No, a product is not an experience, it is part of an experience. As I've written before, the idea that anyone can "design an experience" is incorrect. You design solutions and products that are a part of user's experience, and…
Category: My Quora answers
My Quora answers, UX Articles
How would you measure user experience of physical packaging?
The obvious answer to me is in usability testing. Define a series of tasks that you want to test the packaging for. The obvious task for packaging is…well, opening it. The next obvious task is about the content displayed/printed on…
My Quora answers, UX Articles
How does one prepare for a UX Design job interview?
The same way you prepare for any other interview: RELAX. If you go into an interview stressed and nervous, guess what the person or persons interviewing you will think? "Wow, he's nervous." That may be enough to cast doubt in your…
Movies, My Quora answers, Orson Welles
What are the ten best movies of all time?
I'm looking at this question semi-scientifically. When you look at the 10 "best" of anything, you have to look at the characteristics of that "thing" and then find examples where every identified characteristic is exemplary. For movies, I think the…
My Quora answers, UX Articles
How could bank branches be improved?
As someone who has designed software for many a bank, as well as done ethnographic research in and around branches, I have some very direct ideas on how the banking experience at branches can be improved. Have express lanes. If someone…
Geek, Movies, My Quora answers
What’s the most awesome thing you’ve ever done?
It was at Dragon*Con 2009, a HUGE convention in Atlanta, GA. One of my all-time favorite filmmakers, Terry Gilliam, was there, promoting his (then new) movie The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus. Terry Gilliam had a panel on Friday afternoon, in a…
Apple, My Quora answers
Why don’t Mac Mini’s have MagSafe power connectors?
Being a close follower of Apple and their design decisions, I'd say a primary reason the Mac Mini doesn't have that connection is simple: it's not a portable computer, and it doesn't have a battery. The idea behind the MagSafe…
Apple, My Quora answers
What are some of the things that Apple decided not to do?
Lots of things. They decided not to build a MIDI "break-out" box a couple of years ago, even though the product was ready for production according to some sources. They decided to stop making printers. They decided to simplify thier…
Apple, My Quora answers, UX Articles
Which mobile apps offer a perfect user experience?
Perfect is the enemy of good, and perfect is also a very high bar to achieve. I don't know if I'd say that the following are perfect, but they ae very good indeed: Simplenote let's you take notes and write.…
My Quora answers, UX 101, UX Articles
What are best 10 books about user experience design?
Designing for the Digital Age: How to Create Human-Centered Products and Services by Kim Goodwin is a favorite of mine, in the fact that it is just so comprehensive. It's THE book to me. A Project Guide to UX Design:…
My Quora answers, UX Articles
How can you make FAQ pages/sections better?
Have a "smart" FAQ. Make the primary section be the most frequently "asked" questions, based on analytics. Show only the top 10, with an options o view more. Have an obvious link to view all and an obvious text field…
My Quora answers, UX Articles
What are the best ways to teach interaction design to non-designers?
Walk them through a previous design project. Pull out all the design artifacts, from concept design to detailed specifications. Show them video from any usability tests that took place. Demonstrate the process that was followed to go from a high-level…
My Quora answers, UX Articles
Is confidence good for UX research and design?
Confidence is good. Arrogance is not. The key is to be confident but also open to other people's ideas and to the possibility that you may be mistaken and/or your design could be improved. Let's use Sherlock Holmes as an…
My Quora answers, UX Articles
How do UX designers track their productivity?
When it comes to tracking productivity in UX design, the focus should always be on the outcomes, quality and hitting key milestones, and not on day-to-day activity. Because there is no one "perfect" UX design process (just as there is…
My Quora answers, UX 101, UX Articles
What are the foundations that need to be laid out before designing an interface?
I have used multiple techniques to do this, depending upon the amount of time available on the design project. At the very least, you need to have focus as to what you are designing, and know the target audience for…
Apple, My Quora answers
Why can’t you sell an iBooks Author edited book by other means than Apple?
Apple created the iBookstore and the new iBook Author tool. As creator of said platform/application, they can put stuff in their EULA that says "you must never use this tool without wearing pants" if they want. It's their IP, they…