Author Archives: admin

Communication is only as good as what is being communicated

We celebrate the power of communication. We hail the capabilities that we have created as the most ingenious human creation. Ever since the Gutenberg press humans have accelerated the spread of knowledge, right or wrong notwithstanding. Network technology made this even faster. Communication is good. But, it is only as good as what is being […]

What Users Say vs. What They Mean

Constant and ferocious change of technology, platform, delivery, and expectations continue to pose different set of challenges for designers, developers, and UX experts. However, what we take away from usability testing remains constant; as a UX professional, we need to know how to filter, translate, and interpret test results.

Are you still “clicking here?”

Back when the rotary telephone was the bleeding edge technology, say in 1890’s or so, it probably wasn’t unusual to say things like “put your finger in that hole, rotate to the right all the way, and repeat…” Then it probably evolved to something like “Dial these numbers.” Now we just say “Call me.”

Be Battery Free – AC powered Apple Trackpad

My Apple trackpad never leaves my desk. It always stays within few inches in front of my iMac. Therefore, its silly to have it battery powered. I also like to practice what I preach.

Google Effects on Memory

This scientific research paper is a quick read. The reading, however, is interrupted in few places by the actual numeric data from the research which appear quite cryptic. But you can skip over the numeric data and still come away with a clear understanding of what the research is about and its findings. The paper […]

Law of the Conservation of Complexity

Larry Tesler’s Law of the Conservation of Complexity states that every application has set amount of inherent complexity that cannot be reduced or increased. Complexity is constant. The only question is who will handle the complexity? End users or developer/designers?

Translating the Language of Software for Humans

I have finally summarized in few short words the ultimate purpose and the goal of a UX professional. It’s translating the software language into human friendly conceptual model. It may come across as somewhat philosophical but it isn’t. It literally means what it says. For my job, I am constantly converting what the software does […]

Web Design: What to Learn First

Over the years the all encompassing term ‘web designer’ is replaced by number of more specific-sounding names; User Interface (UI) Designer, User Experience (UX) Designer, Front-End Designer, or Interaction Designer to name a few. Depending on where you work, some of these terms may actually be tied to a specific role unique from one another. […]

Make Boring Interesting

“If I could work on something more exciting, I can kick some ass as a designer. Things I work on now is just too boring”. I’ve heard many designers say things along those lines many, many times. They’re the ones who think those ho-hum projects don’t deserve their best efforts. Those who think this way […]

True Inspirations

The ‘Experience’ in User Experience is a cumulative outcome of many different practices working in harmony. Everything from aesthetics, technology, psychology, and economics play an important role in creating the experience. User experience isn’t a characteristic unique to web. User experience is an attribute of every man-made creation that comes in contact with a human […]

Become a confident designer

UX/UI designers are not artists who merely make things pretty. They are problem solvers of various domains. User experience designers need to have keen knowledge of visual arts, psychology, business agenda, cognitive science as well as various web technologies. User experience professionals are also mind readers. They need to anticipate what users will do next. […]

We all are nightmare clients

The most difficult thing about being a designer is not the designing itself. It’s dealing with clients. I’m sure we all at one time or another have worked with nightmare clients. They are indecisive. They don’t know what they want. They change their mind all the time. Most designers don’t have a clue why clients […]

Designing from the past

It’s been said that there is “nothing new under the sun.” It’s a somewhat depressing statement. It’s essentially saying that anything and everything happening or being created now has happened or have been created before. It basically means “You’re not special. It’s all been done before.” Assuming the bleak statement is true, what’s a creative […]

Writing for Web Application

Almost all UX experts agree brevity is the key when writing for web application. Short and brief language is essential for quick organizational comprehension as well as improved captivation. Brevity is especially important when the language in question is used for navigational or actionable purposes.

Smart consistency vs. Foolish consistency

The words ‘simple’ and consistent’ is thrown around all the time in design and web development circles. Clients, stakeholders, designers, architects and developers alike all over love to blurt these words thinking they are some sort of silver bullet to designing.  Some simply feel they need to say it because they’ve heard other people say […]

Be a Sustainable Superhero – 3 Easy things you can do

Green technology, sustainable technology, or sustainable designs are some of the buzzwords of our time. What does it exactly mean? At the core of it, it’s an attempt to eliminate negative environmental impact and waste prevention through design. It all sounds grand. To many of us it sounds like something that only scientists, government or […]

Single Brain UI Design & Development

Many UI professionals – typically in smaller to mid-sized organizations – are responsible for both visual design as well as front-end development. In such set-up, a UI designer/developer works directly with back-end programmers usually with the same code base and in the same environment. The handing over of files between teams and the need for […]

Looking at average Joe’s interweb

Not that long ago, when the general public was just getting to know the internet, the imagery, text, spinning globe, and flashing colors shown through a big fat CRT monitor was collectively referred to as the internet. To an average person, the computer or the internet is what you see on the monitor. Ever seen […]

Recommended Books for UX Professionals and Designers

Like many people in my line of profession, I have overlapping duties: part UI developer, part visual designer, and part UX/usability consultant. Because front-end code, front-end design, and user experience are all tightly connected and must work in harmony. The designer in me directs me to make things cool and trendy, the UX expert in […]

What Users Say vs. What They Really Mean

In the course of my career I’ve been fortunate enough to have attended numerous usability test sessions. I had chances to observe  many varieties from the most entertaining to the gawdawful boring, a fifty-something man operating a mouse with both of his hands to a tech-savvy who checks the view source.

In search for a Super Consumer

What was once called the “Information Superhighway” has become “Information Wasteland”. We’re now experiencing severe information overload to a point where the information itself ceases to be beneficial and becomes the source of confusion for many people. Anything about everything is supported or opposed mostly without clear authoritative source and is accessible to everybody who […]

WordPress Twentythirteen

It’s been a long time, been a long time, been a long lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time. Yes it has. Been too busy with work. Haven’t had energy left to touch my own stuff. But I’m finally updating the site with WP Twentythirteen. It has responsive structure built right into the theme. And it’s […]

Oh my, what’s up at Apple…

I really couldn’t care less about the fact that the new iPhone that Apple introduced three months late wasn’t an iPhone5. However, as a web designer, I do seem to notice somethings more than others. Things like how they present new products on their website, design, layout, etc. If you visited apple.com today, you’ll see […]

Why are camera lenses so expensive?

Have you wondered why camera lenses are so expensive? Aren’t they just pieces of glass? Pros and amateurs alike are often baffled by the prohibitive cost of high performance lenses which can easily cost several times more than the camera itself. Here’s a video that briefly takes you through the lens manufacturing process at Canon. […]

Staples Home Robbery TV Ad

Like everything else TV ads have their share of hits and misses. There are commercials we love because they are entertaining to watch. And there are ones that are just annoying or utterly tasteless. One of the worst examples this years is Staple’s “Home Robbery” TV commercial. It boggles the mind how something so obviously […]