we are: London

I have been living with the Nexus One for about a week now after my jump from my poor old dumbphone. So what’s it like? How has a smartphone changed my life?

While not as big as the Apple App Store the Andriod market has some interesting and useful apps

Techno geek

I may have only just jumped into the world of smartphones but when it comes to technology I’m a bit of geek. I love it and look for any opportunity to embrace it. The Nexus One has made some significant changes to my life over the past week. Firstly I never get lost. A quick search for a bar or restaurant and a quick check of Google maps always sets me on the right path when meeting friends. It has also helped me to embrace the use of social media far more than before. Being able to keep in touch with friends, share interesting usablity articles on twitter and also find alsorts of useful information while on the go mean the social connections become far more integrated within my life. The last big point is learning through experience and exposure. I believe the more interfaces and the more websites I experience and use the more I develop as an information architect. The Nexus one has not only exposed me to countless apps and mobile sites it also gives me the chance to explore interfaces even when I am out and about.

Having Google Maps everywhere I go is something I love about having the Nexus

Thumbs up? Thumbs down?

The leap from dumbphone to the mighty Nexus definetely gets the thumbs up from me.

Mobile Facebook, Internet, Mobile, social networking, Twitter, usability

Moving onto the Nexus One has given me much more of an opportunity to explore mobile websites. One site in particular caught my eye, the iPhone version of the Mashable site.

A simple and clear page allows users to access a list of articles

The goal

The site is very focused and this focus helps to create a usable and enjoyable experience for the user. Upon entering the site the the user is presented with a list of of Mashable articles. A user can scan these easily and select the article they want to read. Keeping the users process as simple as possible by focusing on the single task of reading articles provides a simple and usable site.

Users can easily share articles through social media links at the foot of every article

Share and spread the word

Users are also provided with the option to share an article at every stage. Right from the landing page a user can hit a tweet button to share the story via Twitter. At the foot of every article the user is provided with options to share via other sources such as Digg and Facebook. Allowing users to share posts easily not only keeps users happy but benefits Mashable by spreading the word.

Loading equals yawn…

Loading times are always a problem when we are out and about. Mashable limit the number of posts loaded onto the landing page at one time. This limits the amount of time the page takes for it’s initial load. The user can then choose to load more posts if they desire.

To sum up

Mashable have kept their eyes on the goal and created a simple site with a single focus. This in turn gives the user an enjoyable and intuitive experience.

interface design, usability design, user interface Internet, iphone, Mobile, Twitter, usability

Quick n’ dirty

Creating wireframes and prototypes on a daily basis I like keep an eye pealed for usefull tools to add to the kit. When creating wireframes I like to spend my time thinking. I don’t want ot spend my time wrestiling with an application. I need to translate the picture in my head onto the screen as quickly and easily as possible. Luckily there are some great tools out there for creating both static wirframes and interactive prototypes. One that I came across a while ago is Balsamiq Mockups.

Wireframes are quick to produce and post-it note style widgets can addded

Easy as 1-2-3

Balsamiq Mockups is currently a desktop application but with an online version in private beta. The tool allows users to quickly drag and drop interface elements much in the same style as other more commonly used tools such as Visio or Axure. Balsamiq Mockups would however sit much more within the initial stages of my development process. Its rapid development of ’sketchy’ looking wireframes makes it perfect for throwing together first thoughts. Its quick enough to be a viable option for producing the initial sketches in a clear and neat format that retain the skethcy feel that works so well with paper sketches.

iPhone widgets allow for quick iPhone mock-ups

Tasty features?

There are some tasty features in the Balsamiq Mockups interface.

• A library of 75 interface features such as browser windows, radio buttons and iPhone interface elements.
• Nice snap features allowing users to quickly line up elements within minimal effort and time.
• Usefull post-it note style comments.
• Full screen presentation mode that allows users to present work to clients and collegues.
• Runs on both Mac and PC.

For more information on we are:london’s wireframing and interactive prototyping services please contact hello@WeAreLondon.

Uncategorized, information architecture, interface design, usability design, user centred design, user interface Internet, usability

The Invoice Machine is a web application aimed a helping businesses produce professional looking invoices simply and easily. Hearing about them I took a trip to their website.

The homepage is clear and simple

The homepage

The homepage can be summed up very easily. Clear and simple. This is what struck me as I visited the site. A strong simple hero item with clear calls to action, then some slightly deeper information around ‘Why use it’ and ‘Who is it for’. The homepage not only provides a simple route into the information of the site it answers the questions most users will have when they first visit: ‘What makes this better than anything else?’ and ‘Will this suit my needs?’ Answering these questions upfront will not only help many users decide it is for them without the need to look further but it also gives the site an open and honest feel.

Clearly labelled navigation creates a more usable site

Navigation

Primary navgation is simple and easy to use. Clear calls to action at the foot of pages allow me easy access to the sign-up process.

The use of a table delivers the key information in a easy to interpret way

Content

The content of the site is kept very concise and easy to digest. The tour page contains only a well put together tour video. The pricing page contains simple table outlining the attributes of each price plan. Content is direct, the users are given what they need with no uneccesary information.

Keep it simple

The website as a whole is a good example of how simplicity can lead to a strong and usable website. Users visit a site to get information, a good website needs to identify the key information they are looking for and deliver it in a simple, clear and usable way.

Uncategorized, information architecture, interface design, usability design, user interface Internet, navigation, usability

I have recently been thinking a lot about homepage hero items and had an example brought to my attention. The hero item on Mozy.com brings together many of the ingredients that make a good hero.

• Communicates service benefits - the hero item clearly communicates the service benefits of the site. A bold headline stating the purpose of the service, a key marketing message highlighted and further explanation provided.

• Clear visual hierarchy - A very clear visual hierarchy is used. This allows users to identify the most important information and read only as much information as they require. Some users may not wish to read further than the headline then go straight to an action within the page, while some users may feel the require more information.

• Route into information - The hero item provides a route into information. A user can view the introductory video, They can learn more about the service offered or they can go for gold and sign-up straight away.

• Bold imagery - The imagery used is bold and striking but does not overpower the user or distract from the information presented within the hero item.

Uncategorized, information architecture, interface design, usability design, user interface Internet, navigation, usability

Love him or hate him.

It all comes down to one single, tangible factor, which marks out the good from the bad; soul.

The reason for the Clarkson tribute on the left is this weeks Sunday Times Motoring article on an Aston Martin which sees Clarkson pitting it against design perfection in the shape of an Audi R8 V10.

And to save you the read, the Audi is just too perfect, where as the Aston has soul, something that can’t be created by following set rules, but comes from the heart of those involved and is a direct result of the creator’s passion.

All of which brings us nicely to the argument that has raged on since the start of website design; who is best placed to create the perfect site?

The Good, the bad and the ugly.

Let’s go back to basics and look at who the usual suspects are, in the red corner we have “visual designers” (brand and marketing) and in the blue corner we have “interaction designers” (user centred).

Whilst visual designers have a wealth of ability and passion, it is often focused to heavily on making something look good and the risk of making the same, beautiful creation completely unusable.

Now wheel in the interaction designers, who’s passions lie in the creation of the perfect experience, through usability testing, prototyping and more testing. However, there is a strong argument against all of this testing and refining as it can just blunt a sharp, creative idea, making the end result more function than form.

Experience is all, or read Experiential

For years I thought experiential was about experiencing a design, but it’s not it’s about experience, and this where soul comes from.

An experienced designer is passionate about the look and the effectiveness of a design and ensures their soul is applied to everything they do.

An excellent example of what not to do is a site we reviewed a while back that seemingly missed both design and ease of use steps during it’s development and almost certainly skipped public testing.

Help me help you

If you want to avoid the common pitfalls of digital procurement, ensuring your acgency has suol, then follow these easy steps:

• Check potential agencies have a proven user centred design methodology as well as a creative portfolio
• Ask for CVs of key staff and make sure they are guaranteed to be on the project
• Meet the team and chat to them about what they think is good and bad
• Don’t ever feel that it’s not your right to ask questions
• Ask for clarification on every point until it’s clear
• Remember you’re the client and paying the bills

If you would like to know more then give me a call or drop me a note and we’ll take you through our experiences and see how we can help.

global usability testing, information architecture, interface design, internet research, market research, usability design, user centred design, user interface Design, e-commerce, Internet, Mobile, research, usability

BBC iPlayer infographic

Uncategorized Interactive TV, Internet

The site

The new site, Democracy Live, launched by the BBC primarily focuses on providing users with live and recorded footage of the UK and European parliaments. The site is comprehensive and easy to use allowing everyone from political experts to the politically baffled to find out what is happening in the parliamentary world.

The hidden gem

The site however contains a hidden gem. Containing large amounts of video, search functionality is not an area where I expected the site to shine. The BBC however have proved me wrong. Speech to text software is used to make video content fully searchable.

When I search for the word labour I am not provided with a list of videos tagged labour or with labour in the title. A search provides me with a list of videos that contain a mention of labour within the speech of the video. I can access a list of every mention, containing a link directly to that point of time within the recording and a quote of what was said. This functionality is of course not available for live video but it brings a whole new dimension to search within the site.

The search results also present the user with other useful features. The user is presented with related political representatives, refinement options and related content. These are useful for not only finding specific information but also for exploring information related to your search term.

But what does it mean?

Proving such a search facility really adds to the site’s worth. As more footage is archived it will become a great research tool for anyone working in or interested in politics. By instantly searching the speech of video it removes the need for hours spent trawling through the footage. Users are provided with direct access to the information they want creating a much greater experience.

user interface Internet, Search, usability

Raising the bar?

When first opened the new Greyhound UK site speaks of a slick simplicity. The clean, cool visual design of the site gives a classy feel not normally associated with budget travel. This good first impression also extends into the usability of the site. The booking process is quick and easy and within a few clicks I have chosen my desired journey. With the release of such a seemingly slick site is Greyhound UK raising the bar for competitors such as National Express and Megabus?

Greyhound UK homepage

Visual design

While the visual design of Greyhound’s site seems far more carefully planned and thought out than the design of the Megabus site, there is far more to consider about the situation. Megabus has a developed brand and targets a specific audience. The garish blue and yellow may not be for everyone but it is instantly recognisable as Megabus, a pleasure Greyhound does not yet have in the UK. The audience Megabus targets want the cheap no frills travel that they provide. Their aim is to get from A to B for the lowest possible price, a slick website is not top priority.

Usability

The Greyhound booking process appears quick and easy but when you consider that they only busses from London to Southampton or Portsmouth and back you would expect this to be the case. A company such as National Express who cover almost all of the UK and parts of Europe has a far more complex booking system to create.

Back to the bar

The Greyhound UK site definitely brings a bit of cool competition to the budget travel site market. Users will remember the slick visual design and the ease of use and this may well drive visitors to the site. The questions is will the online experience of Greyhound UK be enough to users to switch from their well established rivals who are by no means performing poorly.

information architecture, interface design, user interface Design, e-commerce, Internet, Travel, usability

Ever since Jakob Nielsen wrote his alert box column about the virtues of mega drop-down menus there has been a buzz around the web. I have put together a collection of interesting examples.

Action envelope:

Some of the best examples of mega drop-downs can be found on the action envelope site. They utilise them to their full potential using them to section or chunk options, including graphics and also using them to contain functionality such as login forms.

The options given to the user are clearly divided with bold headings. The use of graphics helps to engage the users.

The use of large graphics provides engaging content for the user.

The mega drop-down menus allow users access to functionality such as the account sign-in form. This reduces clutter on the screen however it must be clear to the user that this functionality is located here.

Samsung

Samsung have a large quantity of information contained within their site. They have used mega drop-down menus to display all options to the user. Doing this allows them to link directly to the information they require without drilling down several layers of navigation.

Gateway

Gateway makes good use of graphics. By providing graphics in their menu it not only makes the content more engaging but helps users to identify their desired product. This also helps to visually group the elements. The links at the foot of the menu provide access to options that may be useful to users at that point in their journey.

EA

The EA site utilises their menu space very well. They provide two clear categories for users to navigate the games section by while also providing related links relevant to a user looking at this section. The featured game promotion uses a sectioned area and image to catch a users’ attention and drive traffic to information on a particular game.

Blog, information architecture, usability design, usability research, user centred design Internet, navigation