iPad Design Headaches

In this session we discussed the widespread use of tablets such as the iPad and how we’re just now finding out how people are using them as they are becoming more mainstream and in the hands of “normal” users, not just early adopters. We discussed how designers, when faced with designing for this platform, have areas in which they have difficulty. Such as:

• Trying to use EVERY pixel of space instead of balancing their design with whitespace.
• Making their design too complex and overwhelming – The idea is to feature the content, not the design.
• Getting away from design metaphors.   For example: If the design looks like the page of a book, it needs to turn like the page of the book; if it doesn’t, change the wait it looks.
• Squishing content into tiny boxes called "Popovers".  If you can use the full screen, use it.
• Making buttons too small which require the user to concentrate on where to click and not on consuming the content.

Inclusive Design and Accessibility

In this session we talked about how you need to plan, execute and follow up on the design of a website to make it accessible for as many people as possibly. Websites need to be beautiful, but also give an end meaning to all users. Here are some things that all sites should be:

• Welcoming and not discriminative
• Flexible and give users options
• Simple, intuitive, and clear
• Informative, timely and descriptive
• Instructional and provide help
• Tolerant and supportive

Secrets of Mobile Applications

In this session we learned about how mobile is becoming the battleground of this decade. People look at their phones over 150 times a day!  The competition to create apps and games for mobile devices will become more and more intense. The emergence of mobile came about because consumers value one thing the most: time.   Mobile is also about providing users with a unique experience. It’s interesting to think about how some people will steal music, but pay $200 concert tickets for the experience it provides.

Metrics Driven Design

In this session, we learned about how design can be driven by site metrics. Designers often struggle with metrics because design isn’t a logic problem that can be solved by data. Designers often say “trusting your gut” rather than using data can encourage the best design.  We discussed the “41 shades of blue” test where Google, over the course of several weeks, testied 41 different shades of link colors to determine which one a majority of users preferred. Several benefits of metrics include:

• Measure the effectiveness of your site using simple numbers
• Reduce arguments based on opinion and design choices become testable
• Give you answers about what really works through testing
• Show where you’re strong (and weak) as a designer
• Clients LOVE metrics – you can show clients which design is effective not just the one you like best

If metrics are going to be useful you have to use the information you glean and make design designed decisions based on them.