At some point or another you'll be asked to review someone else's work, but there are some key differences between giving strategic level advice versus prescriptive design feedback. I recently came across a short article by Fabricio Teixeira on that specific topic, and the following key questions rang true in my head around what to consider when reviewing and providing feedback to any team…
Read MoreYou're more capable than what's on your title
“Working on complex socio-technical systems - that’s what we should be teaching to our young, aspiring designers.” This spoke to me (as Don Norman’s videos often do) as a message worth sharing to anyone feeling like they’re beholden to how someone else perceives their title and their supposed responsibilities within.
So, for all of my fellow “UXers” in the back feeling left out or stuck in a digital-only world, know this…
Read MoreNearly missing a flight due to a single button
My finger was trembling a little bit in shock; floating, still hovering a millimetre over the left mouse button.
My heart was equally pounding a bit when I realised that I was but one mere click away from canceling a transatlantic flight scheduled for the very next day to see the beautiful woman who is now my wife.
How did it nearly come to this?
A usability issue. If I’m writing about it here, you know it’s going to be about a usability issue.
Read MoreThree shalt be the number thou shalt count... or not
Nothing should take more than three clicks.
We need a 1-click button.
Three shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three (*lobs thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch whilst counting to three because five is right out*).
When I first starting trying to evaluate digital interfaces (or even physical ones like credit card payment terminals), I thought that one of the user experience metrics I needed to focus on reducing was the number of clicks it took to complete any task. Surely that would provide a good, measurable benchmark of an experience with a product or service… right?
Read MoreLook broader, Think deeper
Words are powerful, and when you get the right combination in the right order, sometimes all it may take to spark that lightbulb moment of realisation is a simple quote like, "Experiences happen before and after the transaction."
Understanding that your product or service isn't the end all, be all of your customer's day is what removes the metaphorical blinders from your eyes that would have otherwise kept you and your team from seeing all of the surrounding, yet hidden business opportunities available. People don't seek out and interact with what you're offering in isolation….
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