We’ve all seen blueprints–formally known as contract documents–which architects produce and builders use to construct. No one person knows all the details of the design; the end result is entirely a product of teamwork. But there is one axiom: architects do not build.
Continue readingCategory: Process and Methods
Simplify your work and your life by learning the tools and techniques that authors have used to conquered gnarly problem spaces. From avoiding burnout to doing scrappy research on a shoestring budget, you’ll benefit from their experience, avoid making the mistakes they made, and go on to make all new mistakes of your own. (Then contribute your learnings back to us!)
Controlled Vocabularies: A Glosso-Thesaurus
In part 4 of the continuing series on controlled vocabularies and faceted classification, the authors present a glossary of terms to help cut through through the verbiage often found in this field. And this glossary is more than just a list of terms. The glossary is itself a controlled vocabulary.
Continue readingThe Devil’s in the Wireframes
Wireframes: At once a singular composition and a collaborative expression, communicating the vision of both an individual and a team. As a result, they can be stacked with an enormous amount of detail. Are we becoming victims of information pollution in our own wireframes?
Continue readingSearching for the center of design
Design is driven by many considerations. But on each project I’ve worked on, there seems to be a consistent center a driver that determines priorities, direction, and the metrics used to measure success.
Continue readingNatural Selections: Colors Found in Nature and Interface Design
The web is awash with sterile design solutions. IBM, Dell, Microsoft, and countless others are virtually indistinguishable from each other. Though one might say this makes browsing easier by virtue of a standardized interface, in reality such sites create mundane experiences for their users and fail to make a positive connection with their audience.
Continue reading