitchen area). When I was in the process of transitioning from Web Design to Interactive Design, R/GA was the first place that I worked, and it was an amazing experience. It was like getting thrown into the deep end of the pool and being forced to swim for my life (a very valuable lesson). The company is very young, lots of recent graduates (so you would fit right in with the culture), and the talent there in every discipline is exceptional. The company is also HUGE on collaboration, so you will learn from more people than you could ever imagine. As Rich mentioned, the market is very tight right now. R/GA also offers a Paid Intern program, which might be a good start. The interns normally work for a year or 18 months with all disciplines (design, interactive design, programming, etc), and then choose the area that they want to move in to. It's a great way to get your feet wet, and get your foot in the door. Best of luck to you in your search. Thank you, Vicki L. Splaine Senior User Experience Architect 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc -Original Message- From: discuss-boun...@lists.interactiondesigners.com [mailto:discuss-boun...@lists.interactiondesigners.com] On Behalf Of Matthew Ell Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2009 9:26 AM To: disc...@ixda.org Subject: [IxDA Discuss] Young Designer Seeking Advice Hello All, I graduated from school about a year ago and have been working as a independent freelance web designer. I am in the process of doing some career planning and would really appreciate all of your feedback, as I would imagine there also many other people out there like me. Basically, I received a design education (BFA @ The School of Visual Arts) and have been a tinkerer in Web Design since high school (1998). Since then, I have followed new technology, studied and learned new web programming, worked in a small interactive/communications design studio, and have been trying to learn all I can about careers in Interaction and Digital Design. My goal for September is to be starting my career at an Interactive Studio or Agency in New York or San Francisco. My Questions are: 1. What Interactive Job titles should I be applying for? or which are most suitable for someone with 1-2 years of professional experience in Basic Programming and Front End Web Development? 2. Can you recommend any studios in NY or SF that would be good to start a career in Interaction Design. 3. What professional and technical skills should be built upon before applying to a Studio that works in Interaction design (web site design, mobile applications, user interface, and interactive media.) Thanks in advance for everyone's help! Best, Matt 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 - This e-mail, including attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately. 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] Best Practices for Online Chat
Hello all, my company is looking to implement online chat for some of their brands (Gifting Industry/E-commerce websites) to help alleviate calls to Customer Service, increase overall customer satisfaction and make product recommendations. I was hoping to get the groups opinion on both Proactive and Reactive Chat implementations, as well as advice on providing the best customer experience. Thanks in advance. 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] Checkout Best Practices
Hello all, Was hoping to get the groups feedback on best practices regarding checkout, and more specifically, the placement of the checkout button on e-commerce websites. Sites like harryanddavid.com are incorporating a checkout button, as a persistent element, on all pages of their website. As someone in the gifting industry, I can see the logic behind this. It has been my observation that most gifting vendors enable users to keep items in their shopping cart for 24 hours or more. Allowing the user to make selections, add them to their cart, and then come back an hour or two (or a day or two) later to checkout. Having a Checkout button at the top of the page would accomodate those types of users perfectly. Does anyone see a down side to having the checkout button be a persistent element on an e-commerce gifting site? Is this becoming a best practice? Thanks in advance for your feedback. 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] User Testing and Recruiting Advice
My company is looking to make in-house user testing a monthly practice for it's many brands. We have the testing location, we have the necessary equipment, we have usability practitioners on staff. What we are lacking, is successful recruiting practices (many users cancel at the last minute or do not show up). I was hoping to get some feedback/advice from the group on the following: 1) Tips for successful recruiting using in house resources, as we can not use an outside recruiting agency for cost reasons? 2) We have considered forming a Customer Council. A group of dedicated users that represent defined personas for each brand. The idea is to utilize these individuals to get their feedback/opinion on website enhancements, etc. Does anyone have an experience using a Customer Council model? 3) Has anyone had success with remote testing? Any preferred software or methods that you can recommend? 4) Netflix and Microsoft (to name a few) have incorporated rapid user testing into their process. Does anyone on the list happen to work for either of those companies? If so, would you be willing to share your experiences, what has and has not worked for you? Thanks in advance for your opinions and expertise, it is very 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
[IxDA Discuss] Kohl's Checkout
Hello all, I was wondering if any of you have seen the new checkout on Kohls.com. There are some new features that I have not seen on other e-commerce sites. I would love to get the groups opinion overall, and specifically to the following features: 1) Highlighted fields as you tab through checkout. 2) Switch to High Contrast Style in the top right corner - Assuming that this is for accessibility, is this a best practice? 3) Phone number field with formatting. Thanks in advance. Vicki L. Splaine Senior User Experience Architect 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc - This e-mail, including attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately. 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
