Feeback from users

A designer should aways be in touch with user's feedback ... not only in the when the design is naive but also when the design is mature and well established. Sites like http://www.ideastorm.com/ do this really well. Infact i think after the initial idea is established ... the design should be left open and developed based on the feedback/ideas of the users.

User centered design vs. Design

I think there is a lot of difference between User Centered design (UCD) and normal design. In UCD the user is the driver of the design, the needs of the user, his behavior, his problems are the core of the design. UCDs are focussed to address problems faced by the majority of the people and not towards the specific problem that the designer thinks exists.

For instance think about the CHI design problem. The issue is centered around "Act local", now if i were not a UCD person i would just think and brainstrom a list of problems, which in reality might not be a problem at all. I would get personal and bring out a problem statement based on my assumptions which are based on my experiences.

Whereas if i were a UCD person i would know that his is my problem space and talk to the users who are a part of the problem and try to solve a problem that a majority of users are currently facing.

Example:

Problem of Homelessness -

1. Non-UCD person : "I think that homeless people need access to internet that they can use to access information related to Social security, transportation, shelters, etc. "

Now here i am assuming a problem or making up a problem. Do homeless people really need internet ? Is the stuff they might be looking for on the internet at all ?

2. UCD person: Talks to homeless people, volunteers, etc. Does the user research and then designs a solution.

In a nutshell - it is really important to validate and verify the problem through user research and then attack the problem. Don't assume a problem and start solving it.

I am not a Bot

I used Kayak.com so much that the site thought i was a BOT and cut me off :P

10 tips related for career development- (came out from a career sesstion at Intuit - Molotsi, Hugh)

1. Lead Change
2. Time management
3. Get out of the comfort zone
4. Value feedback
5. Be Boundary less
6. Be decisive
7. Live the culture of reviews
8. Take commitment seriously
9. Use Business acumen
10. Nurture your relationships

Sliding Navigation

Sliding Navigation, Clever :)

http://www.visualcase.com/tutorials/use-case-diagram.htm

First principles of design

http://www.asktog.com/basics/firstPrinciples.html#learnability

User friendly visual error messages

Design Triptych

Useful. Usable. Desirable.

http://www.noisebetweenstations.com/personal/weblogs/tinderbox/design/process/usableus.shtml

Simple rules of usability

• keyboards (hardware) should fit the shape and size of fingers (body)
• navigation and coding (software) should matching the way people think (mind)
• coloured screen images (software) should suit the optical properties of the eyes (body)
• keyboard layouts (hardware) should be easy to remember (mind).

semantic differential

How non HCI job sites are

Many of the job site are so non User centered. They should function in such a way that ... ask me what i am looking for.. like :

1. Are you an international student
2. Are you looking for a job/internship
3. Which office do you want to work in
4. What are the domains one is interested in - like Software engineering, Usability ....

After these values are filled .. a filter should be applied and the results can be shown. I am least interested in know that the CA office needs a new accountant .. i dont want to see that on the home page !!!

Jobs sites/career pages have too many jobs and many of them are irrelevant. They have to be human centered.

Some really interesting designs