Chapter 10: Usability as common courtesy
Idiosyncratic: Some people have a very large reservoir, while some people have a some one. Some people out there have more patients than others, are more interested in nature, others have it much easier to trust someone. What this all means is that you can't expect everyone to have the same type of reservoir.
Situational: If someone is in a hurry on a website and had a bad experience on a website, when they enter your website they may still feel the same.
Refill it: We have all made mistakes in life and in a website you can make someone feel good by doing things that make them feel like you are looking out for them for their best interest.
Single mistakes equals empty: If their are too much information in a certain area this could make someone feel overwhelmed and just leave.
There are some things you don't want to show someone that is using your website, these items include customer support phone numbers, shipping rates and prices. These are hidden from the customer because it keeps them from calling and each call costs money. You don't want to punish the customer on your website by having them think about formatting their data. This can be done by having them to put in dashes for a Social Security number or having to place spaces for the credit card number.
There are ways to increase the goodwill. You want to know the main things that people want to do on a website and make them obvious and easy. Tell them what they want to know, save them steps, know what questions they are most likely to have and answer them, and when you need to apologize to them.
http://www.usereffect.com/topic/25-point-website-usability-checklist
http://mashable.com/2011/09/12/website-usability-tips/
Chapter 11: Accessibility, Cascading Style Sheets, and you
Designers and developers both fear more work and compromised design. They fear work because for developers, accessibility can seem like just more complications. Developers see this as being more work because it means more time consuming reports, reviews and task force meetings.
Compromised design is for mainly designers. They refer this as being buttered cats, places where good design for people with disabilities and good design for everyone else. Designers are worried that they will be forced to design boring sites that are less appealing for the majority of the audience.
Five things you can do right now are fix the usability problems, read an article, read a book, start using Cascading Style Sheets and go for low hanging fruit.
http://www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-accessibility/testing-web-accessibility.shtml
http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/accessibility.php
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Sketches of Smartphone Application Layout
Sketches for smartphone application showing different layouts from what the log in page could look like to what the compare prices screen can look like.
Smartphone Personas
Adam is a very independent person in life, he doesn't like asking for help. He likes the challenge in solving how to fix something and finding the best solution to fix it. Adam was working in the garage and accidentally hit his mirror on his old 1949 Five Window Ford.
Adam is looking for an application for his Android that allows him to search the nearby part shops to see whether or not they have the part he needs without having to travel there and finding out they don't. He hates going to a shop and finding out they don't have the part, he feels that he just wasted time. He wants a simple application that also tells the prices of other part shops so he can find the cheapest place.
Sara is a independent person but when it comes to anything with cars she relies on her boyfriend to help her. Sara wants to find an application that allows her to find parts for her worn out Toyota.
She would like this application to be easy to use and for her to see if the part she needs is carried by the surrounding part shops. Sara wants to find this kind of application so she doesn't have to keep asking Charlie for help. She would like to learn about cars more and feels this application could help her.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Concept Statement Project
Create a list of all users that may visit your site (not from the WWW but those you'd invite).
Users that will visit my site would be clients that want to view what I have created for other clients in the field.
What will each of those users want to see in order to enjoy their visit to your site?
Users will enjoy the cleanness of the website throughout the site.
Name your intended audience (the person(s) you need to persuade.)
My intended audience would be future employees, and clients I am currently working with.
Describe what you need to inform and persuade them of:
Goals of the site are:
Goals from the website are to show my portfolio to clients in the field. Other goals of the site are to show what I can do.
My ultimate message/ philosophy (about who you are):
Ultimate message is to show who I am as a person and to show what I can create not only on paper but also from my mind.
What is the story you are telling?
The story I am telling is the process my mind works in creating the work that I am able to create for myself and for clients.
What projects which do not exist yet will you want to show?
Projects I will show on the website will be examples of what I have created in school, clients, as well as creations I have created over the last few years.
What categories will you depict in your mockup? - even if you don't have examples of them.
Write a 200 word concept statement based on the user, your persuasion, navigation and the assets.
Concept Statement:
"A designer is a planner with an aesthetic sense." Welcome to the website, upon the first glance at looking at the website you should feel that you are on a expedition to find something. After viewing the layout and content on the page you should feel that you are looking at a graphic designers website. I want to prepare the clients what their project can look like by looking at other creations.
The biggest asset of the website will be the typography, and having photos to show what creations have been designed. The navigation of the website will be simple and easy to use. Main navigation being buttons on the top of the page. Throughout the website I don't want clienteles to feel lost or to have any problems moving from one page to another.
Users that will visit my site would be clients that want to view what I have created for other clients in the field.
What will each of those users want to see in order to enjoy their visit to your site?
Users will enjoy the cleanness of the website throughout the site.
Name your intended audience (the person(s) you need to persuade.)
My intended audience would be future employees, and clients I am currently working with.
Describe what you need to inform and persuade them of:
Promote my:
Artwork from school or personal artwork I have created over the years.
Artwork from school or personal artwork I have created over the years.
Goals of the site are:
Goals from the website are to show my portfolio to clients in the field. Other goals of the site are to show what I can do.
My ultimate message/ philosophy (about who you are):
Ultimate message is to show who I am as a person and to show what I can create not only on paper but also from my mind.
What is the story you are telling?
The story I am telling is the process my mind works in creating the work that I am able to create for myself and for clients.
What projects which do not exist yet will you want to show?
Projects I will show on the website will be examples of what I have created in school, clients, as well as creations I have created over the last few years.
What categories will you depict in your mockup? - even if you don't have examples of them.
Write a 200 word concept statement based on the user, your persuasion, navigation and the assets.
Concept Statement:
"A designer is a planner with an aesthetic sense." Welcome to the website, upon the first glance at looking at the website you should feel that you are on a expedition to find something. After viewing the layout and content on the page you should feel that you are looking at a graphic designers website. I want to prepare the clients what their project can look like by looking at other creations.
The biggest asset of the website will be the typography, and having photos to show what creations have been designed. The navigation of the website will be simple and easy to use. Main navigation being buttons on the top of the page. Throughout the website I don't want clienteles to feel lost or to have any problems moving from one page to another.
Application Definition Statement
Our idea is to do an application allows a person to take a picture using an Android of a car part. Example would be a window on the door. Taking the picture that was taken the person will be able to search for junkyards or part shops that have the part. The screen will show how many they have of the parts and how much they want. Option on the page will have a section saying if the part is new or used. On the screen there will be a option that allows the person to compare prices with competitors.
This app would be promoted by the companies that deal with parts on a daily basis. Application will be a non profit application meaning no money is required to make it run.
Application Definition Statement
Features:
Creating a list
instructions manuals
viewing demos
comparing prices
Users:
Average person to a car enthusiast would use this application. Men and women but a bit more men would use this app. Someone who is tight on money would use this.
Filter List:
Comparing prices
Creating a list
Contacting the retailer
Suitability features:
Simple streamlined style with a themed user interface that includes images of the part they are searching for as well as the nearest location to purchase that part.
This app would be promoted by the companies that deal with parts on a daily basis. Application will be a non profit application meaning no money is required to make it run.
Application Definition Statement
Features:
Creating a list
instructions manuals
viewing demos
comparing prices
Users:
Average person to a car enthusiast would use this application. Men and women but a bit more men would use this app. Someone who is tight on money would use this.
Filter List:
Comparing prices
Creating a list
Contacting the retailer
Suitability features:
Simple streamlined style with a themed user interface that includes images of the part they are searching for as well as the nearest location to purchase that part.
Unit 7 Reading
What the Heck is Responsive Web Design?
When designing a website it should be able to fit all different size of screens. From using an Android, iPhone, to a tablet to the computer you have at home, the website should be able to fit onto the screen. So who is using the responsive web design? Everyone is using it even your client will be using it. Grey Goose is using a responsive website with parallax scrolling. When to use it? The best time to use it is for performance, content, website vs web app, browser support, and time and money.
http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2253965/3-Reasons-Why-Responsive-Web-Design-is-the-Best-Option-For-Your-Mobile-SEO-Strategy
http://webdesignledger.com/tips/responsive-web-design-workflow-considerations
http://webdesignledger.com/tools/12-helpful-tools-for-responsive-web-design
When designing a website it should be able to fit all different size of screens. From using an Android, iPhone, to a tablet to the computer you have at home, the website should be able to fit onto the screen. So who is using the responsive web design? Everyone is using it even your client will be using it. Grey Goose is using a responsive website with parallax scrolling. When to use it? The best time to use it is for performance, content, website vs web app, browser support, and time and money.
http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2253965/3-Reasons-Why-Responsive-Web-Design-is-the-Best-Option-For-Your-Mobile-SEO-Strategy
http://webdesignledger.com/tips/responsive-web-design-workflow-considerations
http://webdesignledger.com/tools/12-helpful-tools-for-responsive-web-design
Monday, May 13, 2013
Smartphone Project Brainstorm
Creating a mock-up of a smartphone application. Need to come up with three ideas or more on what kind of application we want to do. The templates that we are using for this project are the iPhone 5, Android or Windows phone style guide.
Idea #1: An application for car enthusiast that shows all the latest parts on specific cars.
Idea #2: An application for car enthusiast that shows all the latest car magazines such as Car and Driver, Muscle Cars, Import Tuner, etc.
Idea #3: An application that shows the best beer locations in the area you are in. Example would be if a person is in Seattle and he or she is wondering where the best place of beer is, they will be able to use an application that shows where the location is, the name, address, phone, and also shows a listing of what beers are at that location.
Idea #4: An application that allows your vehicle to be a WiFi network. This would allow the vehicle to connect to your phone or computer. If the car isn't equipped with On-star the vehicle will be able to unlock/ lock your vehicle by using the application. The application will also show statistics about the vehicle such as price, horsepower, safety, etc.
Idea #1: An application for car enthusiast that shows all the latest parts on specific cars.
Idea #2: An application for car enthusiast that shows all the latest car magazines such as Car and Driver, Muscle Cars, Import Tuner, etc.
Idea #3: An application that shows the best beer locations in the area you are in. Example would be if a person is in Seattle and he or she is wondering where the best place of beer is, they will be able to use an application that shows where the location is, the name, address, phone, and also shows a listing of what beers are at that location.
Idea #4: An application that allows your vehicle to be a WiFi network. This would allow the vehicle to connect to your phone or computer. If the car isn't equipped with On-star the vehicle will be able to unlock/ lock your vehicle by using the application. The application will also show statistics about the vehicle such as price, horsepower, safety, etc.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Unit 6 Reading
How to Create Your First iPhone Application
Over 500,000 apps that have been approved from Apple since 2008. There are thousands of ideas for apps that are being drawn on napkins all across the world. Before creating an app the designer should know what the goal of the project is before starting. Having a vision of what the designer wants to achieve is a good start and a good idea. Examples of project goals are to create an app that doesn't require hands on day to day management, becomes a full time business for the designer and a team, app that promotes existing products or services, and an app that is mainly for fun and not for profit.
Expectations are important when creating an app because it shows what is expected from the application. Each application has its own unique factors such as cost to produce, popularity, and the people that are responsible for the success.
There are steps to follow when creating an application. The first step before creating prototypes and sketches are you as a designer and team members should first develop an idea on how the application will generate a profit. Step two is to sign up for a developer account. Step three is when the designer gets to begin sketching the application. When sketching for the application it is good to sketch out all the screens of the app. Step four has to do with design, programming, and promotion and marketing of the application. Step five is the final step which is to hire a team. Design, development, marketing and promotion are what the team will be focusing on during step five.
iPhone App Icon Design Best Practices
Icons is the most crucial part of creating an application for the iPhone platform. An icon is a graphical representation of a word, concept, object or operation. Words shouldn't be used in creating an icon. Creating an icon make it simple and clear to understand what the icon is.
An icon is 57x57 pixel so there is not a whole lot of room. There are times where an icon can be a single object but sometimes an icon cannot just be a single object. So when creating one make sure that everyone of them is clearly defined and is clear to understand what it is. When creating icons details are important as well. When creating icons the designer can go over the top with them since you want to make them memorable. Details that would help in creating an icon look amazing are gradients, highlights and reflections. When scrolling through the app store the first thing that catches people is the icon of the app. Having a unique, attractive and different icon will get customers to click on the icon of the app.
The Flat Design Era
In flat design it is a graphic style that aims to avoid any graphic element. In flat design there are no gradients, reliefs, volumes, realistic forms, those are all erased to make room for simple solids. Design is smooth in flat design.
What is Skeuomorphism? Skeuomophism is it borrows design elements from a particular feature from the past. It is a physical ornament or design of an object that is copied from a form of a object that was made from another type of material or by other techniques. People are slowly moving away from skeuomophism design, which has been very popular for the past few years.
3 Links to iPhone application development articles
http://www.iphoneapplicationdevelopment.co/iphone-application-development/
http://www.articleexhibition.com/858/make-better-choices-for-iphone-application-development/
http://flyosity.com/application-design/iphone-application-design-patterns.php
http://sixrevisions.com/mobile/design-iphone-apps-better/
http://designwoop.com/2012/06/10-detailed-iphone-application-design-tutorials/
Over 500,000 apps that have been approved from Apple since 2008. There are thousands of ideas for apps that are being drawn on napkins all across the world. Before creating an app the designer should know what the goal of the project is before starting. Having a vision of what the designer wants to achieve is a good start and a good idea. Examples of project goals are to create an app that doesn't require hands on day to day management, becomes a full time business for the designer and a team, app that promotes existing products or services, and an app that is mainly for fun and not for profit.
Expectations are important when creating an app because it shows what is expected from the application. Each application has its own unique factors such as cost to produce, popularity, and the people that are responsible for the success.
There are steps to follow when creating an application. The first step before creating prototypes and sketches are you as a designer and team members should first develop an idea on how the application will generate a profit. Step two is to sign up for a developer account. Step three is when the designer gets to begin sketching the application. When sketching for the application it is good to sketch out all the screens of the app. Step four has to do with design, programming, and promotion and marketing of the application. Step five is the final step which is to hire a team. Design, development, marketing and promotion are what the team will be focusing on during step five.
iPhone App Icon Design Best Practices
Icons is the most crucial part of creating an application for the iPhone platform. An icon is a graphical representation of a word, concept, object or operation. Words shouldn't be used in creating an icon. Creating an icon make it simple and clear to understand what the icon is.
An icon is 57x57 pixel so there is not a whole lot of room. There are times where an icon can be a single object but sometimes an icon cannot just be a single object. So when creating one make sure that everyone of them is clearly defined and is clear to understand what it is. When creating icons details are important as well. When creating icons the designer can go over the top with them since you want to make them memorable. Details that would help in creating an icon look amazing are gradients, highlights and reflections. When scrolling through the app store the first thing that catches people is the icon of the app. Having a unique, attractive and different icon will get customers to click on the icon of the app.
The Flat Design Era
In flat design it is a graphic style that aims to avoid any graphic element. In flat design there are no gradients, reliefs, volumes, realistic forms, those are all erased to make room for simple solids. Design is smooth in flat design.
What is Skeuomorphism? Skeuomophism is it borrows design elements from a particular feature from the past. It is a physical ornament or design of an object that is copied from a form of a object that was made from another type of material or by other techniques. People are slowly moving away from skeuomophism design, which has been very popular for the past few years.
3 Links to iPhone application development articles
http://www.iphoneapplicationdevelopment.co/iphone-application-development/
http://www.articleexhibition.com/858/make-better-choices-for-iphone-application-development/
http://flyosity.com/application-design/iphone-application-design-patterns.php
http://sixrevisions.com/mobile/design-iphone-apps-better/
http://designwoop.com/2012/06/10-detailed-iphone-application-design-tutorials/
Sunday, May 5, 2013
P2 Research Book Promotional
Book: No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama Bin Laden by Mark Owen
Publisher: Dutton Penguin
Project Statement
Job: Book Promotional Website
Client: Mark Owen, author of No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama Bin Laden
Project Description: To create a web site that promotes the book. The website is created by using the book in using the same typefaces, photos, and color scheme.
Target Audience: Teens and young adults ranging from 18 and up. People who served in the military before the Iraq war or people who served in this war.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to show readers what the book is about and them not having just to read the synopsis. The website will contain a short video showing what the book is about. There will be a fan page that shows all the dates of where Mark Owen is appearing. If the website is a success there is a place where fans can purchase the book.
Obstacles: Obstacles could be getting people onto the website and view the information. Obtaining the right typefaces that are similar to the typeface on the book and a layout that will compliment the layout of the book.
Key Benefits: Web site will not only just be promoting the book but it will also promote Mark Owen as well.
Style and Tone: The tone of the site will be calm, clean, and some nail biting. The site will use colors from the book blue, gold, and red.
Media: Website
Other Works: Mark Owen's other books are all based off the military. Some other books are Breaking BUD/S: How Regular Guys Can Become Navy Seals, and The Finish: The Killing of Osama Bin Laden.
Competitive Analysis: http://www.goodreads.com/, and http://onegraphic.com/book-promotions/
High resolution book covers:
Typefaces/ style guide: Helvetica Std Bold, Univers Std, Frutiger Std 65 Bold, and Proxima Nova Semibold. Seeing that the typefaces being used on the book color are mainly block type these I feel would work well.
Sketches of ideas:
Publisher: Dutton Penguin
Project Statement
Job: Book Promotional Website
Client: Mark Owen, author of No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama Bin Laden
Project Description: To create a web site that promotes the book. The website is created by using the book in using the same typefaces, photos, and color scheme.
Target Audience: Teens and young adults ranging from 18 and up. People who served in the military before the Iraq war or people who served in this war.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to show readers what the book is about and them not having just to read the synopsis. The website will contain a short video showing what the book is about. There will be a fan page that shows all the dates of where Mark Owen is appearing. If the website is a success there is a place where fans can purchase the book.
Obstacles: Obstacles could be getting people onto the website and view the information. Obtaining the right typefaces that are similar to the typeface on the book and a layout that will compliment the layout of the book.
Key Benefits: Web site will not only just be promoting the book but it will also promote Mark Owen as well.
Style and Tone: The tone of the site will be calm, clean, and some nail biting. The site will use colors from the book blue, gold, and red.
Media: Website
Other Works: Mark Owen's other books are all based off the military. Some other books are Breaking BUD/S: How Regular Guys Can Become Navy Seals, and The Finish: The Killing of Osama Bin Laden.
Competitive Analysis: http://www.goodreads.com/, and http://onegraphic.com/book-promotions/
High resolution book covers:
Typefaces/ style guide: Helvetica Std Bold, Univers Std, Frutiger Std 65 Bold, and Proxima Nova Semibold. Seeing that the typefaces being used on the book color are mainly block type these I feel would work well.
Sketches of ideas:
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Unit 5 Reading
Chapter 8: The Farmer and the Cowman Should Be Friends
When talking to your team of members in a project, some discussions can be called religious debates. The reason why it is called this is that they have a lot in common with most discussions in politics and in religion. The debates usually consist of people expressing strongly about their beliefs.
People who work with web sites often think the people who use web sites are like web programmers. This isn't all true because everyone is different.
Designers and developers are two pairs that go together well. Designers like to think that most people like sites that have a lot of visuals. And the people who look at what designers create like this. Developers think people like web sites because of the cool features. But the result in this is designers want to build a web site that looks great and developers want to build an interesting, original, and elegant features kind of website.
Chapter 9: Usability testing on 10 cents a day
Focus group - this is a small group of people around five to eight members that sit around a table and come up with ideas and designs. Focus groups are good for getting a sample of users opinions and feels about topics.
Usability test - one user is shown something and are asked to figure out what it is or try to use it in a task.
If you want to be able to create a great web site you as a designer need to test it. Testing is used to remind the designer that not everyone thinks the way we do. Testing is a good idea in testing early on and not towards the end of the project.
http://usabilitygeek.com/an-introduction-to-website-usability-testing/
http://www.webpagecontent.com/arc_archive/124/5/
http://www.usefulusability.com/24-usability-testing-tools/
When talking to your team of members in a project, some discussions can be called religious debates. The reason why it is called this is that they have a lot in common with most discussions in politics and in religion. The debates usually consist of people expressing strongly about their beliefs.
People who work with web sites often think the people who use web sites are like web programmers. This isn't all true because everyone is different.
Designers and developers are two pairs that go together well. Designers like to think that most people like sites that have a lot of visuals. And the people who look at what designers create like this. Developers think people like web sites because of the cool features. But the result in this is designers want to build a web site that looks great and developers want to build an interesting, original, and elegant features kind of website.
Chapter 9: Usability testing on 10 cents a day
Focus group - this is a small group of people around five to eight members that sit around a table and come up with ideas and designs. Focus groups are good for getting a sample of users opinions and feels about topics.
Usability test - one user is shown something and are asked to figure out what it is or try to use it in a task.
If you want to be able to create a great web site you as a designer need to test it. Testing is used to remind the designer that not everyone thinks the way we do. Testing is a good idea in testing early on and not towards the end of the project.
http://usabilitygeek.com/an-introduction-to-website-usability-testing/
http://www.webpagecontent.com/arc_archive/124/5/
http://www.usefulusability.com/24-usability-testing-tools/
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