Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
3 personas
Persona 1:
Matt
Background
Age: 27
Occupation: State patrol officer
Attributes
Experienced iPhone User
Experienced driver,
Drives a lot to go out, visit family, friends etc.
Uses iPhone as navigation system, finding locations, new restaurants, best deals, etc.
Interested in new technologies
Paid of his brand new car already
Has to stay in budget because just bought new house
Very organized person
Smart and careful with money and interested in investing in the stock market
Goals
Get promotion and build a successful career
Going back to school and complete his masters
Buy new car
Persona 2:
Julie
Background
Age: 24
Occupation: Violinist, Member of Bellevue symphony orchestra and Private Violin instructor
Attributes
Experienced iPhone User
Experienced driver
Drives a lot for private violin lesson and practice for her Orchestra, visit family, meet friends, shopping etc.
Interested in new things
Uses iPhone as navigation system, finding locations, new restaurants, best deals, etc.
Spends lots of time for driving to work
Likes to talk and meet friends
Spends most of her connected time on social networking (like tweeter and face book), music and media site etc.
Use her car a lot however doesn’t have much knowledge of car and its maintenance
Saves money for a new car and travel
Smart but not very organized
Goals
To be a famous violinist
Wants to travel to Europe in two years
Buy a new car
Persona 3:
Josh
Background
Age: 30
Occupation: Mechanic for city bus transpertation
Attributes
Experienced iPhone User
Experienced driver and mechanic
Drives a 10 mile drive to work and back 5 days a week and goes fishing on the weekends, which he sometimes drives a far distance to the rivers where the fish are.
Interested in new things
Uses iPhone as navigation system, finding locations, new restaurants, best deals, etc.
Likes to work on vehicles outside of work for extra money on the side. He saves up money to buy new tools and equipment for his garage.
He is very organized in keeping up to date on regular and preventive maintenance on his vehicles. He understands that keeping up on this will save him money in the long run and extend the life of his vehicles.
Saves money for travel.
Goals
To have a full garage of all the equipment that you would have in mechanics garage.
After he has a full garage he would like to buy or lease a property where he could run an auto mechanic shop of his own.
Would like to go on a nice vacation far away and nice.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Week 8 reading assignment
This chapter is about the process of building the successful site without doing "extra stuff" like :
asking too much information for users( email address, phone number etc). It is better idea ask only information that is really needed; asking fewer optional items will give better result. We will get more submissions if ask less unnecessary data that might scary or confuse users. Users want to know value or what they get in exchange of providing information.
Web site can look good, visually appealing but making web site engaging and flashy does not really bring better results unless it is "pure branding" web site. It mostly destructs and annoys. User most often looking for better constructed and usable web site where they can find answers and "make things done" The exception is web developers' portfolio site or entertainment sites like music, movie, games etc.
Web site has to look professional but it does not have to contain huge images and flash animation, as well as music etc. Main purpose of web site is provide to users whatever they are looking for.
http://sixrevisions.com/usabilityaccessibility/privacy-and-the-user-experience/
http://www.usabilityfirst.com/about-usability/information-architecture/
http://www.netmechanic.com/news/vol7/design_no4.htm
asking too much information for users( email address, phone number etc). It is better idea ask only information that is really needed; asking fewer optional items will give better result. We will get more submissions if ask less unnecessary data that might scary or confuse users. Users want to know value or what they get in exchange of providing information.
Web site can look good, visually appealing but making web site engaging and flashy does not really bring better results unless it is "pure branding" web site. It mostly destructs and annoys. User most often looking for better constructed and usable web site where they can find answers and "make things done" The exception is web developers' portfolio site or entertainment sites like music, movie, games etc.
Web site has to look professional but it does not have to contain huge images and flash animation, as well as music etc. Main purpose of web site is provide to users whatever they are looking for.
http://sixrevisions.com/usabilityaccessibility/privacy-and-the-user-experience/
http://www.usabilityfirst.com/about-usability/information-architecture/
http://www.netmechanic.com/news/vol7/design_no4.htm
Monday, November 29, 2010
iphone apps project
Our team came up with three ideas for creating iphone or smart phone app:
1.car application: helps collect all the information about one's car like: expenses, gas, mileage etc; set up reminders when any technical checks needs to be made like oil change etc. So one can keep track on all the financial and technical aspects of the car, collect statistics, informations. This application helps collect information, analyze it and helps to take better care of the car. This is organizer for the car.
2. Photo editing app that is created to let user edit pics made with iphone like sign, fame, send, organize them.
3. shopping cart for a local grocery shopping.
Jonas :"Then when your ready to go shopping you have the option to have it delivered or you can pull up a map of the store when you get there. So you can just see all the items you need on your shopping list on the map. Then you can just go straight to the items on the list and be out. Instead of looking for where everything is in the store. That or if you just need to find an item in the store you can look it up and find on the map of your store instead of looking for someone to point it out for you."
1.car application: helps collect all the information about one's car like: expenses, gas, mileage etc; set up reminders when any technical checks needs to be made like oil change etc. So one can keep track on all the financial and technical aspects of the car, collect statistics, informations. This application helps collect information, analyze it and helps to take better care of the car. This is organizer for the car.
2. Photo editing app that is created to let user edit pics made with iphone like sign, fame, send, organize them.
3. shopping cart for a local grocery shopping.
Jonas :"Then when your ready to go shopping you have the option to have it delivered or you can pull up a map of the store when you get there. So you can just see all the items you need on your shopping list on the map. Then you can just go straight to the items on the list and be out. Instead of looking for where everything is in the store. That or if you just need to find an item in the store you can look it up and find on the map of your store instead of looking for someone to point it out for you."
Thursday, November 11, 2010
week 6 reading assignment
Chapter #10 is about how to do usability testing.
Before testing observer has to make this test on his own, to be prepared ask right questions and sometimes give simple tasks like buying smth.
Before start test observer has to talk to users, ask about their occupation etc
During the usability testing observer has to give short simple directions and ask questions, trying to understand where a user gets stuck.
Most important is to define the areas that need to be reworked or fixed.
To do that person working as an observer has to ask right questions like:
"What are you thinking now, what would you do next? Where would you click first? etc"
Important is to make user think out loud, that is why we have to ask user all the time what is he thinking now.
All his or her actions will be recorded on the video tape. Making notes is still important. Person who makes testing can make short breaks between sessions to make notes.
Do not spend time on making a user muddling through smth that is already defined as a problem that need to be fixed.
In the chapter #11 author says how important is fixing a problems in a easiest way. Which means that how to fix problems with les changes.Sometimes just changing a wording or reducing a noise on the page may help Team has to be focused on specifics.
https://www.cu.edu/irm/stds/usability/index.html
http://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2010/03/dos-and-donts-of-usability-testing.php
http://www.codeproject.com/kb/tips/usability_testing.aspx
Before testing observer has to make this test on his own, to be prepared ask right questions and sometimes give simple tasks like buying smth.
Before start test observer has to talk to users, ask about their occupation etc
During the usability testing observer has to give short simple directions and ask questions, trying to understand where a user gets stuck.
Most important is to define the areas that need to be reworked or fixed.
To do that person working as an observer has to ask right questions like:
"What are you thinking now, what would you do next? Where would you click first? etc"
Important is to make user think out loud, that is why we have to ask user all the time what is he thinking now.
All his or her actions will be recorded on the video tape. Making notes is still important. Person who makes testing can make short breaks between sessions to make notes.
Do not spend time on making a user muddling through smth that is already defined as a problem that need to be fixed.
In the chapter #11 author says how important is fixing a problems in a easiest way. Which means that how to fix problems with les changes.Sometimes just changing a wording or reducing a noise on the page may help Team has to be focused on specifics.
https://www.cu.edu/irm/stds/usability/index.html
http://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2010/03/dos-and-donts-of-usability-testing.php
http://www.codeproject.com/kb/tips/usability_testing.aspx
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
week 5 reading assignment
According "Don't make me think" most of designers and developers tend to apply their own preferences and experiences designing web site. That means that they think that average user will act and like or dislike something what they like or dislike. In reality all the users are unique and there is no average user. So design should be developed basis on the general needs and practical reasons.
For that testing should be done on different levels of the work process. Right after start 1st test should be done. For shortening the budget hired group of people can consist of less people than usually. Let's say 8 people is a bigger group of people for bigger budget. 4 people is more than enough for a small testing. That can be even more effective in a sense of progress. Because if we use bigger group of people they will find more problems right at the start but will not pass to the next level. In case of smaller group of 4 people less problems will be found at this stage though after fixing those problems testing users will go to the next level and find other problems that need to be fixed.
Testing can be done in groups "Focus group" or individually"usability testing". First one is more effective for the early stages. Second one is effective during all the process. It needs to be done at different stages and as often as possible.
Who needs to be hired as testing users: At least once it needs to be group of target audience, the same time the process of hiring people for testing can be more loose. If site is being designed for specific target audience like women or kids than testing users from other groups will not be efficient.
http://www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-usability/focus-groups.shtml
http://www.infodesign.com.au/ftp/UsabilityTesting.pdf
http://www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-usability/usability-testing.shtml
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20000319.html
For that testing should be done on different levels of the work process. Right after start 1st test should be done. For shortening the budget hired group of people can consist of less people than usually. Let's say 8 people is a bigger group of people for bigger budget. 4 people is more than enough for a small testing. That can be even more effective in a sense of progress. Because if we use bigger group of people they will find more problems right at the start but will not pass to the next level. In case of smaller group of 4 people less problems will be found at this stage though after fixing those problems testing users will go to the next level and find other problems that need to be fixed.
Testing can be done in groups "Focus group" or individually"usability testing". First one is more effective for the early stages. Second one is effective during all the process. It needs to be done at different stages and as often as possible.
Who needs to be hired as testing users: At least once it needs to be group of target audience, the same time the process of hiring people for testing can be more loose. If site is being designed for specific target audience like women or kids than testing users from other groups will not be efficient.
http://www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-usability/focus-groups.shtml
http://www.infodesign.com.au/ftp/UsabilityTesting.pdf
http://www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-usability/usability-testing.shtml
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20000319.html
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Web site redesign project, moodboard version 1
Here is the link on the site that Michelle and me are redesigning currently
http://www.
I am uploading my version of the mood board. Although I like more sort of "local" feeling of Michelle's version. I think my version doesn't have that feeling enough.
http://www.
I am uploading my version of the mood board. Although I like more sort of "local" feeling of Michelle's version. I think my version doesn't have that feeling enough.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Week4 Reading asignment
Designing home page:
First of all design of a home page should be appealing, it should attract attention and interest.
Secondly designing home page we have to provide clear hierarchy, do not confuse visitors by providing too much unnecessary information and ad banners.
Navigation system can be different than other pages, let's say it can have horizontal format instead of vertical.
But the difference has to be not too big. The consistency is still important. Especially links, titles, categories and grouping should be absolutely identical.
Tag lines. They should be clear and provide some information about the service and tell visitor why is this site so important and how it can help visitor in his needs. Having abstract tag lines is nothing like bad idea. In addition the can not be too long.
Categories and links can have some description. Although home page can not be overloaded with information or too busy looking. To save some space designers use pulldowns and rollovers. There are some issues with both of them that can confuse and frustrate though. So they have to be used carefully.
So looking at the nicely designed and constructed web pages we can see that they have:
1.clear titles so visitors now where they are:
2. nice tag lines(not too short, not too long);
3. noticeable starting point, so viewer sees where he can brows, search, sign up. etc:
4. nice navigation system and consistency in all the titles and grouping.
First of all design of a home page should be appealing, it should attract attention and interest.
Secondly designing home page we have to provide clear hierarchy, do not confuse visitors by providing too much unnecessary information and ad banners.
Navigation system can be different than other pages, let's say it can have horizontal format instead of vertical.
But the difference has to be not too big. The consistency is still important. Especially links, titles, categories and grouping should be absolutely identical.
Tag lines. They should be clear and provide some information about the service and tell visitor why is this site so important and how it can help visitor in his needs. Having abstract tag lines is nothing like bad idea. In addition the can not be too long.
Categories and links can have some description. Although home page can not be overloaded with information or too busy looking. To save some space designers use pulldowns and rollovers. There are some issues with both of them that can confuse and frustrate though. So they have to be used carefully.
So looking at the nicely designed and constructed web pages we can see that they have:
1.clear titles so visitors now where they are:
2. nice tag lines(not too short, not too long);
3. noticeable starting point, so viewer sees where he can brows, search, sign up. etc:
4. nice navigation system and consistency in all the titles and grouping.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
week3 reading assignment
Speaking of usability of web sites it is crucially important to provide great navigation system for users.
Which means they need to understand where are they located and how to find whatever they are looking for.
To achieve that the web site structure has to broken into sections or main parts of web sites, and utilities that are less important like downloads, about page etc.
Hierarchy helps to organize everything and helps to see what is more important and what is less.
The viewer always wants to know where is he or she located at the moment. So all the pages should be titled, home page has to be noticeable and easy to find, so they have to be located in a right place.
All the links should work properly. The titles of the links and pages should be named in a proper way and bring visitor to the rights location.
Nicely built navigation system gives users sense of scale, sense of direction and locations.
Another important step in building successful web site is persistent navigation, which means navigation should be consistent on all the pages and give the user confidence in his expectations.
Searching should not be complicated: it should appear in a way that most of the users used to see.
"Breadcrumbs show where you are". They are indicators that helps user to navigate through the site. The are more noticeable if they are located on the top.
http://websitetheme.com/archives/12-Key-features-of-a-good-website-navigation-system.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Design-a-Good-Website-Navigation-System&id=4247466
http://www.webpagemistakes.ca/website-navigation/
http://www.motive.co.nz/glossary/navigation.php
Which means they need to understand where are they located and how to find whatever they are looking for.
To achieve that the web site structure has to broken into sections or main parts of web sites, and utilities that are less important like downloads, about page etc.
Hierarchy helps to organize everything and helps to see what is more important and what is less.
The viewer always wants to know where is he or she located at the moment. So all the pages should be titled, home page has to be noticeable and easy to find, so they have to be located in a right place.
All the links should work properly. The titles of the links and pages should be named in a proper way and bring visitor to the rights location.
Nicely built navigation system gives users sense of scale, sense of direction and locations.
Another important step in building successful web site is persistent navigation, which means navigation should be consistent on all the pages and give the user confidence in his expectations.
Searching should not be complicated: it should appear in a way that most of the users used to see.
"Breadcrumbs show where you are". They are indicators that helps user to navigate through the site. The are more noticeable if they are located on the top.
http://websitetheme.com/archives/12-Key-features-of-a-good-website-navigation-system.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Design-a-Good-Website-Navigation-System&id=4247466
http://www.webpagemistakes.ca/website-navigation/
http://www.motive.co.nz/glossary/navigation.php
Monday, October 18, 2010
Reading assignment 2
To make reading easier for user the page content has to be well organized:
1. visual hierarchy
2. conventions
3. breaking up pages into clearly defined areas
4. make it obvious what is clickable"
Visual hierarchy helps a lot. Headers and titles should be bolder and bigger. Content should be organized properly by placing them under right categories and groups. If content is nested it should be clearly defined what belongs to what group. etc.
Conventions helps to improve "readability", make the reading, searching and watching process much faster and convenient
Breaking the pages into defined ares and getting rid of the unnecessary content is "must to do" when working on layout and improving organization of content.
So site should be very easy to navigate, with nice layout, not too busy, with text broken into paragraphs and text that does not carry any extra information. All the titles and categories should be clearly defined.
Users we don't have time to read to long and make unnecessary choices that could be eliminated by web site creators. Having too many options which existence is not that necessary frustrates users. The "making of choices should be mindless".
And another important step is we have to get rid of noise and " happy talk and instructions". In case if instructions are have to be presented they should be short and clear.
1. visual hierarchy
2. conventions
3. breaking up pages into clearly defined areas
4. make it obvious what is clickable"
Visual hierarchy helps a lot. Headers and titles should be bolder and bigger. Content should be organized properly by placing them under right categories and groups. If content is nested it should be clearly defined what belongs to what group. etc.
Conventions helps to improve "readability", make the reading, searching and watching process much faster and convenient
Breaking the pages into defined ares and getting rid of the unnecessary content is "must to do" when working on layout and improving organization of content.
So site should be very easy to navigate, with nice layout, not too busy, with text broken into paragraphs and text that does not carry any extra information. All the titles and categories should be clearly defined.
Users we don't have time to read to long and make unnecessary choices that could be eliminated by web site creators. Having too many options which existence is not that necessary frustrates users. The "making of choices should be mindless".
And another important step is we have to get rid of noise and " happy talk and instructions". In case if instructions are have to be presented they should be short and clear.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Web site description
Elena Aryshtaeva Website
Project Summary
Web sight-portfolio for myself as a graphic designer.
Purpose: self-promotion
Theme:
graphic style that shows personality and design style
I will create design, menu navigation, layouts, digital file production and preparation, and post provided content structure and sample content to their respective sections
Style: Inspired by Russian Constructivists, Grunge, Graffiti. bold. edgy
Theme: Wheel, color wheel, newspaper, construction elements, architecture elements.
Colors scheme: red, black, and white, grey, brown.
Font style: bold, Grunge fonts, Helvetica
Sight structure:
Home page
Portfolio Resume Contact
Home page: visual element or design plus links to other pages
Portfolio page contains thumbs linked to the pictures of my works
Resume page contains my resume
Contact page: contact info
Project Timeline
I will begin week 1 of Fall quarter. I estimate a total time to produce this project from 5 weeks from week 1 when was assigned.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Reading Assignment 1: Usability
Designing Web sites like designing anything else for users is the process that involves creating the structure that works for an user in a best and easiest way.
To make this structure work a designer have to bare in mind basic principles of usability.
The best way to do it is start with analysis of problems of existing site or analysis of client's task.
What is the need? Sell, promote, inform, entertain? All this purposes have different ways of achievement.
Now when the target audience and task is defined a designer has to create a structure that is understandable, convenient or easy to use for audience. According Steve Krug in his book"Don't make me think" the usability is a strategy that helps users to find whatever they are looking for without spending long time on that. The task of a designer is make this process as easier and as faster as possible. There are some basic principles of design that can help in this situation:"
1. visual hierarchy
2. conventions
3. breaking up pages into clearly defined areas
4. make it obvious what is clickable"
So site should be very easy to navigate, with nice layout, not too busy, with text broken into paragraphs and text that does not carry any extra information. All the titles and categories should be clearly defined.
During the process of design a designer has to think of user's previous experiences, his "predictions". If he used to find listed categories in one area those categories should be listed all together in one area. Home button, search window, contact information- all of that should be located in easy to find places where user usually find them on other sites. User usually scans Web sites and as soon as he finds what he was looking for he focuses on this category or area of Web site. The task of a designer is to put some marks or incorporate in site smart and simple navigation system that helps user achieve his goal.
To make this structure work a designer have to bare in mind basic principles of usability.
The best way to do it is start with analysis of problems of existing site or analysis of client's task.
What is the need? Sell, promote, inform, entertain? All this purposes have different ways of achievement.
Now when the target audience and task is defined a designer has to create a structure that is understandable, convenient or easy to use for audience. According Steve Krug in his book"Don't make me think" the usability is a strategy that helps users to find whatever they are looking for without spending long time on that. The task of a designer is make this process as easier and as faster as possible. There are some basic principles of design that can help in this situation:"
1. visual hierarchy
2. conventions
3. breaking up pages into clearly defined areas
4. make it obvious what is clickable"
So site should be very easy to navigate, with nice layout, not too busy, with text broken into paragraphs and text that does not carry any extra information. All the titles and categories should be clearly defined.
During the process of design a designer has to think of user's previous experiences, his "predictions". If he used to find listed categories in one area those categories should be listed all together in one area. Home button, search window, contact information- all of that should be located in easy to find places where user usually find them on other sites. User usually scans Web sites and as soon as he finds what he was looking for he focuses on this category or area of Web site. The task of a designer is to put some marks or incorporate in site smart and simple navigation system that helps user achieve his goal.