www.fullscreenweather.com
The folks here at Tanagram get very excited when we see products exploring visualizations that truly utilize the advantages of current display technologies. We’ve always adored Weatherunderground for their approach to syndicating data, but today they get a vigorous hat tip for some nicely done User Experience (UX). Sure there could be a nicer font, or better color palette, but this experience is so much of an improvement over the state of the union, we don’t really care. Thanks guys for being great. We salute you.
See it here: www.fullscreenweather.com
Posted by tanagramster on February 17, 2010
After our last post starting our search for an addition Senior UX designer many people have come to us asking for examples of what type of work we think is “Hot.”
We won’t comment on the sites or the companies except to say thank you. You inspire us.
http://www.generationmovieproject.be/
ttp://www.famous.be
http://www.vobnedir.org/
http://www.igoa.in/
http://www.northkingdom.com/
http://www.lessrain.com/
http://www.juxtinteractive.com/
http://www.bigspaceship.com
http://www.akqa.com/
http://www.kinetic.com.sg
http://www.pokelondon.com
http://www.stardust.tv/
http://www.nakd.tv
If you can make like these guys can, send us an email to careers@tanagram.com. We need to talk.
Posted by Joseph Juhnke on January 8, 2010
Once again, Tanagram is growing. We are looking for a curious individual with a passion for the future of interaction and deep experience working with HTML, AS3, and XAML. Our newest member must also rock. This isn’t a confidence thing for you or us, we aren’t prima donna designers and don’t work well with individuals who can’t collaborate intensively. Rock to us means to be REALLY REALLY good at what you do. It means you understand the implications of aesthetics and beauty on complex functional design. It means you understand and are relevant with the “fashion” of design. It means you wake up in the morning thinking about visual and systemic gorgeousness and strive to create it. You must have a great portfolio that is relevant and shows you are actively pursuing the issues we are passionate about.
Here at Tanagram we actively look for ways to escape the world of WIMP interaction and I’m proud to say we are very very close to realizing it. We design complex interactive experiences, systems that make most designers cringe. Systems that allow users to touch and manipulate data with hands not abstractions. We abhor refresh-encumbered interaction and enjoy individuals who understand that there is a better place.
While we can’t share project specifics, our current assignments include redefining geospatial hyperlocal media planning as a SaaS product*, inventing the the future of Augmented Reality interaction (no it’s not a silly iPhone app, think heads-up display technology and daily wear), and creating / refining online communities that are meaningful and truly help people. Our clients work with us to help them create the future and we are steadfast that our future is a better one.
In our process the UX designer’s role begins at project inception. She participates in client discussions gathering information and providing references to current and leading edge design approaches (visual, haptic, etc) that may benefit the client’s requirements. She references new trends, hot topics, and examples used by like and non-like competitors. Once requirements are gathered, she works with the project team as an artist, innovator, and strategist representing concepts and prototypes that are desired by her target audiences. Design aesthetics are always as important as simplicity and relevance. Our newest member must be a communicator, actively seeking and spreading inspiration. She is constantly challenging herself and the status quo.
Experience working with Industrial Design is a plus.
If you feel like she could be you and have 10+ years of experience please send your resume and portfolio to careers@tanagram.com and we can start the discussion.
We look forward to meeting you.
* apologies for the buzzword attack.
Posted by Joseph Juhnke on December 30, 2009
Deploying a new or revised application can be a scary process. Are you confident your user-centered inquiry captured all of the needs? Are you certain your customers will like the new system better?
Typically, we’ve found the more expert the user—meaning the greater the amount of time they have invested in understanding your application’s complexities—the more likely they will be averse to change.
We’ve developed application UX for military pilots and there are few people who have spent more time learning an application (think thousands and thousands of hours). The good news is there are ways to insure your new release is a success.
Make sure your updates reflect real user improvements
Changing to a different platform is NOT a good reason to ask the customers to use a new application interface. You must learn how and plan to better serve them. Observation is your best tool: watch your customers work and look for opportunities to improve their workload efficiency (we call this workload assist), their decision-making efficiency (we call this cognitive assist), and provide them tools to forecast and measure the impacts of their decisions (we call this real-time performance assessment). Having used the above techniques with our cranky pilot user groups, we saw very positive results.
Enhancing your site is a marketing event. Be prepared to sell it
For your upcoming deployment plan on having a number of communication channels open to educate and engage your customers. Your goal is to solicit feedback, and develop trust. Nike+’s new “beta” site is a perfect example of the power of conversation.
Here is a shot of their existing site (not authenticated):
Notice the strong “hero” content talking about the value propositions of the new beta version. They even provide a link to the new version immediately below. It’s important to convey to your customers what they will be getting in this change and how it will impact them. Nike+ has done an excellent job with this.
Here is a shot of the new Nike+ beta site (also not authenticated):
The new site picks up where the old site left off explaining value and benefit for users. We won’t go into the specific benefits of the new site; suffice it to say they spent the time and learned what the users needed.
Teach the value to authenticated users
Once your customers authenticate into your system, you have enough data to be able to show them how your new system will better serve them. Take this opportunity seriously: Show them.
Here is a screen of the old Nike+ interface (authenticated):
Note the link-callout stating “see your runs in the new Nike+ beta.” This link provides a direct comparison of the dashboard pages and exposes the customer to a real-time comparison of the applications. It is also a “vote” button.
This is a good time to mention one of the strongest tenants in this approach: NEVER TAKE AWAY THE OLD SYSTEM. You have to wait like an observant parent for the child to discard the item before you can make it disappear. This is because the old system is their safety net. The really exciting part of this approach is that we can measure the users who have opted to use the new interface moving forward and those are SOLID conversion rates. If, after you deploy a new app using this technique and you don’t get many people willingly converting to the new application (voting that it’s better for them), call us. You more than likely missed a real need in your redesign or aren’t clearly communicating the improvements to your customers.
Provide feedback mechanism
The following three images really just show various views throughout the site, but notice two elements that remain consistent. The “feedback” tab on the right of every page (the last image shows an expanded view of the features) and the “Beta” flag in the upper right corner. Feedback is extremely powerful. Enable it, respond rapidly to the feedback and build trust that you are serving the customers’ best interest. Also, don’t disqualify this input channel just because it’s qualitative in nature. While accuracy of submissions will vary, bug notifications tend to be pretty accurate (something they can react to) and feature requests tend to be lofty but always worth validation. Our favorite part of this approach is the customers’ ability to send congratulations to those who developed the site. As developers/designers/strategists/etc, we need to realize we are part of the application ecosystem too. Kudos go a long way for both parties in building trust and respect.
Note the “return to classic” link on this page. Always provide an escape hatch for those who aren’t quite ready to convert.
This image illustrates the feedback toolset. It’s a third party app and very well done.
Measure measure measure
You can see at the bottom of each screenshot that my browser is reporting NO CP for all of the pages. This may be because Nike+ is using a beacon free traffic analysis tool, or more likely have forgotten to add analytics to their ecology. It’s important that the systems we design capture as much data about the use of the system (and its data) as it does capturing its core data (the data it was designed to share/collect). What we’re saying is the movement between data points by users is as valuable if not even more than the datapoint itself. These measurements can be formed into insights that can help you build a stronger relationship with your customer. That’s something the competition cannot steal.
Posted by Joseph Juhnke on July 8, 2009
Rosenfeld Media (Lou Rosenfeld) is known for their amazing field-manual style UX guides. (Rumor has it that Lou user tests his books!!) Randy Horton, Client Partner at Geneca and joint fan of all things Rosenfeld has drafted a pitch for Lou and his crew. What do you think, will it sell?
–
I was recently speaking with Mark FelcanSmith, who is a UX manager at Sears.com, about Rosenfeld Media. Our conversation inspired me to realize that there is actually a book that I actually qualified to write for RM. Here is my pitch:
One of the key activities for anyone who moves into a UX leadership role is to assume responsibility for ordering dinner for the team on late nights at the office. To date, every UX leader has had to re-invent the wheel on learning this highly-intricate and crucial task. That is, until now. For the first time ever, UX leaders will have a definitive reference guide to go to get practical guidance on best practices and approaches to this challenging task.
Rosenfeld Media is proud to announce the acquisition of its newest title: Ordering Dinner for the Team: Challenges and Approaches.
This book will address a range of relevant topics including:
- Buffet-style vs. individual orders – Weighing the relative benefits
- Do you call a special meeting to take orders or interrupt each person while they are hard at work at their desk – Minimizing productivity loss
- Handling special dietary needs (vegetarian, vegan, kosher/halal, gluten-free, food allergies)
- Making sure you have enough napkins, and not the thin little restaurant ones that don’t do any good
- What to do about the really lame plastic forks that break apart in your food when you use them
- Where to dispose of all of the containers if the cleaning staff has already come by for the evening?
- Do you offer any food to the security guard at the front desk who eyes the great looking food as it is delivered?
- And many, many more topics.
I see some really good marketing tie-ins with restaurant delivery websites.
Posted by Joseph Juhnke on April 11, 2009
Recent Comments