the psychology of user experience

[ conversation: #mxf, #mxf @giodif ] When design isn’t participating in the experience: you have to put a label on it [ this really begs a Single Ladies reference ] you rely on discovery (excludes discovery-centric experiences) you rely on symbols alone (cross-culture differences can create confusion connections) you aren’t repeatedly distinguishing between the interactive …

agile apps–effective mobile and native development

[ SXSW Bios ] #sxsw #agileapps (Archive) Brief As the rise of iOS, Android, and the Mac App Store brings more web developers into the world of native applications can our existing processes and best practices survive the transition? How can we release early and often in an environment where each update must pass through …

compass/sass/less: tips, tricks, and best practices

[ SXSW Bios ] #sxsw #compass (Archive) Brief Sass & Compass are quickly becoming a standard for authoring and maintaining the styles (CSS) of many of popular websites. A derivative of these languages may someday replace CSS as the default language for styling html. As with using any new technology, a full understanding of how …

prototype vs. sim—validating software and ux design

Making is designing. Use technology to make ideas real as part of the design process (not only part of the build process). Watch the rise and fall of what people change/tinker with (DIY culture) to know where you are getting it right (things that are left alone) and where you are not there yet (things that are modded). Perceptual prototyping is maturing.

the page is dead

Responsive web design is changing the definition of a “page,” as it aims to address the growing variety of device form factors and locations where content is consumed. Additionally, as the web evolves, rules and limitations must be better understood in order to create truly unique content. This session will focus on design philosophy and development techniques to create and adapt your content for maximum impact, regardless of where and how it is consumed.

sso—why does it suck so often?

More and more, SSO “out in the wild Internet” is seen as signing into a service with your credentials that are managed by some other company (identity provider). The less information you require to create an account (using data users have already filled out), the less drop-off you have for sign-up numbers. Building your own level of security well is difficult. Focus on what the user is expecting you to need/ask, and work with the data transparently.

mad css3 skillz

In this one hour tutorial workshop, you will become skilled in CSS3 selectors, transforms, transitions and animations. We will work through an animation examples, creating different paths, timing and effects, exploring linear gradients opacity, alpha transparency, border-radius, text-shadows, transforms, transitions and mostly animations. The code example will be provided participants can play with the code, going from novice to skilled without heavy note taking.

the complexity curve: designing for simplicity

Beginning of a project, we understand it completely. Then we begin (and quickly realize that it is more complex than we initially thought, we add features, we hit constraints). We get to a “feature complete” state (top of bell curve): a product is maximally complex and feature complete but not really finished.

If you don’t design something, don’t be surprised if you have a crappy product.

get the look–use @font-face and CSS3 like the stars

A design system is anything that turns an idea into a form (a specific embodiment). Design systems can be channel-based (print design system, web design system, mobile design system, etc.)—different in the details but still sourced from the same idea.

Unfortunately, we tend to go from an original form to a new form without a new design system tied back to a core idea. Don’t imitate forms: translate ideas.