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Newman Lanier

Guess What?!? Task Design is Critically Important! - A hard-learned lesson » ... - 0 views

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    "Hey Spool, Mike and Steve, Nice post! Krug's Rocket Surgery book where I learned about developing good tasks. Basically, he says to test the participants interaction with the site not their ability to read. "buy a bookcase" tests the participants ability to read and, in this case search. That's not bad! It gets at the usability / mechanical functionality of a site. But, you don't need to go through the trouble to recruit users to collect this type of data. Anyone hanging around the hallway will do. However, if you want to dig down to the other parts of the experience (findable, desirable, Morville's honeycomb types), then a more authentic, believable, contextual task is important. By changing the directive command - "Find a bookcase" - to a more contextual based question - "How would you do that?" - you were able to get a different and possibly more insightful / actionable result. As a matter of fact, from now on, I'm using this format for all my user tests. Done and Done, Mr. Spool. @Mike - (A/B) test your (user) test? I smell recursion and an out of memory error. :) cheers! newman"
Newman Lanier

Information Architecture Heuristics « Abby the IA - 0 views

  • Here are the slides from my talk at Interaction 12 in Dublin. If this content resonates with you, feel free to download and use my deck to teach these principles to others (and please drop me a tweet to tell me how it went)
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    "Here are the slides from my talk at Interaction 12 in Dublin. If this content resonates with you, feel free to download and use my deck to teach these principles to others (and please drop me a tweet to tell me how it went)"
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    Abby the IA explains IA Heuristics and how to use them to create a better design meeting and a better project result.
Newman Lanier

Innovation Is About Arguing, Not Brainstorming. Here's How To Argue Productively | Co.D... - 0 views

  • Science shows that brainstorms can activate a neurological fear of rejection and that groups are not necessarily more creative than individuals. Brainstorming can actually be detrimental to good ideas.
  • We need to work both collaboratively and individually
  • We also need a healthy amount of heated discussion, even arguing.
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • There is no hierarchy. It’s not debate because there are no opposing sides trying to “win.”
    • Newman Lanier
       
      Perhaps I'm not understanding the term 'argue'. Can't you 'win' an argument? Aren't there two sides, at least, to every argument? And, there is no hierarchy? Really? It seems there is always an order of dominance in an social structure. Boss / employee, Client / designer... there is always a power differential which must be accounted for. And, generally, it's up to the powerful to account for the weaker.
  • without fear.
    • Newman Lanier
       
      What your boss did that day was the equivalent of a dog humping another. He established dominance. He told you what to do. He humped you,man. He did establish the tone. Which is great and it appearantly worked. However, he didn't waive his doggy lipstick and make the power structure go away.
  • And that “because” should be grounded in real people other than ourselves.
    • Newman Lanier
       
      "Yes, AND" vs "No, BECAUSE" ... sounds like this could get personal real quick. I think what you are saying about the grounded in 'real people other than ourselves' is that you want reasons based in facts and not opinions. However, does the ethnographic research yield facts or opinion? It seems that it could be simply doubling up the opinion - As in " Here is my opinion about these other opinions (about dancing chinese villagers)" However, I do thing we everyone agrees on the results of the user research, then you CAN argue about your conclusions based on those premises without getting personal. I do think that works. And, I have seen it work.
  • we each bring different ways of looking at the world and solving problems to the table.
    • Newman Lanier
       
      Respecting and cultivating diversity in groups is key to high performance. It seems a bit utopian. But, it's something I believe. did anyone roll their eyes when you brought up the idea of the text analysis tool? How long did it take? Did they really 'get it' or was it something other simply tolerated? Even for the most well adjusted and balance T shaped person, it can be difficult to go along with anothers specialty, I'd imagine.
  • a shared goal. We develop a statement of purpose at the outset of each project and post it on the door of our project room.
    • Newman Lanier
       
      Rules, playing field, 'ball down the field'... these are all sports / war analogies. I guess the idea is "Same team". But, who is the bad guy... the guy who doesn't see it the way you do. Or, doesn't listen to reason. I don't think simply 'having a common goal' is sufficent to keep from hurting each other in meetings. If budgets and jobs are on the line, it won't be that playful.
  • But we don’t brainstorm. We deliberate.
    • Newman Lanier
       
      I like that word, deliberate. It means intentionally. I suppose ' to deliberate' is to think intentionally, which is what I consider brainstorming to be. Granted brainstorming has a stigma - its light and permissive, unfocused and not serious, a waste of time. The points you bring up about 'Deliberative discourse' are helpful. It's like putting brainstorming through boot camp - to help brainstorming produce results, without hurting anyone or shutting anyone down. All in all a thought provoking post - thanks!
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    More on Arguing and design meetings. Could Brainstorming be bad? counter-productive and fear inducing? ... hmmm.
Ben Snyder

Wordpress Featured Images - add_image_size() resizing and cropping demo - studiograssho... - 0 views

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    A great post on how Wordpress handles media and particularly how to use the add_image_size() function to crop featured images. (At least that's how I found it when I was searching on Google.)
Newman Lanier

6 Ways You Make Bad Meetings Worse (And What To Do About It) | A Better User Experience - 0 views

  • participants never understand things quite the way you do.
    • Newman Lanier
       
      I think the big point here is that no one (No way, not never) will understand somethign the same way you. How much mutual understanding is necessary to gain consensus and to complete the project? While maintaining high standards...
  • Instead, work to clarify your language. Be precise. And be patient.
    • Newman Lanier
       
      I see the Plug-in ideas as an issue of language. You must let everyone know what language you are sending your signal. It's important to know what language others are hearing and / or listening for... I guess a BIG PROBLEM is to switch languages all the time, cause then no one knnows how to translate 'the words coming out of your mouth'. Advice, pick a language and stick with it.
  • We have to actively lower the stress and anxiety. And the only way to do that is to empathize with the others in the meeting.
    • Newman Lanier
       
      The first step - GI Joe says "Now you know and Knowing is half the battle". Self awareness and awareness of the emotions of other is key to managing the atmosphere of a room or meeting.
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  • The best meetings are those where the egos fade away and the content of the meeting takes center stage
    • Newman Lanier
       
      here is my bit about ego and battles. I think it's the only thing that people know. It's the greatest story ever told - but it's seems like the ONLY story ever told. Why the conflict? Why the struggle? Perhaps it's hard-wired into the brain. Perhaps we're doomed repeat the hero worship / evil tyrannt cycle of a two party system.
  • Your designer acts like he’s got PTSD.
    • Newman Lanier
       
      http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/post-traumatic-stress-disorder - Web MD on PTSD. Can emotional abuse cause PTSD? Have designers ever been physically abused? I think there is definite emotional abuse is some organizations. Of course, I think my dehumanizing systems of work and school are abusive, IMHO.
  • In a meeting full of werewolves, this lack of confidence can be interpreted as weakness.
    • Newman Lanier
       
      This might makes right mentality and mis-trust of difference / diversity is right to the core of design meeting suckiness.
  • Werewolf Design Meeting into the Strategically Driven Design Meeting.
    • Newman Lanier
       
      An idea - let's make sure that everyone in the meeting gets the plug-in. This would set the language and goal of the meeting. Are we doing an "everyone shutup and get to the end" style of meeting? Are we doing the "Boss tirade"? "Battle Royale"? Let me know beforehand so I can get ready...
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    If you are a designer and must submit / defend creative work to others in meetings, this article is for you.
Newman Lanier

Getting From User Stories to UX | JamieClouting.co.uk - 0 views

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    "Recently I wrote about User Stories and how card based software development can help identify 'clear, brief descriptions of functionality as described from the perspective of a user'. Today I want to look at how User Stories or 'Stories' can impact the user interface (UI) design and user experience (UX) of a software product."
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    A good perspective on UX methods from an 'Agile' guy
Newman Lanier

LabLog - How did you get into UX - 0 views

  • At that point I had never heard of user research, but I started wondering why we didn’t talk to our map readers when we were designing new map specs. We spent hours debating the details that we all passionately cared about – for example, icon design or the extent of a map’s coverage – but if you asked, we wouldn’t have been sure if it mattered to anyone else but us.
  • At that point I had never heard of user research, but I started wondering why we didn’t talk to our map readers when we were designing new map specs. We spent hours debating the details that we all passionately cared about – for example, icon design or the extent of a map’s coverage – but if you asked, we wouldn’t have been sure if it mattered to anyone else but us.
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    "How did you get into the field of user experience?" is a question we get all the time. While the AnswerLab team members all share a passion for improving the digital world, we each have a different tale of what led us here. We're sharing our stories in a new series of user experience expertise blog posts where the AnswerLab team reveals what feeds our curiosity and what led us to UX research.
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    The origin story of a UX superhero!
Newman Lanier

The de Bono Group - Six Thinking Hats - 0 views

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    "Six Thinking Hats® is a simple, effective parallel thinking process that helps people be more productive, focused, and mindfully involved. And once learned, the tools can be applied immediately! You and your team members can learn how to separate thinking into six clear functions and roles. Each thinking role is identified with a colored symbolic "thinking hat." By mentally wearing and switching "hats," you can easily focus or redirect thoughts, the conversation, or the meeting. "
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    I've been meaning to get this in the group. Edward de Bono not only has a kick ass name, he may have a solution to our 'Design meetings suck' problem. Our problem is easy to define: Too much pressure is but on the designer. They become either aggressive or passive aggressive. The solution is obvious. Someone needs to 'step-up' (not man-up, you gender bias asshole) and 'set the tone' of the meeting and relationship. Easier said than done. But, along comes de Bono. His 6 hats, parallel thinking process does exactly that - it sets a tone and create enough structure to the sessions. It nurtures the productive and chokes the counter-productive. Of course, I've never tried it. I think hats are for keeping the sun out of your eyes. Otherwise, they are stoopid. But, I'm willing to try these.
Newman Lanier

9 Deadliest Start-up Sins « Steve Blank - 0 views

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    "1. Assuming you know what the customer wants First and deadliest of all is a founder's unwavering belief that he or she understands who the customers will be, what they need, and how to sell it to them. Any dispassionate observer would recognize that on Day One, a start-up has no customers, and unless the founder is a true domain expert, he or she can only guess about the customer, problem, and business model. On Day One, a start-up is a faith-based initiative built on guesses. To succeed, founders need to turn these guesses into facts as soon as possible by getting out of the building, asking customers if the hypotheses are correct, and quickly changing those that are wrong."
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    Start-ups are getting user-centered FIRST, before going thru all the pain of starting up. I'm pretty sure this is what the whole Lean Start - up , Lean UX is all about.
Ben Snyder

How To preserve HTML Tags in WordPress Excerpt Without a PluginBoutros AbiChedid - 0 views

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    $excerpt_end = ' ' . '» Continue Reading.' . '';
Newman Lanier

How Much Should You Spend on User Testing? | A Better User Experience - 0 views

  • But seriously, what’s it going to cost me?
    • Newman Lanier
       
      It does seem that when business owners aren't knowledgable about a tool or service, they just want to know what it will cost them. That's fine. Money is our 'lowest common denominator'. It's the medium of exchange. Our currentcy. Business owners want to know about price. We, UX'ers, want to talk about value. Value is price over utility. If the price is zero, then whatever the ulitilty, the thing will be worth it.
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    User-testing budget considerations
Newman Lanier

Design Staff - Story-centered design: Hacking your brain to think like a user - 0 views

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    Author talks about using screencasts along with his mockups ... sounds alot like our idea of the CoDec. A mockup doesn't give enough information to the sender. IT's all there, but they don't know how to access it. They don't know the story. The backstory. The 'behind the scenes'. If they don't know, they will make it up. And, what they make up depends largely on impressions of you, personally, not your work. This is a bad way to be, even if it works out in the short-term. In the long run, you want to communicate effectively and rely on solid work, not just 'good feelings'
Newman Lanier

Jeff Gothelf - Ignite: Lean Startup Video at Pivotal Labs NYC (6/22/2011) - YouTube - 0 views

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    Slides advance every 15. Whole talk lasts 5 minutes. Awesome!
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    Jeff Gothelf, Director of UX, TheLadders.com. @jboogie Ignite Talk: "How to 'Do' Lean UX in 5 Easy Steps" -- Ignite is a fast-paced presentation style that gives tech entrepreneurs the opportunity to share lessons learned with a room full of drunk entrepreneurs. But there's a catch: presentations are limited to exactly five minutes and twenty slides--and those slides advance automatically every 15 seconds.
Newman Lanier

The Nine Pillars of Successful Web Teams - Adaptive Path - 0 views

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    Here is a framework for the components of a design team. Now, how to get them all speaking to each other in a constructive way?
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