Re: [IxDA Discuss] Ajax product configurator examples
Hi Michael, Last year we did this on-line shop with Ajax for a Dutch company: http://www.zonneman.com/ (For non Dutch users, link on this: http://www.zonneman.com/#besteljaloezie) Ferran Alvarez http://www.bryte.biz -Mensaje original- De: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] En nombre de Michael Micheletti Enviado el: sábado, 19 de enero de 2008 6:21 Para: IxDA Discuss Asunto: [IxDA Discuss] Ajax product configurator examples I'm helping a friend who has a small business (total employees: 1, total budget: $0 or maybe less) brainstorm ideas for a custom product configurator for his website. Similar sites might allow you to see the clothes on a model and change shirt colors, add various designs to a t-shirt, or customize your new Mercedes colors, wheels, etc. He's curious to find out if this sort of product configuration can be done well using Ajax/Web 2.0 technologies. He'd like to avoid Flash if possible. I've found these two examples so far: Levolor store beta (pick a product and configure wall and window colors, etc): http://www.levolor.com/store/ This was pretty fun to play with. Zazzle t-shirt designs: http://www.zazzle.com/cr/design/pt-shirt?style=basic_dark_tshirtcolor=black Not quite as direct and interactive. Can you guys think of other similar examples? Even better, do you know of any existing free or affordable code libraries that do something like this? Thanks for your help, Michael Micheletti *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 *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] The Designers Accord
I agree that we could all keep our products a little – or a lot – longer. To do this, businesses would have to figure out how to continue making a mint selling us services instead of products. When this happens, more durable products will be more profitable. Until then, it won't make sense for anyone wanting to remain in business to make stuff that lasts. Here's why: Highly durable, well-designed products can be sold at a premium to a customer base that (hopefully) will be quite pleased with your product. So pleased, in fact, that they don't need to buy anything else from you for quite some time. Since your products will be more expensive than the average offerings many potential customers will instead prefer to buy your product used and not from you. In time you'll be competing with products you sold long ago. This can kill a company. An example: Leica Camera sells superbly crafted, highly durable cameras but only captures about 20% of the worldwide market for Leicas. The other 80% is captured by individuals and dealers selling used equipment. [1]. Selling the very best, most durable product will not sustain your business unless you are a small company that doesn't need to grow, in a growing market with few or no competitors. I would much prefer it if everything I used made to last, possible to repair, useful for years on end and a pleasure to use. I'm sure the planet would benefit from this as well. Therefore I try to make services instead of products when I can, but it's a complex task. For a nuanced, detailed and readable discussion on how we can create services instead of products and create a more sustainable outcome, I highly recommend John Thackara's book In the bubble: designing in a complex world http://www.amazon.com/Bubble-Designing-Complex-World/dp/0262201577 http://www.thackara.com/inthebubble/ My hat's off to the IDSA for creating the Designer's Accord and I'm going to spread the word about it at our UXnet meetings here in Oslo. - Fredrik 1. From a quote by Leica Camera CEO Steven K Lee in Leica Fotografie International magazine *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
Are you sure? It seems like a good definition to me - it doesn't mandate usability testing or the use of personas, etc, it simply focuses on the concept of involving users throughout the design process. That is what IxDA members seem to be confused about - how many times have we heard someone say they think UCD mandates usability testing, the use of personas, thinking that UCD doesn't care about things like business goals or technology limitations, etc?. I'm just not sure if the problem is one of definition, or simply that many folks don't really understand what UCD is to begin with - it seems that a lot of people make false assumptions about the practice. Jeff On Jan 20, 2008 1:23 PM, Robert Hoekman, Jr. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The UPA has been working on a project to define a Usability Body of Knowledge (BoK) since 2004. You can review a definition for UCD and many other common terms at http://www.usabilitybok.org/ in the Glossary section. We also have sections for Methods, Design and other subjects. The definition of UCD from UPA's Body of Knowledge glossary: An approach or philosophy that emphasizes early and continuous involvement of users in the design and evaluation process This definition is hardly fulfilling. If UCD could be wrapped up in a single sentence, we wouldn't be having this debate every week in the first place. -r- *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 *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
All, If this helps in understanding what is already out there, the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society has a collection of HF and related definitions on their site at http://www.hfes.org/Web/EducationalResources/HFEdefinitionsmain.html Michele Marut *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
Language can express our ideas and ideals in a way that's readily understood and inclusive to the general population, or it can isolate us in a world of specialized jargon. A decision should be made about which is most important to the group -- promoting a broader understanding, or inventing language that better satisfies the needs of the specialist. I'm for the former, and I think that's in line with the founding principles of this group. But it's not a right or wrong decision, just a decision. And like all decisions, it has consequences. I agree with Mark: These definitions will be the building blocks to our message. Our audience will not have the same opportunity for dialog or background. The message will need to be clear simple and normalized. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=24685 *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
Here's a model definition that I love for its brevity and clarity, from the weblink Michele has just posted: Human Factors is concerned with the application of what we know about people, their abilities, characteristics, and limitations to the design of equipment they use, environments in which they function, and jobs they perform. There are other reasonable definitions of the same term that aren't as satisfying to me. One thing I really like about this one is the simple language. Another is the application of *what we know* ... because what we know will change with time and practice. That's a nice touch. On the other hand, I'd clarify the same definition by rewriting it like this: Human Factors [as applied to design, engineering ...] considers what we know about people -- their abilities, characteristics and limitations -- and applies that knowledge to the design of equipment they use, environments in which they function, and jobs they perform. User-center design may be described or defined as a subset of that. You can think of others. Not that there need be a hierarchy as such, but such structure helps with comprehension, acceptance and adoption. Those three factors are as important to me as accuracy, where definitions are concerned. We have a lot in common with related disciplines, and a willingness to adopt longstanding definitions only adds to our credibility. We need not reinvent the wheel if we can just shave off some of the rough edges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=24685 *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
Are you sure? It seems like a good definition to me I've seen whiteboard notes that were more comprehensive. That is what IxDA members seem to be confused about - how many times have we heard someone say they think UCD mandates usability testing, the use of personas, thinking that UCD doesn't care about things like business goals or technology limitations, etc?. The definition of UCD should include discussion of how it's practiced. Same for ACD, and so on. The method of practice is the key distinction between these approaches. Without these differences, they're all just interchangeable words. -r- *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Ajax product configurator examples
These examples are great. I really like the use of simple illustrations on the Zonneman site. Another example sent me off list is the Old Navy site, which has simple rollovers to show shirts in different colors: http://www.oldnavy.com Would love to see even more examples if you know of them - they're giving us lots of ideas on how to simplify and do a good job. Much appreciated, Michael Micheletti *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
Dan Saffer wrote: You can object to the term, but that horse might have left the stable and you might have to let it go eventually. I see it all over this list and elsewhere now. Heck, even Jakob Nielsen has used it: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/genius-designers.html But I'm a little tired of the semantics debate. We should prototype the messaging around our discipline on a wiki and be done with it, rather than have these debates crop up year after year. - - - No horse has left any barn. I fundamentally disagree with the notion of a process being *either* user-centric or designer-centric. This is just so oversimplified as to be misleading. All good design is done in the service to the product and the end user. And no one process or approach owns user-centricity. As for the importance of whether Jakob Nielsen has repeated this term, well, I would disagree that this means the matter is settled. I suppose I can understand why someone coining a term would like to see the debate over and done with, but it's not quite that simple. As long as loaded terminology is employed (and let's be honest - there is much rhetorical loading to a great deal of the terminology and labels used in the design field), we will have disagreement. These debates are going to continue to crop up, as long as terminology such as genius design, and ego-centric are used to label individual or small expert team efforts that don't incorporate what's being labeled user-centered design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=24685 *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
On Jan 21, 2008, at 11:45 AM, Jim Leftwich wrote: No horse has left any barn. I fundamentally disagree with the notion of a process being *either* user-centric or designer-centric. This is just so oversimplified as to be misleading. All good design is done in the service to the product and the end user. And no one process or approach owns user-centricity. You are now confusing intent with approach. All good design intends to benefit the user. The differences we're speaking of are the approaches, all of which can be used to create this benefit. User- centric design is a technical term to describe a set of methods and a philosophy, not just that the designer intends to help the user. (Duh.) As I have also pointed out in the book and elsewhere, the different approaches can all be used on the same project at different times. I'm agnostic about the approach--all four have their merits and flaws. I know I drift frequently between genius design, UCD, and ACD. I'd argue the best designers are those that can do this sort of shifting between approaches, in fact. Rigid ideology causes you to lose tools in your toolkit. As for the importance of whether Jakob Nielsen has repeated this term, well, I would disagree that this means the matter is settled. It's not only Jakob. I was mostly kidding about his using it, although it does signify the term has moved beyond the core community here. The more important point is that the term has been adopted and used by the IxD community. Nothing better has been proposed, codified or adopted. I suppose I can understand why someone coining a term would like to see the debate over and done with, but it's not quite that simple. You are free to write your own book and coin your own terms. :) These debates are going to continue to crop up, as long as terminology such as genius design, and ego-centric are used to label individual or small expert team efforts that don't incorporate what's being labeled user-centered design. As I stated above, the term UCD implies a core set of methods (generative user research being the core of the core IMHO). This isn't to say that practitioners who use the other approaches don't care about users or serving their needs, just that they don't go about that in a way that is traditionally called user-centered design. Dan *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
One test of the validity of any label to a particular approach is whether or not groups of practitioners can reasonably be expected to apply it to themselves and advocate it as part of their offering. I highly doubt any designers that work in individual, small expert team, rapid style would hold out their approach to the field and potential clients or companies as genius design, or ego-centric. This is at the heart of why both of these labels fail, even if you are willing to apply them to the approach you say you use from time to time. You are not fully describing the complex set of approaches that experienced non-UCD-practicing designers utilize and advocate for many real-world situations. The section of your book on genius design is a fraction of the size and depth of the other methodologies you describe. I concur that most design efforts overlap Expert-Rapid/ACD/UCD. I'll advocate Expert-Rapid Design as it's descriptive of both what's necessary to employ such an approach and the time-constraints found in many real-world situations that generally lead to its use. It's a non-judgemental, psychologically-centric, or anti-term (coined by advocates of other, implied better methodologies), and can be legitimately advocated in a variety of real-world situations. It would be intersting to give UCD and ERD practitioners the same project, (say a medical device) with a small budget and extreme time constraints and see the results in the finished product. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=24685 *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Ajax product configurator examples
Land's End does something similar to Old Navy's approach, Michael, except Land's End uses clickable swatches as the trigger: http://tinyurl.com/39k3gx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=24768 *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
if the cow really has left the silo, maybe call it GD to take some of the sting out of the word genius but them that may imply, uh... Guru Design? God Design? Gut Design? But mybe it hasn't. So... well, auteur design since one person is judge, jury, and executioner? or shoestring design because you're making do with what you've got in your head.? Intuitive design? (ducking) Experience design? (taken by another meaning) Expert design? that's a bit less loaded but still fairly accurate. --xian On Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:41:35, Jim Leftwich [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I highly doubt any designers that work in individual, small expert team, rapid style would hold out their approach to the field and potential clients or companies as genius design, or ego-centric. Maybe rapid design I'll advocate Expert-Rapid Design as it's descriptive of both what's necessary to employ such an approach and the time-constraints found in many real-world situations that generally lead to its use. It's a non-judgemental, psychologically-centric, or anti-term (coined by advocates of other, implied better methodologies), and can be legitimately advocated in a variety of real-world situations. Pick one. Both together sounds too much like Express Rarebit Design or Extra Rabbit Design It would be intersting to give UCD and ERD practitioners the same project, (say a medical device) with a small budget and extreme time constraints and see the results in the finished product. Like that insulin pump thing Adaptive Path did? That's a great idea. How can we set it up? --xian -- Christian Crumlish http://xianlandia.com Yahoo! pattern detective http://developer.yahoo.com/ypatterns IA Institute director of technology http://iainstitute.org *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
I advocate the non-loaded, mostly descriptive Expert Rapid Design (ERD). Guru Design, God Design are both sort of ad hominem. They're aimed at the individual, rather than the method, and as I'd laid out, you can't seriously imagine practitioners self-labeling themselves with those terms, or seriously advocating them. They right off the bat are open to unimaginable rounds of fighting and confusion. I'm advocating an actual, legitimate, viable, and often necessary design approach. An approach that can be learned and honed over time by a much wider variety of designers than presently practice it, or believe such a thing is possible. And it's not limited to just individuals, and is separate from the issue of ego or personality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=24685 *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
On Jan 21, 2008, at 3:04 PM, Jim Leftwich wrote: I advocate the non-loaded, mostly descriptive Expert Rapid Design (ERD). Let me do you the favor of deconstructing this term the same way as has been done with Genius Design. Expert: Expert implies greatly skilled and experienced. Do you have to be an expert to practice it? If so, how come many non-trained or beginning designers use this method (with terrible results)? Rapid: The iPod and iPhone took several years to create using this method. Rapid according to whom? I'm advocating an actual, legitimate, viable, and often necessary design approach. Is anyone really questioning this? This seems like a strawman you've built up. *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
On Jan 21, 2008, at 3:04 PM, Jim Leftwich wrote: I advocate the non-loaded, mostly descriptive Expert Rapid Design (ERD). As a first note, I'd like to say I completely concur with all of Jim's comments and viewpoints on this. I'm sure Jim is going to have to find a way to not have his jaw removed from the floor once he reads that. 8^) Second -- and this might give Jared an opening to faint as well -- I don't find the distinctions between styles of design as it pertains to the team to be of much use at all. UCD and ERD really are both sides of the same sword as near as I can tell precisely because of many of the things Jim noted earlier. Using them as labels or as a means to define the design process will cut you equally in the pain it can bring. To that degree, I think none of those terms are of much practical use, and it's largely why I make the claim UCD is a poor approach to design if not outright incorrect. What I do find useful, and the thing I think resonates with clients, executives, or the people who fund design, is the simple term Research. That is to say, what is required is research, research and more research. More data and more research is never bad in my opinion. You simply can't have enough of it or enough time for time it. And by research, I mean across all facets. Design patterns, technology, feasibility, customers, market factors, trends, etc. The more I know, the more likely I am to make better design decisions in my experience. It simply cannot be silo'd to favor one aspect of what goes into a product. It's quite clear to me that research is needed no matter how a single designer or a team approach the actual design process. When quality research is present, the final quality of the work is significantly increased than when it's not. Given that baseline, I'm even willing to concede to let a single person or a collaborative team take a user centered design approach from that sort of in-depth, qualitative research vantage point, where they weigh their design decisions to favor users for whatever reason. I say this, because in my experience, once you have to weigh technology considerations and business decisions that come from concrete research and data, it's nearly impossible to favor any of them (user, technology or business) without driving yourself mad in the process. To that degree, Research is ultimate equalizer and the ultimate path to a solid foundation for any type of product design, and the very thing that often makes what comes out as a good product to being an extraordinary one. I also believe the approach Jim is referring to often occurs from people, either as a team or on their own, who have a lot of prior experience in designing something. This experience acts as research, to the degree that their ultimate design process doesn't favor or look like UCD. It's just works from a basis of solid, concrete knowledge about the thing they are designing. -- Andrei Herasimchuk Principal, Involution Studios innovating the digital world e. [EMAIL PROTECTED] c. +1 408 306 6422 *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
Dan Saffer wrote: Expert: Expert implies greatly skilled and experienced. Do you have to be an expert to practice it? If so, how come many non-trained or beginning designers use this method (with terrible results)? . - - - Yes, absolutely one should be expert to the degree of design and complexity that they're attempting. Part of the ERD model is that young designers not start right out on their own taking on projects beyond their capabilities and experience. Working with older designers is an excellent way to learn by doing, and incorporate the skills necessary to take on complex projects in this manner. I'm not advocating this being used in the way you describe. And certainly we know that terrible results are achievable through the use of all so-called methodologies. It's not just the problem of ERD. Dan Saffer wrote: I find it hard to believe that many designers sell themselves (or self-identify) as a user-centered designer or an activity-centered designer. - - - A Google search on user centered designer brings up over a thousand results. Including both self-descriptions as well as job descriptions seeking candidates. Dan Saffer wrote: And also mostly because it, unlike other approaches, does not have a core set of activities or philosophies that guide the process. - - - That's not true. It might be true that those practicing it haven't taken time out to write books, but that doesn't mean that they don't have a core set of activities and philosophies guiding their work. And as for why a comparitive test (which may be unfeasible for other reasons) woud be valuable - it's because many have made claims that ERD approaches cannot produce successful products and systems. This is not *your* argument. You made this clear in your book. But you're not the only one adding to this ongoing conversation. Dan Saffer wrote: You seem to think that the approaches are in conflict, and one can be judged better than the other. That's fundamentalist thinking. We should be advocates for pluralism. - - - I'm not at all saying the approaches are in conflict. In fact, if you go back and read my previous posts you'll see I clearly stated the following: It's my belief that our field will benefit most from avoiding hard categorical definitions, and instead embrace the diversity of approaches and combinations of pursuits inherent among our wide range of pracitioners. I take exception only with unhelpful and inadequately descriptive labels such as genius design and ego-centric. And I favor the term Rapid Expert Design (ERD) And that no more means that everything using that approach must be done with the same level of rapidity or expertness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=24685 *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
Out of curiosity (I'm very confused by this thread) is the issue with user-centered design the fear that it's somehow ignoring biz tech? I've always thought about it as generative research that fuels design (or whatever Dan Saffer said so eloquently) where as expert design to me means design based on my knowledge of the user/domain as an expert, no research? I tend to think of myself as user-centered in that I partner with clients, marketers, developers, engineers, etc. who tend to (over-) represent business and technology. But also because I use tools that I think of falling into that camp. Not that I don't care or know about business/tech, but it's not my center. The semantics here are a bit overwhelming, but differentiating styles of design helps me with clients often. Some problems require me to deep dive on users, others I can design for without using UCD tools. To scope a project and manage client expectations, I find it useful to educate them about the two. Sometimes. ;) -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Andrei Herasimchuk Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 4:17 PM To: IxDA List Subject: Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things) On Jan 21, 2008, at 3:04 PM, Jim Leftwich wrote: I advocate the non-loaded, mostly descriptive Expert Rapid Design (ERD). As a first note, I'd like to say I completely concur with all of Jim's comments and viewpoints on this. I'm sure Jim is going to have to find a way to not have his jaw removed from the floor once he reads that. 8^) Second -- and this might give Jared an opening to faint as well -- I don't find the distinctions between styles of design as it pertains to the team to be of much use at all. UCD and ERD really are both sides of the same sword as near as I can tell precisely because of many of the things Jim noted earlier. Using them as labels or as a means to define the design process will cut you equally in the pain it can bring. To that degree, I think none of those terms are of much practical use, and it's largely why I make the claim UCD is a poor approach to design if not outright incorrect. What I do find useful, and the thing I think resonates with clients, executives, or the people who fund design, is the simple term Research. That is to say, what is required is research, research and more research. More data and more research is never bad in my opinion. You simply can't have enough of it or enough time for time it. And by research, I mean across all facets. Design patterns, technology, feasibility, customers, market factors, trends, etc. The more I know, the more likely I am to make better design decisions in my experience. It simply cannot be silo'd to favor one aspect of what goes into a product. It's quite clear to me that research is needed no matter how a single designer or a team approach the actual design process. When quality research is present, the final quality of the work is significantly increased than when it's not. Given that baseline, I'm even willing to concede to let a single person or a collaborative team take a user centered design approach from that sort of in-depth, qualitative research vantage point, where they weigh their design decisions to favor users for whatever reason. I say this, because in my experience, once you have to weigh technology considerations and business decisions that come from concrete research and data, it's nearly impossible to favor any of them (user, technology or business) without driving yourself mad in the process. To that degree, Research is ultimate equalizer and the ultimate path to a solid foundation for any type of product design, and the very thing that often makes what comes out as a good product to being an extraordinary one. I also believe the approach Jim is referring to often occurs from people, either as a team or on their own, who have a lot of prior experience in designing something. This experience acts as research, to the degree that their ultimate design process doesn't favor or look like UCD. It's just works from a basis of solid, concrete knowledge about the thing they are designing. -- Andrei Herasimchuk Principal, Involution Studios innovating the digital world e. [EMAIL PROTECTED] c. +1 408 306 6422 *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 *Come to IxDA Interaction08 |
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
This thread seems to have run its course, but just wanted to quickly share a link to my blog (www.ghostinthepixel.com) where I'm re-capping the CMU approach to design (Carnegie Mellon Univ) which folks like Jeff Howard, Jack Moffet, Dan Saffer, Jon Kolko, and myself come from. This may help clarify where some of us come from in terms of interpreting interaction design as a field of thought and practice. (note: Dan Saffer kept an excellent account of his CMU design days online; mine is after a few years in the field before i forget it all :-) This particular post offers a summary of core ideas and definitions, drawn from the writings of Dick Buchanan: http://www.ghostinthepixel.com/?p=88 Interaction design emerged in contemporary consciousness around problems of the digital medium and the relationship between people and computers. However, interaction design has greater significance than its application to the digital products that increasingly surround us and influence our lives. Interaction design offers new insight into visual communication, physical artifacts, activities and services, and the systems and environments within which all products exist. — R. Buchanan, PhD. I hope this contribution helps. (or if not, at least now you'll see where some of us are coming from, and why we think the way we do :-) Enjoy! Uday Gajendar, Senior Designer Involution Studios LLC *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] The Designers Accord
I'm happy to join this conversation since I've been lurking for a few days. I'm the founder of the Designers Accord (www.designersaccord.org). I announced the endorsement of the Accord by AIGA and IDSA this weekend, but this initiative wasn't created by either organization. I work at IDEO, but the Accord is not attached to one firm in particular. The Designers Accord is a discipline-agnostic not-for-profit organization. In fact, I am an interaction designer with about 15 years of experience designing all sorts of things %u2013 from UI to physical products and environments. When I started this project it was easiest to focus on the tangibles in our environment -- both in terms of describing the concept and making the mission real to people. However, I am eager to ask this community about how you think social and environmental sustainability fits with interaction design. Many people just focus on energy efficient hosting and virtual communities. I know there's more. My goal is to include all designers in this movement, especially my own tribe! - Valerie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=24609 *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Book proposals to look at
A book release it's as posted by Dan Brown, a group of factors that create the product. But above all the relation between the publisher and the author it's essential, many of the great works, books, films, music etc... comes from author creating it's publishing conditions, the do it your self it's the guarantee of publishing without any restrictions for the author. Personally this is my experience, with some friends we have created magazines, movies in dvd, and even books, all at our risk, and from our point of view it's always worthy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=24623 *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. Interaction Designer - Redwood City, CA or Seattle, WA
Please contact me off list. Thx -Steve Description: Visto is seeking a Senior Interaction Designer to join our Product Design team in Redwood Shores. The Interaction Designer will design user interactions across all of Visto's enterprise, mobile, web and desktop applications. This is a demanding role in a fast-paced environment that offers the right candidate a chance to work on and extend one of the most exciting mobile application platforms on the market today. A successful candidate will be well trained in design, illustrate an ability to apply business goals and user priorities to design work, possess an understanding of both work flow and user tasks, and will be known for having usability focus and aesthetic values. Candidate will have worked as a hands-on UI design practitioner. Responsibilities include: * Produce high level flows and detailed storyboards, mock-ups and prototypes to effectively communicate designs * Create user interaction models of key customer experiences and projects, concentrating on end-to-end scenarios and top user tasks * Work with usability findings to validate designs and rapidly iterate on findings * Maintain current knowledge of what's possible with the technologies and interface standards across a broad range of Internet and mobile platforms * Work with all customer-focused product teams to create a superior end-user/customer experience for all Visto product lines and relegated online interfaces * Work collaboratively with product design managers to create product specifications * Create necessary UI resources (icons, graphics, text, CSS) * Work closely with engineering teams to implement final designs * Design and conduct usability test plans that map to user scenarios * Work closely with product team to define products that fit with our customers' goals and workflows Educational Requirements: * Four-year product/interaction design degree, computer-human interface degree, computer science degree, graphic design degree, or related experience Required Skills Experience: * 4-6 years experience designing usable interfaces for web-based and desktop platforms, PDA's, and wireless handheld devices * Specific experience with Windows Mobile and/or Symbian platforms * Experience designing desktop applications for Windows * Experience designing complex enterprise solutions * Experience designing web applications * Knowledge of CSS and HTML standards * Experience with user-centered design methodology * Demonstrated work experience in human factors and usability engineering * Strong information and interaction design experience * Strong visualization and presentation skills (illustration, graphic design) * Proficient with a variety of design tools including: Visio, Photoshop, Word and PowerPoint * Ability to work in a team-based development environment * Passionate about design, usability and human factors * Strong portfolio * Experience iteratively improving designs based on usability feedback * Experience with paper or Flash prototyping of designs for usability testing * Ability to work independently. * Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal Bonus Points for: * Experience with complex, telecommunication or messaging enterprise solutions * Experience designing for J2ME or BREW platforms * Fluency in Mandarin Chinese, French, Italian, German, Spanish or Japanese * Experience with DHTML, XSLT and XML * Experience designing applications for AJAX/Web 2.0 style interactions * Experience designing for Apple's Mac OS * Experience reading or creating UML diagrams for user interactions Steve Silvers Product Design Manager Visto Corporation Work: 1.650.486.6080 Cell: 1.650.245.8880 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.visto.com http://www.visto.com/ attaa0c6.gif *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
Since I've eared about IxD, I have imagined the design of the invisible, maybe, the optimisation of reaction moment. Pedro Soares Neves userdesign.org . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=24685 *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
Update: Anyone who volunteered already has been sent a Welcome email to a Basecamp project I set up for this Design Definitions project. We'll post something to the list for feedback as soon as we can. In the meantime, feel free to keep making yourselves crazy. ;) -r- *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] 1 opening - Job Code # 1174- Design/Usability Analyst- Full Time Opportunity at Lumension Security in Scottsdale- Posted by Corporate Recruiter at lumension
Lumension Security, formed by the combination of PatchLink and SecureWave, is a leading global security management company, providing unified protection and control of all enterprise endpoints, applications and devices. The ineffectiveness of silo endpoint solutions has sparked demand for a shift in the security paradigm as organizations look to a more holistic approach to unified security management. Founded in 1991, Lumension pioneered the patch management market segment and led the charge in effective security and vulnerability management. Since its inception, Lumension has made two key acquisitions to round out its product portfolio: STAT Vulnerability Assessment technology from Harris Corporation, and SecureWave's award-winning Sanctuary Device and Application Control. Lumension is maximizing the synergies between three best-of-breed, policy-based solutions to deliver definitive protection and control over your corporate endpoints. Today, with more than 5,100 customers worldwide, Lumension continues its tradition of redefining the security market by delivering unified solutions that allow enterprises to effectively manage endpoint risk. Job Description: Design Analyst/Usability Analyst is responsible for creating detailed interaction and UI designs based on User Centered Design techniques and logical processes. Major deliverables include user testing data and detailed specification documents. Other key responsibilities of the Design Analyst include: feature research, use case scenarios, UI design, usability, and user testing. The ideal candidate will have at least 2 years of experience in visual design of Windows and/or web applications. Day-to-day responsibilities include the management and execution of plans to develop specific features for existing products and services, including: * Creating developer ready detailed functional design specifications for new product features based on defined business requirements. * Assisting in the visual design of graphical user interfaces utilizing User Centered Design techniques. * Offering solutions to complex design issues during the all phases of the product development cycle * Working collaboratively with Product Management, Development, Documentation and QA team members to come up with the best functionality possible, while maintaining ownership of the feature throughout the design, development and testing process. Required Skills: Must demonstrate quality software and user interface design expertise in a commercial business application software environment with at least 2 years of Windows software or web design experience. * Experience in Security Management or IT operations PC, server hardware and software, security, or firewall experience is ideal * Must be able to independently research user topics and represent the user in definition of product feature enhancements. * Must have exceptional problem solving, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills to be able to resolve issues during the product development cycle. * Must be able to perform as a member of a team interacting with a large RD group, and be able to take direction while retaining the ability to work on their own initiative with limited supervision. * Should be able to complete multiple and varied tasks in a changing environment, be able to work to strict deadlines, and have a high attention to detail. * Experience using the tools utilized in program implementation [Microsoft: Word, Visio, Outlook, and Adobe Photoshop] is a plus. * Must have excellent verbal communication skills, and must be able to work independently and as part of a team. * Understanding unique requirements of international markets is ideal Ability to travel up to 25% as required by this position * Bachelor's Degree or equivalent is required Submitting a resume online at a job site (i.e. Monster, HotJobs, Careerbuilder, etc) could cause valuable screening information to be missed. Please apply directly at: http://hostedjobs.openhire.com/epostings/jobs/submit.cfm?fuseaction=dsp jobjobid=241376company_id=15612jobboardid=24 http://hostedjobs.openhire.com/epostings/jobs/submit.cfm?fuseaction=dspj objobid=241376company_id=15612jobboardid=24 http://hostedjobs.openhire.com/epostings/jobs/submit.cfm?fuseaction=dsp jobjobid=241376company_id=15612jobboardid=24 PatchLink is an Equal Opportunity Employer. EOE M/F/D/V Thank you for your attention. Azita Arshadi corporate recruiter http://www.lumension.com/ 15880 N. Greenway-Hayden Loop, Suite 100 | Scottsdale, AZ 85260 | www.lumension.com http://www.lumension.com/ office : 480.444.1619 | fax : 480.941.8015 email : [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Liquid Blueprint
I'd argue that the debate is long over. CSS-based layout wins. Tables should not be used for layout, they should be used to display tabular data (rows and columns). CSS should be used for page layout. ...Dan On Jan 21, 2008, at 8:33 AM, Oleg Krupnov wrote: Could someone please enlighten me, whether the heated debate regarding Table-based layout vs. CSS-based layout is ultimately over? Is CSS the winner, or it depends on concrete applications? What are the guidelines? *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Ajax product configurator examples
On Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:26:30, Justin English [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I would not call a person who wants free design and coding work a friend. Justin, I have had an active volunteer practice going on now for more than 10 years. During that time, I've engaged in many free design and coding projects, making new friends in places as far away as Botswana, Albania, and Kyrgyzstan. In volunteer work, schedules are forgiving. New technologies or design approaches can be pursued. Your portfolio grows more interesting. Plus your world view may expand. I'm paid well by my employers for professional design services and don't have any real need to make money on side projects, so I usually turn away paid freelance requests to avoid any conflicts of interest. Volunteer design work can be very satisfying; if your day job ever gets stale, consider helping others in need as a way to keep engaged in your craft. All the best, Michael Micheletti *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Ajax product configurator examples
I personally think istock Photo has excellent user interaction: mouseover of an image produces tags, image title, and a larger view of the image. http://www.istockphoto.com Mary Keitelman Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:39:28 -0800 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [IxDA Discuss] Ajax product configurator examples These examples are great. I really like the use of simple illustrations on the Zonneman site. Another example sent me off list is the Old Navy site, which has simple rollovers to show shirts in different colors: http://www.oldnavy.com Would love to see even more examples if you know of them - they're giving us lots of ideas on how to simplify and do a good job. Much appreciated, Michael Micheletti *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 _ Helping your favorite cause is as easy as instant messaging. You IM, we give. http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Home/?source=text_hotmail_join *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
On Jan 21, 2008, at 1:12 PM, Robert Hoekman, Jr. wrote: The definition of UCD should include discussion of how it's practiced. Ok, then just amend practiced at the whim of the practioner. Oh, by the way, add that also for interaction design, information architecture, visual design, and every other UX sub-discipline. Jared *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
On Jan 21, 2008, at 1:12 PM, Robert Hoekman, Jr. wrote: The definition of UCD should include discussion of how it's practiced. Same for ACD, and so on. Robert, I think you're grand and really smart. I love your work. But I think you gotta quit with the Activity-Centered-Design-Is- Better-Than-User-Centered-Design stuff. It's just not going anywhere, man. First, as you've discovered, there is no standard definition of User Centered Design. This is because the term doesn't stand alone. It's a relative term, originally coined to deal with people who designed things without ever considering users, their activities, or their needs. In those days, (and I was there when it was coined,) common practice was to create products with features, functionality, and interaction models that satisfied business goals without any attention to who used it, why they used it, or how they used it. So, by starting to talk about a user-centric process, people could communicate with the then designer-cum-programmer who was all about shipping code without actually thinking about use. And it basically worked. I've heard/read you go on and on about activity-centered design. (To be fair, I've been known to go on and on about things. In fact, I've been thinking about joining a support group about going on and on. It's called On And On Anon. :) ) To restate what I've heard from you when you start talking about activity-centric process, you say that the differences between users don't matter as long as you focus on the activity. That if you focus on activity, you cover the needs and create great designs without all the heavy lifting involved in studying differences in users. I think for some applications, that is correct. One I've heard you talk about is photographic sharing sites, like a Flickr.com or Photobucket.com. If you focus on the activities, such as uploading, designating friends to share with, printing, and manipulating photos (red-eye removal, cropping, rotation, color adjustment), it doesn't matter what the differences are. After all, uploading is uploading and printing is printing, no matter how smart, tall, or redheaded the user is. To some extent, I think you're correct about this. However, not all apps are the same. Imagine the same application, but not used by the general public, but instead professional photographers. Imagine the business, because they are a niche market, trying to go for as many specialties as possible: wedding photographers, industrial photographers, mall photo studio chains, and private photo studios that do yearbook pictures. Now the functionality and interface needs to change, not just because the business needs are different for each one, but because of the nature of the work. For example, where the person doing the uploading may be the photographer themselves in the wedding photographer instance, with the private studio it likely to be an assistant who has little photographic expertise (such as a part-time college student). Providing sophisticated image manipulation functionality for the former audience may be dangerous to the end product if provided the same way to the latter audience. Here, audience differences *do* matter and designing for them requires attention. Instead of constantly harking in a mine-is-better-than-yours format, why don't you start helping us understand how, as designers walking into a new project, we can begin to determine if we can get away with only applying budget and resources to activities, or if we're in one of these situations where we need to really think about the subtleties in user differences. (And don't cop out with a you never need to think about user differences answer, because you I both know that isn't true. Never is never the right word. :) ) Hugs kisses, Jared Jared M. Spool User Interface Engineering 510 Turnpike St., Suite 102, North Andover, MA 01845 e: [EMAIL PROTECTED] p: +1 978 327 5561 http://uie.com Blog: http://uie.com/brainsparks *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
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Defining UCD (and other things)
On Jan 21, 2008 7:28 PM, Gretchen Anderson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Out of curiosity (I'm very confused by this thread) is the issue with user-centered design the fear that it's somehow ignoring biz tech? No, the issue is that a bunch of really opinionated people can't seem to read and digest things that have been long established. Just my two cents :-) I am very confused by the thread as well. But, I can grasp what UCD is without any problem whatsoever. Wa--HOO! *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] Don Norman on ACD at Apple?
Don Norman in Business Week earlier this month re-framing Apple's design process as what sounds a little like activity centered design. It's just a brief quote in a much longer article: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_02/ b4066000313325_page_2.htm Apple's approach isn't about targeting hipsters, says Donald A. Norman, a professor at Northwestern University and author of The Design of Future Things. Rather, the company's design genius lies in its dedication to making simple, elegant devices for specific activities, not demographic types, he says. Its early markets were learning and publishing; now they're creativity and entertainment. The proper way to design is not to target an individual type of customer. You want 100 million customers, says Norman. Also, just to stir up the anthill a little more, I tend to think of genius design as extemporaneous design (no fancy acronym) I don't view it as a perjorative. The metaphor is to extemporaneous acting, which is unrehearsed and takes quite a bit of skill to do well since it depends on intuition and the ability to synthesize bits from past experience on the fly. // jeff *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
