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Why are the wireframe tools "sketchy" ?

Do you like when your elements look as if they are drown by a little kid? I don't get it! I mean, on paper not all of us have the talent/skill to draw something close to engineering perfection, but on the computer everyone can draw a straight line. I'm referring Balsamiq especially, which is rather a success among fellow UX professionals. Read more...

What is your opinion when recording a user's location?

For example, I mean when a data item that a user is adding to a system has metadata attached to it, one of those pieces of metadata is location, for example a "property that the user is renting" the user will want to specify where that property is available for rent. Read more...

How do and/or should you measure the quality of UX work?

The title says it all. Read more...

Uncovering Toy Cameras and Polaroid Vintage Effects (With Photoshop Tutorials)

  Since its emergence, the digital photography market has gradually supplanted the traditional one. APN and digital SLR cameras entered our lives, and some people announced the death of silver-based images. This is not all lie, and yet old-fashioned images have been particularly popular in the past few years. All we do seem to do now is try to recreate the atmosphere of those bygone times anyway. Blurry, distorted and over-saturated images are not just a fad anymore. Read more...

Here's a site commenting on early Wired ads. Gentle ribbing...

Here's a site commenting on early Wired ads. Gentle ribbing makes for a pleasant way to revisit the early 90s. Ahh, youth. Read more...

Setting rather than Resetting Default Styling

Editors Note: In his first article for Think Vitamin Thierry Koblentz discusses the issue of “resetting” your CSS. “base.css” versus “reset.css” For a long time, the very first line in my styles sheets was: * {padding:0;margin:0;} This simple rule was very convenient as it leveled margin and padding values of all elements across browsers. This “hard reset” was short and simple and it had the advantage of belonging to the main styles sheet rather than being an external file. Read more...

Remote HCI degree courses

Does anyone know of any good distant learning HCI under graduate courses? Thanks, Matt Read more...

“What Are You Suggesting?” Using Images to Influence

As interaction designers, we’re keenly aware of the explicit meanings in words and images. But how many of us also focus on the what is suggested by our words and images? What does a "base camp" make you think of? Consider Basecamp. For a project management tool aimed at “the Fortune 5,000,000,” it would be difficult to find a better a product name than “Basecamp.” With one simple word, so much is suggested: A base camp is the safe place from which to plan your trek to the summit. Read more...

What software do you use for creating a sitemap?

Hiya, Up to now, I've been using MindJet Manager Pro for creating our sitemaps, but am wondering if anyone can recommend anything better? And by sitemaps, I'm talking about the visual documentation of your IA, rather than the XML sitemap for bots, or the HTML one you might have on your site. And just to throw a bit of a spanner in the works - I'm on PC. Read more...

Thoughts on HTML prototyping before design?

I am currently working on an HTML prototype using IxEdit (by the way it's a great tool) to add interactions. Thoughts on the process of: User flow-maps (Work flows) Sketching wire-frames of website on paper and reviewing Building HTML prototype with live interactions and actual content, to show how things will functions HTML prototype given to designer to make pretty as they see fit HTML prototype given to programmers to tie in the back-end. Read more...

Does the hover effect make sense in desktop software?

Highlighting links on hovering is widely used in the web, but does it make sense on the desktop too? A friend is programming a calendar software and highlights each day in the date picker while hovering. I wondered if this was really necessary and couldn't find this behavior in iCal's picker. iCals date picker. No hover effect. Only the selected date is highlighted. He argues that highlighting the button makes it easier to see which button you'll hit. Read more...

43 Essential Controls for Web Applications

Designing a web application? Familiarize yourself with Rich Internet Application technologies and the best UI controls for creating your application.Rich Internet Application technology has empowered us to create really amazing user experiences. The best RIAs on the web today rely on a discreet set of UI controls to provide a lively and timely experience. Read more...

REWORK is now in stores

        Alright, the big day is finally here! REWORK is now available in stores. You can order the US version online from the following booksellers: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble Borders Indie Bound 800 CEO READ International versions are either out already or coming soon. Check with your local retailer. There’s also an audiobook version read by Mike Chamberlain (listen to a sample). Read more...

Can i create dynamic prototypes with Balsamiq Mockup

After reading some of the recommendations in How would you test a “dynamic” paper prototype? I've started to play with Balsamiq mockups but i don't think i get it. Does Balsamiq export to a prototype (or do i need Napkee for that?) If so how do you set states on panels? For example: i'm mocking up a complex form which will use progressive disclosure. If you answer yes to a question i want another question to appear. Read more...

Freelancing Together

Editors Note: In his first article for Think Vitamin Matthew Smith, Principal Designer at Squared Eye Design, discusses the benefits, risks and infrastructure required to work effectively with fellow freelancers. Working Alone Working alone can be great. There’s a pleasant autonomy of knowing exactly what you’re  doing and when. There are few unknowns. You work directly with the client and don’t have to worry about managing others. Read more...

Getting Started with Yahoo! GeoPlanet Explorer

Where are you and what is around you? Geolocation is a hot topic. Google just got the patent on geolocated advertising, mobile phones allow us to pinpoint ourselves on the planet and find things nearby and with augmented reality applications we can even find our way by filming our surrounding and finding hidden treasures by moving our mobile around. Read more...

Future of Web Apps Highlights Video

Our friends Jim and Nick at Doctype recently attended Future of Web Apps Miami along with their camera gear. They kindly put together a highlight reel of the day including interviews and clips from the main stage sessions. They will be releasing full length interviews over on their Facebook page shortly. Just as a quick heads up the full length videos from the event will be made available shortly here on Think Vitamin. Useful Links Doctype Future of Web Apps episode: http://doctype. Read more...

Entering The Wonderful World of Geo Location

  I thought I could not be out-geeked. With a background in radio, and having dabbled in the demo scene on the Commodore 64 and hung out on BBSes and IRC for a long time and all the other things normal kids don’t quite get, I thought I was safe in this area.Then I went to my first WhereCamp, an unconference dealing with geographical issues and how they relate to the world of Web development. Even my A-Levels in Astronomy did not help me there. Read more...

Proper sequence of Usability test tasks

I would like to conduct a Usability test for an Applications' portal. I know about the separate tasks, the sessions set-up, the card-sorting, the screen capturing and most of the full Monty. I will have to perform everything in a single session (no question about that) with each test Use. I would like to hear from experienced people how they dealt with the sequence of all these different stuff in similar situations. Thank you in advance for all your input. Read more...

Flash and Standards: The Cold War of the Web

You’ve probably heard that Apple recently released the iPad. The absence of Flash Player on the device seems to have awakened the HTML5 vs. Flash debate. Apparently, it’s the final nail in the coffin for Flash. Either that, or the HTML5 community is overhyping its still nascent markup language update. The arguments run wide, strong, and legitimate on both sides. Yet both sides might also be wrong. Read more...

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