What color do you like? The usability of look and feel (strategy with icons, images, branding elements)

By Frank Spillers

on June 18, 2008 - 5:39am
Visual Designers at whiteboard

 The graphical or visual aspects of an interface are the most easily recognizable. They require no methodology (Graphic design vs usability) or design distinctions, (What is design?).

Everyone from CEO to programmer can understand an interface by it's visual treatment. For some the interface is "eye-candy" and for others representative of organized emotional response and visual perception.

Oftentimes, the confusion over who dictates the design can lead to confusion and often a gratuitous use of graphics. This problem can be compounded by an interface being dictated entirely by a designer (where usability resources are absent, underfunded or ignored entirely from a development process).

"Forcing functions"- interaction design technique, used but not widely understood

By Frank Spillers

on April 28, 2008 - 10:05pm

Istock_000001051000smallWhat is a forcing function?

A forcing function is a constraint where the user "is forced" to complete a task based on a limited, paired down set of features or controls.

Forcing functions help streamline, simplify or minimize how a user interacts with a design. Designers benefit from this interaction design technique by reducing navigation redundancy, task effort and the complexity caused by "feature frenzy" (see my previous article on feature creep).

Warning: Third-party Usability is Bad for your Health

By Frank Spillers

on March 21, 2008 - 3:12pm

3rd_party_usability
There is a huge problem in the software and web services industry: 3rd
party applications, widgets, dashboards or site add-ons can kill your usability efforts.

Poor user experiences with 3rd-party applications can undermine or make your usability efforts look bad. 

Vendors such as PeopleSoft, Vignette and many others are notorious
for providing "clunk-ware", "vapor-ware" or "sneaker-ware" as one of
our clients at Experience Dynamics put it.   

AJAX Usability Checklist (Free holiday bonus for our readers)

By Frank Spillers

on December 24, 2007 - 7:10pm

Related Seminar Video: Watch Now

This Ajax Usability Checklist is a bonus guide that accompanies my AJAX Usability Seminar, I am offering it in the  form of this post as a bonus for readers- thanks for your support!

The Web is changing fast. New standards are emerging, new approaches to coding such as Scriptaculous, AJAX, Ruby, Flash/Flex, Silverlight and others are creating a leap-frog situation where many new websites, web apps and portals are implementing next year's User Interface elements.

Yet, when it comes to implementing the new interface techniques AJAX offers, we need to be mindful of how AJAX can improve the specifics of the user experience.

Two simple guidelines for AJAX Usability:

What is Design? (Yes, all 10 definitions!)

By Frank Spillers

on October 30, 2007 - 9:08pm
Designers sitting at a computer

 When the term design is used it can mean many things, depending on who you are and which conversation you are having. Rarely do people stop to compare 'mental maps' and clarify which type of design they are talking about!

I believe this has to do with the multiple definitions of design and the lack of awareness of each specific type of design, its function and timing in a process. The other factor being how familiar you are with "design" based on your past experiences with different design roles.

Here are some examples of conversations I have and hear frequently that cause to stop and ask "What type of design are we talking here?":

Multi-modal design: Gesture, Touch and Mobile devices...next big thing?

By Frank Spillers

on June 5, 2007 - 3:44pm

Lg_prada
It's great to see excitement building for the Apple iPhone (launch expected late June '07). Korea's LG Prada, an iPhone competitor product,  launched a few months ago in the UK.

Just this week a new touch screen device- Taiwan's HTC Touch was announced for release immediately in the UK and later this year in the US. 

The hot attraction of course with the iPhone, the Prada and the Touch is that they offer touch and gesture-only user interaction. Clarification: Only the Apple iPhone offers gesture-like pinching interaction (eg. open-close; zoom in-out).

Is Google's business model Progressive Disclosure??

By Frank Spillers

on February 19, 2007 - 6:52pm

Googlepd_1Quick Google user, you need to look up a measurement; phone numer; UPS tracking code; address; mathematical formula ..."Didn't you know Google had a tool for that?"

Yes, Google has a tool for everything these days it seems, but it's not a consistent tool kit. Sometimes you get it and oftentimes you don't.

Is that why Google doesn't promote what I call their "world of widgets"
(WoW's)? How is it some people know the secret handshake and many more
don't?

"Feature frenzy"- 10 tips to getting feature creep under control

By Frank Spillers

on February 2, 2007 - 2:50pm
Feature frenzy on a mobile device
Summary: Feature creep as a business and development model has outlived it's usefulness with numerous examples in the graveyard of software history. Task-oriented designs containing task-oriented features make users feel more successful. Remember how you deploy features in an application must be guided by real world understanding of users and their tasks. Without task validation and prioritization, you can easily fall into "feature frenzy".

Why the (feature) frenzy?

Historically, marketing says "software sells with more features" (or perceived features). There is a psychology (especially true in the United States) that the more you get when you buy something, the better the purchase decision.

Unfortunately, added 'bells and whistles' might feel like a better deal, but can turn into a nightmare when you (or your user) sit down with the software and use it.

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