[Video] UX Process for Concept Project (iPhone 4S + iMovie = rad!)

Let me first start by saying - I wish I had an iPhone with iMovie as a kid. I had so much fun creating a mini-video about my UX process for a concept project I was working on and the fact that I was able to shoot and edit completely from a mobile device just blows me away. Sometimes technology is so awesome.

The video is basically an overview of my UX approach and process on a concept project for affluent millennials. The UX process framework is there BUT just know the process can and will be different on other projects. Some may have budget for user research and usability testing, others may need you to write UAT scenarios for validation, it all depends.

Thanks for watching and enjoy!

Updated Portfolio - Yea!

Hey All - I'm in the process of some house-keeping on this little slice of heaven in the blogsphere. You will notice some changes in the next few months as I roll out new features and such to make this space a little more snazzy and user-friendly.

In the meantime I've updated my portfolio page on this blog (the one your reading right now - I know, it's exciting) that showcases some of my most recent work. I have a couple of other projects in the work that I can't showcase yet - but they're a coming!

Has the re-brand begun: Connect Blogger to Google +

Well it appears the re-branding of Blogger may finally be happening with Google's ability to connect Blogger to Google + as the potential first step.

Here's the original article on Mashable Social from July 2011 reporting this tidbit: http://mashable.com/2011/07/05/google-blogger-picasa-rebranding/

It appears you will only have this option if you use Blogger in Draft, can connect without issue if you want to connect with your common name (no pseudonyms - seems kinda dumb), and will allow your social connections to see your posts.

It's all kind of vague right now on Google's blog* but they are promising features to be rolled out in the next few weeks. Original post here: http://buzz.blogger.com/2011/10/use-your-google-profile-with-your.html#!/2011/10/use-your-google-profile-with-your.html

*Interesting thing to note - Google is now using their new Dynamic Views template for their blog

DIRECTV Cinema Customer Journey Video

Video narrative of a DIRECTV Cinema Customer Journey. Amazing and fun collaboration with some great team members Jamy Li and Cherie Lim. Though I still don't think I sound that way, listening to one's voice is always odd.

DIRECTV CINEMA: A User's Journey from DIRECTV Product Development on Vimeo.

Cover Art comeback, Tablet PC's and Virtual Experiences

I remember reading some articles a few years ago about how album cover art was a dying art due to people purchasing music online. First the album art was reduced to fit a CD case then became almost a non-existent thumbnail online through iTunes, Napster, etc.

Now with the popularity of tablet PCs - thank you Apple iPad - this art is making a strong comeback. Currently you can view full screen album art while playing your music on your iPad, download and play music quiz games with your album art and view all your albums by cover.

Why is this important? Because we are moving towards a more visual and realistic display of everyday items and intents. Think about what this could mean to UX design - emulating tangible tasks through virtual experiences (don't even get me going on the 3D aspect of this ;).

For example -wouldn't it be great to recreate the record store environment through a touch-screen interface. You could provide the fun of discovering new music by shuffling through a row of records, alphabetically or randomly as well as providing more traditional search patterns found online. Just slide your finger to shuffle through a row of records and tap the one you're viewing to select.

 

User experiences are going to become so closely aligned with virtual experiences (we already insinuate this with the term immersive UI) that I as a UX Designer feel as if a major light bulb has gone off in my head. I can't wait to work on my next tablet app so I can put this theory to test.

Two photos are from here and here.

Toyota Banner Ad = Love

Good Monday All! Recently saw this little banner ad gem on evite.com. Whoever is creating Toyota's banner's deserves a raise. Why am I so gushy - take a look at the screen capture below. Whether by accident or sheer genius, the Toyota ad matches the site background causing it to appear as part of the global nav content versus a contained ad within it. Why is this amazing - because I actually read it.

So some takeaways for this would be:

1. Go the extra step of creating banners with similar backgrounds for high traffic sites your ad may be served on;
2. Think of creative ways to design your ad without the rectangular box. By Toyota removing the border of their ad, it appears less of a "banner ad" and more as page content, which when a user is scanning may have more of an impact on recall vs ignore the box at the top most of us are prone to do.

UX Toolbox: One Sheets

I absolutely adore when I kinda forget about something and then stumble upon it again, falling in love with it all over again. I feel this way about Leah Buley's IA One Sheets that she presented at IA Summit 2007.

I get asked quite often how do you educate and promote UX within an organization, particularly in managing up to C-level Execs. One Sheets are a great tool in visually explaining what certain UX deliverables are and how they fit/add value within the product life-cycle and planning process. I have added them to presentations, to wikis and even as addendum to UX docs in the planning phase. I modify them for my audience - if it's a busy Exec, keep it short and sweet. By doing this small educational act I find that others confidence in me and UX design raises significantly because it takes away some of the mystery of what I'm doing and shows an industry method. Remember, this is just one tool from the proverbial UX toolbox in evangelizing usability within an organization and there are many others you can mix and match from.

Mental Model One Sheet