User Experience

Why fidelity matters: good with users and bad with clients

Typically, when fidelity gets mentioned in a user experience (UX) context we often hear it paired with the word wireframe. Fidelity is more commonly known in its abbreviated form either as low-fi or high-fi. Yet, we feel fidelity has so much more to offer. We can use it as a tool to design meaning.

This article will explore the idea of using fidelity to build a common understanding – a shared meaning. It builds on a presentation given in February ’12 to the Bristol Usability Group.

4 ways to support an older website user

Ever wondered why older generations have a reputation for being bad with technology? Or even how to design for older users?

Making Sense of the Cross Channel Experience

More and more in recent years we are being asked to consider wider design problems than simply websites. The long predicted age of ubiquitous computing is fast approaching (or is already here). The layers of information are continuously building up and a method of representing them is now more important than ever.

In this post I share some thoughts for helping users form a consistent conceptualisation of a system. The aim being to design more meaningful cross channel experiences for users, irrespective of their chosen method of interaction.

Forms part two – Pace and Balance

The shockingly high dropout statistics you will undoubtedly find if you probe into an average online form’s analytics begs the question: ‘Why are they so difficult to get through?’ Often they are not actually difficult; they are just boring.

Forms part one – the reservoir of goodwill

It seems the only people who enjoy forms in any way are those who get to criticise them for a living.

You may also think there to be masochistic form creators out there who enjoy deliberately creating frustrating experiences; but I believe they are simply failing to grasp how many problems a set of questions and answer fields can run into.

How to make a behaviour changing campaign

So how do you change the behaviour of the masses through a website? Well, through social engagement! It’s not just how well you formulate or present your argument. It’s not just about design. It’s about encouraging behaviour of the masses to follow the grain of change. And it starts before a wireframe, before an IA development or even a basic sketch. It starts with the campaign concept. The idea.

Alluring Layouts – drawing and capturing attention

Delve into the instinctive effect of similarity and how to break it to draw users into your design.

Why thanking donors online is powerful

Why should you thank your online donors? After all once they’ve completed the transaction, surely it doesn’t matter what you do then? Having viewed the Thank you pages on a number of different charity websites, it seems as though many charities are taking this attitude.