What is your new years (usability) resolution?

{ Posted on 07 Jan 2010 by pawel }
Categories : web usability

I take it that you are probably tired of reading or listening about new years resolutions, right? Let’s face it, we are bombarded with them and any advice on how to keep them from middle of December at least. 

Well, I will have to add my share to that asking what is your new years (usability) resolution? What do you want to do to improve your projects and the way you design them?

Mine is very simple, to write more concise copy and to learn to communicate through the medium of the web more successfully.  In order to do that I will have to study writing techniques a bit more and also test my writing all the time but that’s OK. 

What do you think you could improve or pay more attention to this year? Do you know what usability errors you are most guilty of? Would you be able to make a list of them? If so, pick one, or a few and try to work on them. Fair chance is that the ones you will choose will be the biggest ones. And yes, they will also be the toughest to tackle but at the same time once you learn to avoid them your projects will get million times better.

So, what’s your new years (usability) resolution?

Now you see it, now you don’t. Google, usability and minimalism

{ Posted on 09 Dec 2009 by pawel }
Categories : general web design

By now most of you probably noticed a major change on Googles home page. Basically, until you interact with the page it shows you only its basic elements, a search field and submit buttons. And only if you do something there it shows the rest: your account, access to gmail, docs and other links on top of the page.

I am still trying to make up my mind whether I like this approach. The minimalist in me (yes, I am one) is delighted. I love seeing only what I need at the very moment and not be distracted by anything else.
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The most important thing you should do when meeting a client for the first time

{ Posted on 04 Dec 2009 by pawel }

Shut up and let your client speak.

It is a natural instinct that tells us: talking about yourself shows how professional you are. Especially talking about how you know and understand technology, internet, social networking, insert your favorite latest internet sensation here. In reality, nothing is further from the truth. The only thing your prospect wants to find out is whether you understand his needs. And unless you convince him of that your fate is doomed.

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My top 3 UX blogs this year

{ Posted on 30 Nov 2009 by pawel }

I don’t know about you but at this time of the year I usually get into the mood of looking back at what I have worked on, achieved and learned throughout the year. I usually end up making a lot of lists, like my favorite sites, books that inspired me the most. Or what were my best sources of inspiration, professional wisdom and many others.

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Top 100 design blogs – great roundup on graphicdesigndegrees.org

{ Posted on 12 Nov 2009 by pawel }
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Categories : recommendations

Adrienne from graphicdesigndegrees.org has put a lovely list of top 100 graphic design blogs out there. It’s really worth checking out. Some well known names are there but also a good bunch of interesting blogs I haven’t come across before.

http://graphicdesigndegrees.org/top-100-graphic-design-blogs/

Paper to Pixel is on the list too, thanks Adrienne.