Interviewing participants with English as a second language
Triangulating user insights: A mixed methods approach for reliable research
It’s not a bug, it’s a feature… no really
Bugs, put simply, are errors or defects in a software system. If you work in tech, you’ve probably heard someone say the half-joke, half-truth line “it’s not a bug, it’s a feature”. Often this is used in jest or to justify not wanting to fix a particularly difficult bug. But when is a bug really a feature? And what does this mean for your users?
The different types of messages UXers need to remember to design
Don’t forget UX in your job applications
Don’t forget UX in your job applications. All you need to do is utilise your core UX skills — think about your users (in this case the hiring manager), consider their context of use and design to make things simple for them.
These simple tips to improve your resume and cover letter apply regardless of what the hirer is asking for. Some of these may seem obvious, but the obvious is not always so when people haven’t slowed down to consider the hirers’ perspective (or when first applying for jobs).
Why you need to observe your users
Four things I wish I knew earlier in my career that I now know
What it’s like to start a new job remotely
What does a T, a broken comb and a spider web have to do with design?
Don’t forget design research in design thinking
Where are the ethics in design ethics?
So often when we state “this is unethical” we really aren’t applying ethics at all. At best we are saying “I think this is wrong, so doing this is against my ethics”. In my latest post I give an overview of ethical theories and apply these theories to some “unethical tech” scenarios. I show most of them can be argued as ethical by applying these theories. I end with what is, I hope, a better frame to have these discussions going forward.
Communicating a Rebrand to Your Users
Rebranding? There’s a lot online about why to rebrand, how to decide new colours, how to get people on board etc. But how should we alert users to the change? These 4 principles should help you guide your choices
https://medium.com/seer-medical/communicating-a-rebrand-to-your-users-eba127a19e0e
Yes, UX research is valid: How to handle assertions it’s not real research
It’s only 5 people. That’s an assumption. It's just opinions. UX research isn't _real_ research. Sound familiar? Yeah, us too. That's why Caylie Panuccio and I wrote this post. If you’re a UX Researcher this article will help you fight some battles. If you’re not, it will help you understand the validity of qualitative research methods a little better.
Who treats their users better — tech or drug dealers?
Moving to Medium
All of my posts will be exclusively on Medium. I will, however, post here with a link to each new article (and the Friends link so that you by-pass the pay wall). I know that’s not the best experience for readers on here (having to click twice) but I promise it will be a better experience to read there.
Using the 30–60–90 Framework for Design Critique
8 things designers wish they could tell their younger selves
Skeuomorphic design is dead, long live skeuomorphism
I know, I know — skeuomorphism ? What is it, 2012?
But, I’m not talking about Skeuomorphic design (where digital things look like real-world things e.g. your bin icon looking like a ... well… bin), I’m talking about skeuomorphism in the way users think about your product in relation to other products in the marketplace.
Facilitation tips for research with blind users
As with everything, practice makes perfect, and while I’ve conducted hundreds of sessions, I hadn’t conducted any with blind users. Armed with secondary research as preparation, I felt pretty confident going into them and learned some lessons along the way to improve next time. Here’s what I learned