A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away
That’s a lovely one, especially when we see so many features proliferating everywhere…
I attended a Workshop (at Webstock 2010) called Data Visualization that was very insightful. Wikipedia defines data visualization as “the study of the visual representation of data“. It’s incredible how you can present data in different ways and how it can affect the level of reader’s understanding. In fact, data visualization is used to make a point, to communicate raw / unfamiliar data. (more…)
If the user can’t use it, it doesn’t work
It is as simple as that, if your company designs products (web application, car, camera, etc) that can’t be used by the targeted users, you just fail. In her quote, the term user implies specified or targeted user even if that specified group of users could include a wide range of the population. I’m saying that because you won’t expect anybody to be able to use the flight deck of a helicopter for example. (more…)
For the last post of 2009, I want to share 3 quotes that I really like!
Watch people in their own environments
That’s so true, if you really want to improve a product, watch people using it in their own environment. That’s why, when we facilitate usability testing sessions, we should try to mimic their environment, or in an ideal situation, effectuate the testing in their environment. For example, remote usability testing, either moderated (e.g., Userview or a simply screen sharing application such as Adobe ConnectNow) or automated (e.g. Chalkmark) help you discover a lot of insights about how they use their devices (e.g., browsers and its number of toolbars). (more…)
In a previous post (AA form – three entry fields and one error!), I wrote about how a simple form on the New Zealand Automobile Association (AA) website was finally not as easy as it should have been. I’m quite happy to tell you that AA is doing a new contest and they improved their simple form.
In the AA email I received, they say it would take less than 60 seconds to enter the competition (e.g., complete the form), I like that when their design helps achieve their goal. (more…)
I went to a breakfast conference last Thursday morning (Nov 26th, 2009) given by Trent Mankelow. Guess what was his conference’s title? –> How to create banking and insurance websites that don’t suck. It was nicely presented with relevant examples. I truly agree with his following 4 reasons why so many financial services websites suck: (more…)
