Ethno-unpacked – A design researcher’s toolkit.
Every band needs a manager and a ‘roadie’. The manager books the gigs – The roadies set the stage so the band can focus on playing the gig. Between them, they’ve usually got a big truck full of kit, and lots of gaffer tape. With design research (contextual inquiry or ethnography, if you like), there’s [...]
Advice for a career change into UX
Often I’m approached by Kiwis wanting to make a sideways leap into UX and always try to help out. The UX job market has become a lolly scramble, with dozens of mysterious job titles and areas to specialise in. Who wants to be a designer?, when you could be a MULTI-CHANNEL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE ARCHITECT …for [...]
Customer insight from… the Yellow Pages
The dull thud of a phone book hitting the desk. …Probably not a sound you’ve heard since the 90′s, but the humble yellow book, and it’s smaller, newer, blue cousin can be useful to explain the value of customer insights, especially those gathered in context… When the Thomson Directory went into battle with the ubiquitous [...]
Tool tips – When should design explain itself?
Should a hacksaw or staple gun need a manual? Mine have permanently moulded instructions to help get the most out of using them. This sort of thing has become commonplace in the digital world too. Hover your cursor over any button or tool and you’ll see prompts, tips, guidance, explanation etc. as you explore and [...]