May 2006 Issue
Deconstructing the Mobile Web
Published: May 8, 2006
The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that the
mobile Web is largely overplayed hype—the clumsy extrapolation
of the behavior and use of a basic set of interfaces from one
environment to another incompatible one. As a result
of this broken mental model of mobile computing, we are
not taking advantage of the real potential this technology offers.
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Category: Columns
Developing the Invisible
Published: May 8, 2006
During my years as an interface designer, I’ve worked
with lots of different development teams. From big companies
to small startups, the interactions between me—the product
designer—and developers have been pretty consistent.
We work through what interactions and features are possible
given our timeframe and resources. We discuss edge cases and
clarify how specific interactions should work. We debate product
strategy, information architecture, target audience, front-end
technologies, and more. We also frequently encounter the same
issue: the need to consider what’s not there.
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Category: Columns
The Elements of Interaction Design
Published: May 8, 2006
Other design disciplines use raw materials. Communication designers
use basic visual elements such as the line. Industrial designers
work with simple 3D shapes such as the cube, the sphere, and
the cylinder. For interaction designers, who create products
and services that can be digital (software) or analog (a karaoke
machine) or both (a mobile phone), the design elements are
more conceptual. And yet they offer a powerful set of components
for interaction designers to bring to bear on their projects.
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Category: Features
Book Review: Paper Prototyping
Published: May 8, 2006
Carolyn Snyder’s Paper Prototyping: The Fast and
Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces provides
the only complete guide to paper prototyping.
It teaches you everything you need to know to successfully
do paper prototyping and offers many practical tips. However,
only about a third of the book is actually about doing paper
prototyping. The majority of the book’s content
comprises a basic reference on usability testing. While some
of the information on usability testing describes how to
test paper prototypes, most of it is applicable to any type
of usability testing. If you’re already an expert in
usability testing, you may not find this information as useful,
but Snyder has honed her approach
to usability testing over her many years of experience
as a usability professional and provides a wealth of practical
information.
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Category: Reviews
Dogma Free Design at SXSW 2006
Published: May 8, 2006
South by Southwest (SXSW) began as a music festival in 1987
and has grown to include festivals and conferences for the
film industry and interactive media. It is a colorful event,
held each year in Austin, Texas, and drawing an eclectic crowd.
(Need I mention the roller-derby girls handing out flyers outside
the main entrance?)
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Category: Reviews