Learning From Others
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Design for Emotion and Flow
by Trevor van Gorp | [30 comments]
Trevor van Gorp explains how psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's concept of "flow" can help you design emotional web experiences by cutting through information overload to engage users. more...
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Content Strategy: The Philosophy of Data
by Rachel Lovinger | [29 comments]
As interactions proliferate, so does the content that supports them. Why should software professionals take a step back and examine their content from a philosophical perch? Rachel Lovinger takes a look at content strategy and the benefits of its perspectives. more...
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The Guided Wireframe Narrative for Rich Internet Applications
by Andres Zapata | [27 comments]
Wireframes. We’ve all done them. We’ve all had to make sure our clients look at placement, labels, flow, and real estate distribution–but ignore color and design at all costs because, after all, they are wireframes.
AJAX, Laszlo, Flex, and other technologies and techniques that enhance usability challenge the way we think as architects but, more importantly, they also put a larger demand on our deliverables.
more... -
Transitioning from User Experience to Product Management
by Jeff Lash and Chris Baum | [26 comments]
Part 1 Is there a smart and graceful way to transition into a product manager role? Chris Baum and Jeff Lash talk about the differences between product management and design and increasing your influence. more...
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The Trouble With Web 2.0
by Alexander Wilms | [25 comments]
Will Web 2.0 technology and design patterns ever work inside large enterprises? They are jumping on the hype, announcing their own implementation projects. Alexander Wilms looks in-depth at some issues and challenges corporations might face. more...
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The Information Architect as Change Agent
by Matthew C. Clarke | [24 comments]
Information architects can do their jobs better if they understand organizational change management. Matthew Clarke offers a primer on change management, and explains how it applies to IA. more...
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It Seemed Like The Thing To Do At The Time
by Joe Lamantia | [19 comments]
Joe Lamantia shares three stories of failure and how changing your self-definition can open the way to continued success. (Part 1 in the Lessons From Failure series.) more...
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Building the UX Dreamteam - Part 2
by Anthony Colfelt | [16 comments]
In this second part of a two-part series, UX manager Anthony Colfelt follows up with some solid considerations when looking for your next superstar. Building a dreamteam goes beyond looking for tight technical skills: personal chemistry is needed to find that perfect match. more...
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Bring Your Personas to Life!
by Zef Fugaz | [15 comments]
Method acting can take your personas from the page to the stage. Think beyond traditional practice to give emotional life to your personas. more...
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IA Summit 2008, Day 1
by Chris Baum and Jeff Parks | [14 comments]
The IA Summit was held in Miami, FL from April 10-14. Boxes and Arrows captured many of the
main conference sessions.
Check out the presentations
from Saturday, April 12. more... -
Practical Plans for Accessible Architectures
by Frances Forman | [13 comments]
Accessible information architecture builds a bridge between planning, design, and development. Frances Forman gives us a place to start thinking more deeply about how information can be structured and transformed to make user interaction more flexible for everyone. more...
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Leaving the Autoroute
by Christina Wodtke | [12 comments]
By committing all their attention to a single craft, often literally over hundreds of years, each town in France has received the renown that comes with great work. But what happens when you leave the autoroute, lured by one of those signs proclaiming the town’s mastery and claim to fame? more...
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Applying Turing's Ideas to Search
by John Ferrara | [11 comments]
Alan Turing's ideas about artificial intelligence have not panned out exactly as he expected back in the 1950s. These ideas, however, can be used in interface design. John Ferrara shows us how they apply to designing search. more...
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Deep Context
by Jorge Arango | [10 comments]
Most IA tools and methods focus on the users and the content being developed for websites. Jorge Arango uses the ideas from anthropologist Edward Hall as a starting point to dig deep into the idea of context, its variations, and the impacts on how people interpret information. more...
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The Elements of Style for Designers
by Christina Wodtke | [10 comments]
What if E.B. White had written "Hanging Commas 99% Bad" instead of a gentle list of reminders for young writers? Wodtke outlines how White's list of 22 reminders for writing can be just what young designers need. more...
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Competitive Analysis: Understanding the Market Context
by Jason Withrow | [10 comments]
Just when you thought you fully understood the three circles of information architecture, your assumptions are being challenged again. Withrow comes around with an argument for looking at the context circle differently. more...
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Getting Hired
by Olga Sanchez-Howard | [9 comments]
With the vigorous debate within the Design community about roles and domains of expertise, we sometimes forget that our monikers are for those who would hire us, not for us. Olga Sanchez-Howard helps us refocus our efforts with resume and portfolio tips for Information Architects and Interaction Designers. more...
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Designing for Nonprofits
by Olga Sanchez-Howard | [9 comments]
During a two-year adventure designing websites for nonprofits, Olga Sanchez-Howard navigated waters both familiar and not. Now she shares her thoughts on what is shared and unique between the nonprofit and for-profit worlds. more...
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Using Design Games
by Jess McMullin | [8 comments]
Design games offer an alternative to traditional methods for brainstorming, collecting requirements, building team communication, modeling, and prototyping. Jess McMullin shows us how game principles and examples can complement existing methods. more...
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Testing Incentives: The Best Way to Pay
by Cliff Anderson | [8 comments]
The topic of test subject compensation generates a lot of conversation.. how do you motivate test participants? more...