Peyton Crump, ON THE TOPIC OF General and Opinions/Reviews and Tips and Tricks

Dear Scrabulous-

I’m a big Scrabble fan, and I know I’m way behind by just having hooked up with you this weekend. I also know there are people fighting over you (not such a bad problem to have) and I hope you hang around. I like your user interface mostly fine, but I’m wondering if you could tidy up a few small things.

Continue reading "Dear Scrabulous, I Like U, and I Like UI"

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Peyton Crump, ON THE TOPIC OF General

Driving home from Viget yesterday, I was behind an old green Volkswagen bug that had Apple stickers on the bumper and a license plate that read “MACBUG.” I dig geeks that like their Macs and express some personality via their cars. The question I had, however, was that if this guy were to go for current design, technology, and performance over nostalgia and bring his “Apple II” car up-to-speed, to which maker/car would he go? Would he stick with Volkswagen, or is there an automotive company/product that fits the Apple/Mac model more closely? I drive a silver 2005 Volkswagen Golf by the way, and I’m not a car enthusiast. Just curious.

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Samantha Warren, ON THE TOPIC OF General

I have been using Wufoo free of charge for about a year now and have been a satisfied user. It wasn’t until last week when I had my first little hiccup that I realized how awesome this web app really is. In case you don’t know about Wufoo it is:

… an Internet application that helps anybody build amazing online forms. When you design a form with Wufoo, it automatically builds the database, back-end and scripts needed to make collecting and understanding your data easy, fast and fun. Because we host everything, all you need is a browser, an Internet connection and a few minutes to build a form and start using it right away.”

If you need anything from a contact form to an online survey, Wufoo is a wonderful solution that drops right into your site adapting seamlessly to your design. Their product, however is not what prompted me to write this post. After having a few e-mails get lost in the shuffle I decided to submit a support request. I described my problem and made it to the bottom of the form fields to find something very interesting: they wanted to know my “Emotional State”.

I clicked on the drop down and asked myself “How DO I feel about this?”, a question I overlooked asking myself earlier in the pending situation. As I scanned the drop-down menu this conversation with myself raced through my head:

“No I am not excited. 
I am delightfully distracted by the Dino in the upper right hand corner of their site, but not excited about this situation. “Rarrr!” Cute.
Confused?
No, I am certain there is a problem. I troubleshot every possibility on my end and I know there is nothing I can do.
Worried?
Well, concerned. What if there is an important e-mail. I know the Chief of Staff has nothing important to talk to me about, but what if someone important like Dooce wants to get in touch with me. Oh, that is concerning.
Upset?
If I have missed something urgent in my e-mail box I will feel upset.
Panicked?
No, There must be a solution.
Angry?
Of course not. I have been using this service for free for a whole year, how can I really be angry?
Worried, Hmph.
I am surprisingly worried about this situation.”

As I made my selection and moved the curser to hit the submit button a feeling washed over me that was unlike anything I had ever felt with a webservice online. I felt like they cared. I felt confident that my problem would be solved. I felt like I was contacting PEOPLE who have beating hearts, and families, who had felt worried about their missing contact e-mails too. How very humane of them!

Shortly after this experience my problem was resolved with a giant clump of e-mails to my box and all was right in the world again.

Now here I am, blogging about an incident that could have gone downhill very quickly but was positively effected by a detail in their User Interface. A drop down menu that ignores corporate jargon, came to terms with the fact there may actually be a flaw in THEIR system, and inquired about my emotional state. Imagine if Comcast asked you how you were feeling when your cable went out. Would you think before verbally attacking that poor overworked repair guy?  I would love to see a Health Insurance provider have an emotional state Check-in as part of their interface. Imagine feeling like someone actually wanted to help you. Why are humane details like this so often ignored online? I challenge UI designers and Information architects to consider this more often and maybe even track the satisfaction of their customers. As Naz Hamid said at SXSW, “Design is in the Details”.

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Samantha Warren, ON THE TOPIC OF General and Opinions/Reviews and Tips and Tricks and Trends

When I asked Doug, the Viget Designer behind the typography on the Inspire Blog ,why he used Avenir he replied “because it is the greatest font ever”. Doug is not the only one to have such an opinion of the geometric sans-serif typeface, in 2004 Avenir was named one of Typographica’s favorite fonts. When Andy Budd asked Cameron Moll what fonts would he choose if he could only have 6 his first reaction was “ Avenir, Avenir, Avenir. I’ve abused this typeface in both web and print work, and it’s held up to the abuse with flying colors.”.

In French “avenir” means “future”.  This hidden definition makes it a perfect choice for the Viget Inspire Blog because web designers are innovators who are always looking to push the boundaries and limitations of their medium.

Adrien Frutiger designed Avenir in 1988 and is best known for his typefaces Univers and Frutiger. Frutiger explained his reasoning for designing the San-Serif in an interview with Linotype:

“Looking back on more than 40 years of concern with sans serif typefaces, I felt an obligation to design a linear style of sans serif, in the tradition of Erbar™, Futura®, and to a lesser extent Gill Sans®. These have purely constructed characters from which the element of a handwriting movement has been removed. Obviously this could not be an outstanding new creation, but I have tried to make use of the experience and stylistic developments of the 20th century in order to work out an independent alphabet meeting modern typographical needs.”

Avenir has become very popular in web, print, identity, and environmental graphic design. As part of their national identity the Netherlands uses Avenir on their site amsterdam.nl as well as in signage and brochures about their country. You can find Avenir playing a key part in the branding systems of the Reuters and Dulles Fort Worth Airport. On the web a customized version of the font is used in the logo for Shutterfly and the book and medium weights on purevolume.com.

Frutiger describes his typeface as “modern and at the same time humane” but I find Avenir to be an inspiration.

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Peyton Crump, ON THE TOPIC OF General and Tips and Tricks

A few of Andy Rutledge’s words from The Design View Show, Episode 2, although aimed at answering the question of formal vs. self-taught web design education, reminded me of an important topic web designers need to remember: that constraint – not creativity – should be the overriding drive behind our designs.

As Andy shares, when designers think creativity – not problem-solving – is the prime measure of success, they enter a competition of artistry and decoration. I would add that true originality is often a high expectation of the creative-crazed designer, too. If it’s creative, looks nice, and feels super unique, then it’s assumed to be a successful design.

Such an assumption lays a comfortable foundation for designers to “trust their intuition” (advice often given from one designer to another) and fall in love with something they created – even though it doesn’t work. Too often, we designers create a logo, marketing idea, tag line, web design, or UX technique that we believe is innovative, when, quite frankly, it’s just not.

I call it creative over-thinking; when our desire to be inventive usurps our rational instincts. The end product is forced, and we might even feel some catharsis because of it. Sharpening our internal radars to recognize when we’re headed down this frustrating path is among the best ways to balance the art with the design purposes.

Techniques to stay oriented

Instead of “trusting your intuition,” I say “trust the intuition of others.” Be proactive about seeking feedback from outside sources knowing they usually don’t get it (often for good reason) but they’ll be honest in their reactions.  The truth can hurt, yes, but most of the time we’re designing for them – not other web designers.

If you find yourself explaining your design decision in paragraphs rather than a simple sentence, then it’s time to re-evaluate. Portfolio pieces can look great but don’t communicate clearly or connect effectively. The more you explain concepts, the deeper you’ll dig. Effective design decisions will explain themselves.

Regularly along the way, re-orient yourself to the intended users and audience, and don’t waiver from this focus. Generally, “creative flare” isn’t at the top of their list of design needs. It doesn’t hurt, of course, but the best designs are credible, usable, easily digestable, correctly targeted, and clear.  Often, it’s the simplest designs that achieve all these characteristics fluidly.

Quick takes to prevent over-thinking

• Know your core: are you an artist or a designer? Identify your leanings.


• Know that naturally creative people aren’t necessarily naturally design-oriented people and vice versa.


• Remember that art and design often clash. Save examples of the two working well together.


• Balance your desire for creativity with a desire for constraint and simplicity.


• Stop forcing ideas. It’s a great waste of time and energy and results in frustration.


• Seek out and accept feedback frequently from non-designers.


• Make achieving the client’s goals a priority over achieving your own personal aesthetic.


• Remember your users and audience and prioritize your design to meet their needs.


• If you’re compromising originality at work, seek fulfillment with intensely unique and creative side projects.

Bigger picture

Yes, this post in some ways falls into the age-old categories of art vs. design, creativity vs. constraint, form vs. function, original vs. ordinary. However, I’m more and more convinced that the best designers are those that understand the balance of all of these things. Here are a few links if you’re interested in any further reading:

• The Design View Show


• Universal Principles of Design


• Be a Beautiful Designer


• Collecting for Design


• Form vs Function (all the way from 2001)

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Thanny Young, ON THE TOPIC OF General

Attention talented designers and CSS gurus! Check out the newly launched www.teamviget.com to meet our design team and learn why we LOVE working at Viget Labs. Then, apply to one of our current openings and tell us why YOU want to be a part of that energy, too.

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Thanny Young, ON THE TOPIC OF General

I admit I probably use the Internet and visit more web sites than your average person.  And, the average homepage visit for 80% of the sites I see ... ? Approximately 5 seconds.  I’m a power surfer.  When I’m searching for something, be it reference material, product information, or travel planning, I’m on super-speed mode in my search.  And, in this mode, the first impression is everything.

Within just 5 seconds, I evaluate a web site on these 5 key factors:

1. Performance - Does the page load quickly?
   I’m on a T1 at work and have cable at home.  Most web sites load quickly, so when I come across one that doesn’t it’s a big red flag.  If a page takes over 10 seconds to load, I get frustrated and abandon the web site altogether.  A typical user plans on exploring several pages of your site.  If they are frustrated by the first page they encounter, they’re not likely to continue browsing the remaining pages.


2. Credibility - Is this site a reliable source?
   This is especially important when looking for resource material or doing some online shopping.  If I’m looking for resources, I want to get my information from an expert.  If I’m shopping, I only give my credit card information to someone who looks like they have a solid professional business, not an overnight shop in someone’s garage.


3. Relevancy - Does the site have what I’m looking for?
   If there isn’t a key indicator that I can find what I’m looking for, I quickly hit the back button and move down my list of search results.  Time is precious, and I’m in no mood for a treasure hunt within your site, especially when there are thousands of other sites to choose from.  As far as I’m concerned, the only thing that separates you from the next site is a higher search engine result.


4. Usability - Will I be able to find what I need quickly?
   Last night, I was searching for resorts in the Caribbean.  I landed on what was clearly a Caribbean tourism web site.  But, it was overloaded with links across the top and side that weren’t clearly labeled or organized.  There were banners, text, and links scattered across the page with no logical grouping or hierarchy.  I was positive this site had what I was looking for; but, I knew it would take too much time and effort to find it.  Surely, there was another web site with what I needed that was better organized.


5. Currency - Is this information up-to-date?
   Just because you find something online today doesn’t mean it’s not outdated.  It’s amazing how many sites I’ve come across that have been abandoned, but still exist online.  We’re half-way through 2006 and so many companies list “recent news” on their homepage dated 2004!  That immediately leads me to assume that that business isn’t doing well, that the rest of the web site is out of date, and that the company is no longer a key player in the industry.

First impressions are more important on the web than in person.  When you meet someone in person, I’m sure they don’t take a quick look at you, smile, and then turn around to meet the next person without even speaking to you.  That would be rude!  But online, it’s more than a common practice, it’s how people use the Internet.  Someone visits your web site and, before they even read the contents of your homepage, they hit the back button and go off to another web site.  You know what your company offers.  You know that you are a solid business with an outstanding track record.  But, does your homepage communicate this to the rest of the world?  Take a few seconds and evaluate your own web site.

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