CategoryUX

July 4, 2018 — Many of us are taught to make sure our sites can be used via keyboard. Why is that, and what is it like in practice? Chris Ashton did an experiment to find out. He hopes to raise the profile of difficulties faced by real people, which are avoidable if we design and develop in a way that is sympathetic to their needs. Chris used the web for a day without JavaScript. Today, he forces himself to navigate the web using just his keyboard. Read more…

June 26, 2018 — How well do you really know your users? Well, not only do you need to understand what triggers them, but also find ways how to design for persuasion. As much as we would like to think that our users are like us, they are not. Anyone involved in the creation of a product or an interactive experience, is not a typical user. In this article, Lyndon Cerejo will look at how going below the surface during user research helps us really understand what triggers our users, and how those deeper insights will help us design for persuasion. Read more…

June 20, 2018 — The placeholder attribute contains a surprising amount of issues that prevent it from delivering on what it promises. The presence of a placeholder attribute won’t be flagged by automated accessibility checking software. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s usable. Ultimately, accessibility is about people, not standards, so it is important to think about your interface in terms beyond running through a checklist. In this article, Eric Bailey will clarify why you need to stop using it. Read more…

June 14, 2018 — In times when everything is generic, how do we stand out without spending too much time and resources on elaborate art direction? Let’s explore a strategic guide for bringing back personality to the web, in regular real-life projects. Read more…

June 13, 2018 — Smashing Book 6 is here with everything you need to know to tackle the new adventures web design and development are bringing along. No theory, just things that worked in practice. This book is dedicated to the challenges and headaches that we are facing today, and how to resolve them. In this article, Vitaly Friedman tells you everything about it! Read more…

June 12, 2018 — Thousands of companies worldwide are struggling each day to gain more market share and to win over new consumers. To succeed in the modern market, companies need to do more than produce an excellent product or provide reliable service: They need to turn their faithful users into advocates. In this article, Nick Babich will show you how, by discussing who are product advocates, actionable ways to turn your customers into brand advocates, and what to consider when creating a strategy for advocacy. Read more…

June 11, 2018 — From campfires to books to advertisements to film, stories have a power over us that no other human invention can wield. They calm us, thrill us, enthrall us and send us running back to the box office for another hit. If we consider story structure as we look at user interactions, there are lots of ways we can put ourselves in the user’s shoes and optimize their experience, providing support exactly when they need it. In this article, John Rhea brings you some techniques. Read more…

June 6, 2018 — The defining characteristic of UX design is its focus on user research and on an iterative, user-centered, approach to creating solutions. But what if we applied the user-centered design process to ourselves, our lives, and our careers? In this article, JD Jordan is going to introduce you to four tools and techniques you can use to get started: Your Life In Weeks, Eisenhower Charts, Affinity Mapping and Prototyping Life. Read more…

June 5, 2018 — Nowadays, users are increasingly cautious of online and email scams, phishing attacks, and data breaches. In this article, Lyndon Cerejo will present a brief history of persuasion, look at how persuasion is used with technology and new media, and present food for thought for designers and developers to avoid crossing the ethical line to the dark side of persuasion. Read more…

May 29, 2018 — Let’s say you want to reach out to a business. What would be the first thing you would do? Probably you would look up their website to search for answers to your questions or simply any contact details you can find. With no doubt, the first impression of any website is now more important than ever. There are more than 1.8 billion websites on the Internet right now, and the number is growing. What makes your website stand out? In order to make sure your website is a success, it’s important to keep the big picture in mind. Read more…