usability

Amazon’s Lack of Anticipatory Design

In interaction design, usability on 17 February 2008 tagged amazon, anticipatory design with 2 comments

As a wedding gift, my employer hooked us up with a fabulous getaway to Sierra Mar in Big Sur. Sierra Mar is easily one of the Bay Area’s top restaurants, and among the highest rated in Zagat’s Guide. (The year we went, it ranked #1 in Romantic Decor, and #3 in Food.) Needless to say, […]

Don’t make me think

In usability on 27 January 2008 tagged design, error handling, mint.com with no comments

All design ought to be to be consistent and clear, but all the more when it comes to error handling. The reason is simple and two-fold: errors are both unexpected and disruptive. As such it’s critical that designers curb potentially agitating interruptions with accurately descriptive error messages, immediately refocusing the user on the problem, and […]

if you’re not serious, don’t ask.

In usability on 14 January 2008 with no comments

Grandparents are obsessive about obtaining printed photos of their grandchildren, and my parents are no exception. They’ve obviously decided to spend my inheritance and fill their albums instead.
Yet regardless of their compulsion, I’ve been completely unsuccessful to lure them to Flickr, and as such, my wife and I have had to upload our photos to […]