“I know, I know – we all need to save the world. But trust me: the world will still need saving tomorrow.” – Elizabeth Gilbert
Author Archive
Windows 8: Reinventing the Basics of File Management
We wanted to do an early Windows 8 post about one of the most used features, and one we have not improved substantially in a long time. With the increasing amount of local storage measured in terabytes, containing photos (in multiple formats and very large files), music, and video, these common operations are being taxed in new ways. These changes, along with consistent feedback about what we could improve, have inspired us to take a fresh look and redesign these operations.
Read the full article here
Riding the Flux: Design is changing in myriad ways. Are you?
I find this quote by Virgina Postrel about the design profession funny and striking:
(Design as a profession have) a peculiar combination of arrogance and insecurity. One minute, they’re declaring that they have uniquely appropriate skills for every problem, and the next they’re worried that people without the right credentials are using design..
More Kevin McCullagh’s Core77 post
Dear Designer, You Aren’t That Special
Creativity isn’t ours. Just because you can draw better, doesn’t make you a better thinker. Design isn’t just aesthetics, it’s more than that. Even if the shiny stuff we do is what gets the most attention in our industry, it’s not what makes design what it is.
Whether you consider Frank Chimero‘s latest gig as a heroic undertaking or Andy Rutledge as a vocal dick(according to a comment), this article is worth reading.
What’s your excuse as a Designer?
From Wilson Miner’s post Optimizer
Some people are idea people, some people are artists, some people think in systems, some people have a more organic approach. Everybody is wired up to naturally tune in on one or another of those aspects, or some combination that gives you your focus.
Why Wireframe?
Wireframing, on the other hand, is all about corralling these ideas into a cohesive flow of pages with a clear, well-executed focus. A ruthless eye for editing is paramount: throwing every “nice to have” feature haphazardly into the mix will do nothing but create a mediocre product that frustrates users.
More on ZURB’s Entry
User-Led Innovation Can’t Create Breakthroughs; Just Ask Apple and Ikea
Companies should lead their users, not the other way around.
The user is king. It’s a phrase that’s repeated over and over again as a mantra: Companies must become user-centric. But there’s a problem: It doesn’t work. Here’s the truth: Great brands lead users, not the other way around.
More on FastCo Design Entry
Managing UI Complexity
Interface complexity is an issue every designer wrestles with when designing a reasonably sophisticated application. A complex interface can reduce user effectiveness, increase the learning curve of the application, and cause users to feel intimidated and overwhelmed.
I’ve spent the past year redesigning a particularly complex application with my primary focus being on reducing complexity. In this article, I’ll go over some of the issues surrounding complexity and techniques that can be used to manage it.
More on Brandon Walkin’s Entry
Microsoft: Internet Explorer 6, time to move on.
With IE9 just around the corner, Microsoft is doing their fair share of publicity on eradicating their old bud, the champion of the last browser wars, Internet Explorer 6.
Shameless Plug
LOL! I thought the post was originally yours Lance. I was about to say : "W...
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