Stacy Randolph : User Experience (UX)

Why haven't I known about Balsamiq?

srandolph — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:15:19 GMT

I use Visio all the time and even started my own module type library. But, I learned about the Balsamiq mock-up tool today and that does it, I'm converting. Right now.

What do I like so much about this tool?

Pre made modules for Software mock-ups. Easily resize and move around
Drag and drop - easy schmeezy
Alignment controls. These are hidden in Visio, you have to know about them and then find which toolbar they live in.

Module specific controls. For example, the vertical tabs module has some configuration options specific to vertical tabs:
Full Screen view - it comes with a nice little pointer

Initial questions, though:

Can I create or download new modules? What if there is a new module that isn't in the Balsamiq library?
What if I don't like the cartoonish looking feel of the modules? Can I modify the style at all? Not sure I I really really want to, though, they do give a fun feel to the mock-ups.
Can I change the background in my work area? You can remove the notebook, but I'd rather have a white background than parchment yellow.

Contact the company to get your own copy of this great tool:

Application attitude

srandolph — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:35:33 GMT

I think that an application has done its job when it delights you. Sometimes it's very very simple and that scores brownie points, IMHO.

Check out the message I received from Plaxo (I changed some info for anonymity):

This cracks me up.

While designing applications, we attempt to pull apart the ingredients in the secret sauce of good apps. Is it the code? The platform? The screen flow? The copywriting? The graphics?

I think it's all of the above and the magic happens when the balance of those things are contextually relevant. The Plaxo message works because its wit speaks to the type of folks who use this app. We're likely techy or in the techy friendlly and we are extremely sarcastic. But this message wouldn't work in MS Office. MS Outlook is the application who should be seen and not heard, you use it all day long and it just needs to work, not trade smarmy remarks with you.

I have been observing user interviews during a project that we're partnering on. The interviewer is amazingly skilled, he's able to get out of his own way--he doesn't project his own thoughts or ideas into the interview. He's listening and calmly tailoring the pre-set questions based on the interviewee's responses. This is a skill I admire, I personally get performance anxiety and overcompensate by giving them the answer I want to hear.

Anywho, by interviewing five or so different type of users now, we've exposed such a wide array of needs that hadn't even crossed my mind before. Now we're able to understand what will be contextually relevant to these users. For example, we found that the support manager truly needs to be one step ahead of bugs, he needs a platform like blogs to communicate upcoming fixes proactively--before users run across them and get frustrated. And since this site is self/service & support type, the users of the site need to feel like they have a relationship with the site owners. So the application attitude should be "we're here to help, here's how to dialogue with us".

So many applications are built without fully understanding who will be using them. When you know who the users are and have discerned their needs, then you have metrics to measure a successful design. Simple, but not easy!

A company's purpose is to serve people

srandolph — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:53:28 GMT

One of my favorite blogs is Logic+Emotion and in reading David's post about Customer Experience Resolutions, he states that "...the best results come from a culture focused on serving people" . Wow. Hallelujah. Woo hoo! Someone said it out loud.

Anybody who is or who has been in the front lines is intimately aware of this. Sales & marketing sets expectations, the Tactical team, where PM often sits, is the face to implementing those expectations. While in the front lines, if one doesn't have the support he/she need in the sales > creative > development > testing > ops > tech support departments, we let down the customer. And each other.

My job, as PM, is to serve people.

-->I serve Creative by clearly identifying the customer's requirements.
-->I serve Engineering by delivering them specs, redlines, comps, wireframes and any other deliverables they may need.
-->I serve QA by including them at the beginning of project, delivering specs and making sure they aren't squeezed at the end of the project.
-->I serve the Site User by ensuring the site delights them.
-->I serve Ops by ensuring that they get proper setup information and fair warning about shipping.
-->I serve Management by creating weekly project reports.
-->I serve the Product Team not only by implementing their product, but with clearly written bugs and clients' product suggestions.
-->I serve my entire company with each completed project launch.

I serve each customer by making them look good. What does that mean? When a customer gets kudos(from their customer, boss, co-workers, grandma, kids, cat, etc) about his/her project you know you've hit the mark. Simple, not easy.

I am constantly in service and you know what? It feels good.

It goes the other way too, I need people in order to serve people: Creative delivers the design, Engineering delivers the code, QA delivers a clear conscience, Ops lays the foundation, Management sets direction and the Product team innovates. It's all reciprocal--and that feels good too. Like a team, a good system, comrades...good folks.

Google's informal motto is "Don't be evil". Who would you be evil with? People. Same concept.

There are lots of tools that can help one serve people--email, websites, project status reports, file sharing, ticketing systems, bug systems, etc. Those are just tools, though. Attitude is the foundation of it all. Well served people makes good business.

UIE's Web App Summit 2008

srandolph — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:30:01 GMT

This looks like a great conference for developers and designers alike. IMHO, developers who write any UI need to go to events like this, it's not just designers who create well designed applications--the whole team is involved.

UIE describes the event: "Over the three days of this premier event, you'll meet the innovators and world-class designers behind today's most successful web apps and come away inspired to create amazing applications that will delight your users."

I have attended UIE's annual conference in Boston and local conferences by UIE speakers in Seattle--these folks not only know how to put together a conference, but the content is phenomenal. It's thought leading, real-life, practical and fun all rolled into one. I guarantee you that your outlook will be impacted after this event.

The summit is broken into 3 days:

Day 1: Full-day workshops - "You'll start your journey with our full-day workshops, designed to dive right into the in-depth expertise behind creating successful applications."

Day 2: Making a great web app design - "On Day 2, you'll explore what makes a great web app design, with the essentials for planning great designs."

Day 3: Implementing the Best Web Apps - "On Day 3, you'll wrap up the event learning how to implement the best web apps, uncovering how to successfully go from concept to a coded web application."

When: March 26-28

Where: Coronado Island, California

How much: $1,549

Full details: http://www.uie.com/events/web_app_summit/2008/

The 411 on Live Search's 411

srandolph — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:29:35 GMT

Windows Live launched Live Search 411--a free directory service--in October. Besides business info, you can also get business info, but you can get maps, weather forecasts, movie tickets, travel info and text messages of listings--I don't care as much about that, but still cool.

I use TMobile and when I'm out & about needing to find something, I usually call 411. They charge me something like $1.99 for directory assistance! Well, I'm a frugal gal, this doesn't sit well with me.

The audio 'clues' that you hear along the way are a nice touch. For example, when I asked about my local weather forecast, I heard birds in the background--this lets me know that I'm in the 'weather' section. Or when 'scrolling' through listings, you hear a little beep noise to differentiate between each listing. Back in the day, I helped setup Scottline - an IVR system for John L. Scott Real Estate. The user could enter a Scottline code advertised on yard signs and would hear a voiced description of the property. IVR's are not easy, so I recognize that these little details take intent for a pleasant user experience and effort to follow through.

Okay, well now you know that I don't have web search enabled on my phone (because it costs extra and the UI sucks), nor do I have an iPhone (mmm...iPhone...AT&T only...doh!) or a GPS device (on the X-mas list). Sometimes you just need to call for a business location when you're driving in circles. That's why I like this service. It's free and easy. You just have to remember (or store) the phone number.

Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters! No, Ghostbusters are SO 80's, call instead: 1-800-CALL-411