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Locus of Control presents topics that spark discussion among website creators and users, with a focus on enhancing web user experience. It regularly spotlights useful, innovative web applications as well as examples of exceptional design. About the author...Keep in Touch
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Monthly Archives: January 2009
Conventional Doesn’t Mean Comprehensible – Common Labels That Aren’t So Clear
Has anyone ever noticed how ambiguous certain terminology is online? I’ve heard complaints from users of varying levels of experience, and I’m sure for new users it’s especially confusing. Most experienced web users may not notice how confusing some wording is, and even if they do, it’s not hindering their ability to get things done. [...]
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged communicating, copy writing, information architecture, information design, user experience, web design 2 Comments
User Experience Research – A Study of Zebra Striping
Sometimes it seems that there isn’t enough collaboration between the academic side of User Experience and the applied side of it. UX practitioners need supporting evidence to back up their decisions when designing interfaces. Those who run studies about UX need to know that the questions they’re researching are relevant in actual practice.
Often I discuss [...]
Posted in Research Studies Tagged information design, interface design, user experience, web design 2 Comments
Two Card Sorting Tools For User Experience Design
Following from last week’s discussion about UX design tools, here are a couple of free webapps that allow you to set up card sorting exercises and analyze the results.
For those who may not know, a card sort is an exercise often used by Information Architects and other UX professionals to reveal natural patterns in the [...]
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged design tools, information architecture, research tools, user experience, webapps 1 Comment
Improving User Experience Design Tools – The Spirit is Willing, But the Flesh is Weak
User Experience professionals are frequently concerned with bridging the gap between themselves and the users of systems they design. However, there is a parallel gap that needs to be closed between UX designers and the developers of UX design tools. A series of surveys conducted in 2006 by associates of The Information Architecture Institute revealed [...]
Kawaii Creations – Nut and Bee by Annette Lauder
Time for another dose of mind-blowing cuteness – and this one has a shop where you can purchase adorable products to your heart’s content. Nut and Bee, by Annette Lauder, is frequently updated with new artwork. You can vote on each design by specifying which type of product you think it should become. It’s quite [...]
Two Ways to Add Chat to Your Website or Blog
Adding a chat widget to your website is a quick and simple way to provide a social element for your users, without managing a complex forum or starting a corporate blog. On the other hand, perhaps you’re a blogger and you just want to give your users a way to interact with one another in [...]
Three Tools to Generate Background Patterns
If you’re looking for a quick way to add a nice looking background pattern to your website, blog or twitter profile, here are a few options – besides the Tartan Maker and Stripe Generator I mentioned in an earlier entry:
PatternCooler – With over 31,000 designs to browse, you’re sure to find something here that will [...]
Please Wait…
We’ve all sat in front of our computers watching the words “please wait” blink on the screen, watching some dot move in a circle indefinitely, or worse, watching a progress bar get to 99% in 10 seconds, then get stuck there for hours. Is there anything we can do to improve this user experience nightmare?
Freebie – aMAZEing Desktop Wallpaper for January 2009
Locus of Control needs some freebies! Desktop backgrounds are always nice. Particularly ones incorporating useful monthly calendars. This wallpaper is also a maze, which I drew by hand (hence the lack of straight lines). I have no idea if it’s any challenge or not, so I’m interested to hear what you all think of [...]
Design Spotlight – Jan ‘09 Winner – Now Accepting Entries for Feb ‘09!