Interaction and information design User experience and usability
You are redesigning an existing website or working on a completely new design. How do you make sure your design helps users achieve their goals easily? By testing with real users.
Infomaki is a new open source tool from NYPL Digital Experience Group for getting quick feedback on how easy your website is to use. Read the full post for our experiences on how to run effective, lightweight usability testing using Infomaki.
Read postNaview is a new navigation preview tool for rapid information architecture prototyping. It helps information architects design and visualise a new navigational structure and aims to bridge the gap between card sorting and IA user testing. Read the full post for more.
Read postImagine an underwater world where fish are replaced with the latest thoughts from people all over the world. These thoughts fall deeper as they grow older and new ones are displayed on the top as people post them. Introducing Tweetpond, an ambient visualisation of Twitter. Read the full post for more.
Read postHow do you measure value when buying real estate? One important measure among a number of other factors is usable floor area.
We took a look at how size and floor area are represented on online real estate services around the world, and found that floor area is surprisingly underrepresented. Read the full post for more.
Read postDo you regularly run workshop sessions with people who have not met each other before? Are many of these sessions one-offs?
We have posted an easy-to-use template you can print and fold to create name plates for workshop participants. They help everyone know who’s who and make discussion easier.
Read postUsability measures how easy user interfaces are to use. It also refers to methods for improving ease-of-use during the design process. Usability is about focusing on the users’ best interests.
When users’ needs, interests, and preferences are considered first, they are more likely to access your website than the competition’s, and subsequently buy your product or service. Read the full post for more.
Read postDo your projects involve creating “deliverables” that you then hand over to your client? Do you publish these as static documents and regularly send them by email? Have you considered whether this is the best way to capture and deliver the information you want to communicate?
In your next project, try using a wiki instead of writing linear, static documents. Make sure the whole project team has full access and make the wiki the key point of reference when working on the project. Read the full post for more.
Read postYou have designed an information architecture for a new website that you’re going to build. How do you make sure it’s easy for your users to find the information they are looking for? By testing with real users.
Read the full post on how to run effective IA testing using Treejack, a great new tool from Optimal Workshop.
Read postDo you feel that there are too many meetings filling up your calendar? Do you ever stop to ask yourself what is the purpose of all those meetings?
Read the full post on what we think about meetings and how you can substitute them with with other, more productive tools and techniques.
Read postKey function on any business website is the ability to contact the company. Several pages on the Volkside website lead you to the contact information page, and the contact form therein.
Read the full post on how we applied the Input Prompt design pattern to help users enter their contact details easier.
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