When I at Interactions08 a friend of mine, Jenny Lam, presented a talk titled, "Hit It With a Pretty Stick" which discussed the value of beautiful visual design. An appropriate talk for her to give considering her amazing ability to create beautiful visual design. In the talk, Jenny showcased  orisinal a site with little, short games that are done with really great illustration styles.

When I returned home, I hit the site and placed Josephine in front of the laptop. After several minutes we selected a game which has a rabbit carrying a turtle which allowed it to shoot the low flying birds. When you switch to have the turtle carry the rabbit it is so the rabbit can swat the snakes from the path. Basically, the object is to proceed forward while avoiding obstacles. A few minutes more and my wife turned around quickly to say, "I thought you said those games were not violent", in response to me repeatedly instructing to "Shoot the bird, shoot the bird!" Pausing briefly, I smiled and said, "They are not, but the birds are dropping bombs!?!"

I am lucky enough to be in a position that allows me to attend conferences targeting creative professionals. The reason attending is important for me is the opportunity to participate in conversations with,  gain inspiration from and learn new ways other designers solve problems. It is also a way for me to re-calibrate myself outside of the routine that builds up day-to-day. When I read about Interaction 08, the inaugural conference being hosted by the Interaction Designer Association (IxDA), the opportunity was one that seemed hard to pass up. An important factor in my decision to attend was the lack of what I refer to as, "the usual suspects"  - those designers who spend a lot of time on the conference tour which seems to be growing every year. While there were some old friends, there were plenty of new faces to exchange ideas with.

Sitting at gate 13 of the Savannah airport, I have an chance to catch-up and think about the conference. In short, I am a bit conflicted. The first thought is about the the discipline of Interaction Design. I do not deny is important, but it is difficult to personally "silo" it from the other tasks I perform as a Designer. It is my opinion that the design community is growing in strength and we  are influencing decisions in all facets of business. Perhaps this opinion is a result of being a member of a small team within a large corporation requiring me take on a wide set of responsibilities. Understanding how to incorporate more "interaction design"concepts into the project/product lifecycle is what I take away most from the past three days.

There were some many though provoking concepts presented balanced with some concepts that simply seemed elementary. A highlight for me was the keynote presentation by Bill Buxton who proclaimed that "the biggest design project is to change the culture of the organization". I could not agree more. This is truly the most difficult part of my job. However, I have slowly been able to gain the attention and trust of those around me to understand that a holistic approach to a project is what ultimately leads to success. Holistic, as I define it, is that ability to agree on the overarching goals, how success will be measured and what are all the touch points a user will have with the experience being created. This is incredibly oversimplifying but, the point is that there are many steps with as many exercises that are required before the implementation phase of the project can be started.  It is my role as the interaction designer to facilitate this discovery phase, to define the user behavior and to help usher the project to a point of measurable results.

While happy to have been a part of the very first "Interaction" conference, I must admit that on a whole, it fell short of my expectations. I felt many of the presenters missed the opportunity to validate the ideas they were presenting with evidence. Many of the presentations would have been (and most likely started out as) interesting blog posts. There seemed to be a constant theme that we should band together as Interaction Designers to change the world to which I would argue that, collectively as creative professionals, we are. More people are recognizing the difference between good and bad designed products and are willing to pay more money for, spend more time with/on or tell more people about the great experience it provides. Fragmenting the design community into disciplines may cause confusion as to the role designers play. Personally, I see myself as a generalist and interaction design is just one of the many things I am responsible for delivering as part of the process. Again, this may be due to the situation I am in - it is hard for me to think about how to put some theories into practice.

Having said all that, I appreciate the work, dedication and passion the IxDA has for the discipline and of the effort they are putting forth to lay the ground work for the profession. It is an exciting time. Another thing that made this conference exciting was seeing the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Ironically, a school I had considered back in the early ninety's as a place to attend. Walking around the various buildings, seeing the projects and meeting the students made me envious. The students I met all displayed an enthusiasm for being a part of the creative profession that was infectious and energizing. Interacting with the students made me reflect on the work I do with a new appreciation for the responsibility we as Designers play in the world. Either that or I sensed strong competition for my job.

I will definitely be keeping a close watch on what the IxDA does and look for ways to get more involved. Who knows, perhaps I will be serving these words up on a plate and eating them in the future.

Related Links: Channel 9 interviews with Bill Buxton: "Designing User Experience"   and "a conversation with Bill Buxton about design thinking"

Boarding the plane in Atlanta I looked over and saw a large, weathered sign posted on the side of the terminal above the conveyor belt used to transport luggage from the tarmac to the baggage claim area. The sign read (my emphasizing):

"A LASTING IMPRESSION. Picking up their luggage is the last experience passengers will have with American Airlines."

This is awesome! The understanding that American Airlines has for the power of creating and delivering a great user experience which involves more than the air travel from point A to point B.  

Yesterday I visited my Dad to assist him in getting his new Dell laptop up (with XP),  a new Linksys Wireless router installed and to publish some "treasures" onto Craigslist. Seems like it would have been an easy enough task for a person who spends a lot of time creating user experiences for a living. In fact, about 3 years ago I was part of a group brought together to brainstorm a feature which would assist users setting up a wireless network with Vista. It seemed pretty straight forward but there always seems to be some "unknowns" that pop-up when you least expect them to.

Yesterdays experience had plenty of "unknowns" which left me shaking my head more than twice. I followed the instructions for setting up the router EXACTLY as they were presented. Even the quick animations about where to plug the cables, despite having set up a few routers in the past. Hovering over the connection icon in the system tray displayed that connection strength was excellent even through it was seeking authentication? This went on for a while and had me unplugging/reconnecting cables, the modem and the router. Strangely, each time I went through the set-up there were new instructions that would appear from the previous time. In addition, the Dell Wireless Assistant kept trying to cut in line. At times, both would display that connection was excellent but no connection to the Internet was available. A task that should have taken minutes was now taking hours. Eventually, I discovered that wireless activity was working and cautiously unplugged the cable coming from the router (a part of the process as defined by Linksys). I restarted the laptop and again - no connection!?!

In the act of throwing up my hands and plugging the cable back in for what was going to be the final attempt - it hit me! The reason for the trouble was a conflict occurring between Linksys and the (not so helpful) Dell Wireless Assistant. Arg! Opening the assistant, I unchecked the box that was giving permission to Dell for controlling the wireless connection. The result - connection! What a mess, a truly horrible user experience. The good news is that if you are in the market for an older Kenwood AM/FM receiver or 10 gallon fish tank, Craiglist has a couple new postings for you to browse through.

Frustrated

For nearly a year, I have been working as the User Experience Lead for the Microsoft Evangelism Network which consists of five community-based web sites each targeting a unique audience.

Channel 8 - for students  | Channel 9 - for developers  | Channel 10 - for technology enthusiasts | TechNet EDGE - for IT Professionals | VisitMIX - for web designers, developers and business decision makers.

My role has been to oversee the "experience" visitors have on/across these sites with a focus on the overall visuals (look and feel), the way information is displayed and the functionality/interaction that visitors experience when navigating the content. I consider myself a generalist who takes on the roll of creative director, information architect and interactive designer depending on the task at hand. I am simplifying this but, most important is the amount of work that we as a small team have accomplished over the 10 months.

The challenge collectively has been to create a platform capable of supporting all sites. What this equates to is the ability for incremental changes/improvements across the entire eco-system. When one site is improved - they are all improved. For those familiar with the development process, this has involved many hours of planning, coding, designing and stabilizing. We utilize "building blocks" for hosting a variety of information types and rely heavily on CSS to create a unique look for each property. While some visitors are critical of our process, the result has been the publishing of 3 beta sites, 2 new sites and 3 re-launches of existing sites. Never mind the countless administration tasks that have been completed. The three guys that make up the development team are amazing to work with and it is truly exciting to see my designs come to life.

Last week, I found myself on the wrong end of a video camera being interviewed where I described briefly my though process behind the new design (and re-launch) of Channel 8 and my approach to design in general. What follows is the interview.

 
The NEW Channel 8’s Designer Speaks Out

If Andy Warhol was right, it appears that I have about 22 seconds of fame left, better make them count!?!

Back in September, Josephine started Kindergarten. Needless to say, she was and continues to be super excited for school and "the most favorite kindergarten teacher she has ever had in her entire life" Mrs. Wilson. Early in the year, I attended a few parent meetings which were filled with logistical information and volunteer opportunities. One that I jumped on was the chance to lead an "art smart" program in Josephine's classroom. I attend a workshop hosted at the Frye Art Museum presented by Visual Thinking Strategies organization  who emphasize the importance of observation over straight art history. I am simplifying their approach but the idea is to encourage kids to talk about what they see (right or wrong) through paraphrasing and simple questions used to keep the discussion moving along. It is a fantastic approach and it is really fun to see the excitement the kids have once they start opening up. My goal is to get every child participating.

I have committed to be in the classroom one day a month (the first Friday of each) and the sessions begin with the observation of a piece of art followed by a lesson. Through this activity I have increased an already high level of respect for the work teachers do - creating a lesson can be a bit challenging.

My first session in the classroom was based on Cave Paintings with the observation exercise being an image of from the Caves Of Lascaux, the Hall of Bulls. As it was the first time, it was a bit rough. We talked for a little while about the image and I showed some detailed shots to stretch the discussion. Important was the concept that what had been painted on the walls were the direct observation of what the people had experienced at that time. The lesson involved brown paper which we had taped to the underside of the (small) tables and a limited palette of crayons. Sliding under their tables, into their caves, the kids began to draw what had been their "favorite activity of the week". After a while, we had a short discussion - holding up individual "creations" and asking, "what can we observe happened in (child's name) world this week?" The kids were excited to share their works - it was fun.

Yesterday was my second venture into the classroom. Having learned a personal lesson of finding a work that had a lot of activity I projected a slide of "Hunters in the Snow" by Pieter Bruegel (1565) which was really great. Once the discussion slowed, I showed a couple detailed shots and the discussion took off again. My hidden agenda was to show how the use of warm and cool colors could influence the feeling of the painting. The lesson involved filling in a color wheel to explain primary and complimentary colors. Next, was to take the 6 colors and organize them into warm and cool color palettes. Fresh with the concept of warm/cool colors I showed a quick slide show and asked the kids what type of palette was used. It was a really fun session. To see the kids excited to learn was a great reward - I look forward to the next time back in the classroom.

Despite what you may be thinking, restarting my blog was not on my list of new years resolutions this year. Having a blog is not an easy task - especially with the generous helping of guilt I place on to myself for not staying current. Then, of course, there is the situation I am in now where months have gone by since the last post. How to jump back in without feeling the need to fill in the void. A lot happened in the second half of 2007, both personally and professionally. It is my intention to drop right in, take a few steps back and then work my way in multiple directions with some highlights, concepts and accomplishments.

First, the step back. I think the best way to start a new year is to end it with an amazing day (Monday, December 31, 2007) on the slopes. Stop and imagine knee-high fresh powder below and crystal blue skies above. Oh, and the sound of people cheering as they find another stash of untouched show on the way down. If you were on Steven's Pass you already know it was simply unbelievable and the perfect way to end what turned out, for me, to be a pretty good year.

Back onto the lift. See you at the top of the run.

{originally written August 16th, 2007}

Whew!?! When I arrived at UX Week 2007 it was my intention to keep copious notes and to keep up with current entries of the ideas, inspirations and new concepts presented. The intention was there, the follow through was lacking but, not due to effort. Well, perhaps a bit. The truth is that many presentations were very engaging and I often found myself thinking in real-time how to apply the ideas, inspirations and new concepts to the projects currently on my plate. At times just keeping up with notes was a challenge. By the time lunch was served on the second day, the needle was approaching full and I simply wanted to stop and pull my thoughts together. But, what would I miss? 

As it turns out, attending UX Week not only gave me the opportunity to get out of my office - it helped validate the work I have and continue to do as a user experience professional. Attending also gave me the opportunity to question the methods I currently use and identify small tweaks to improve it. Now to figure out how to put ideas into action without disrupting the process currently in place too much. The task now is to flip back through my pages of notes and look for ways to re-calibrate. The value of UX Week is only proven when changes sparked by attending affect the way I interact with those around me. The key concepts I take away from the experience is:

1. The role of UX practitioner relies more on being a "facilitator". To help others involved in the process/project understand the value of creating a good user experience.

 2. Design has the power to make a difference. There appeared to be an unintentional sub-theme to the conference that I only realized after connecting the dots between the presentations given by Deborah Adler (ClearRX), Lisa Strausfeld (One Laptop Per Child) and Adaptive Paths discussion of the Charmr project. Each project was inspired by recognizing a problem directly impacting the lives of those it was created for and only through the the power of Design was a solution arrived at.  It would be easy to say this defines all projects, but if  not for flaws with existing solutions - the work completed would not have such an overwhelming impact on improving the quality of life for those they were designed for. Very inspiring.

3.  In a crowded marketplace, differentiation leads to survival. For a project to be successful it is important to understand the objectives of task and effort. To first define the approach and be able to show results which validate the objectives. For me, approach is the method in which the group of individuals with unique talents come together to deliver a solution. To obtain differentiation - know your audience, know the benefits your product provides and know your competition. As a person leading the UX effort for the Evangelism Network, I understand that while our sites focus on technology the experience we create should not require those visiting them to understand them.  Differentiation for me is the unexpected features that are are contextual, relative and always one step ahead of the user visiting the site. This may seem trivial, but in a eco-system that can overwhelm users with features, the recognition of why the experience is created and for whom should not be overlooked.

Of course, a conference that presents such a large amount of information can not be without its flaws. UX Week is very academic in nature and, while it is a major reason for my attendance, it lacks any guidance on how to how to talk with/influence business decision makers. I also found there to be a lot of talk about usability practices that seems to be outdated and difficult to feasibly put into practice. Most surprisingly, I found the lack of discussion about current issues related to trends on the web and how to leverage them as possible elements worth exploring. Specifically, the ever growing impact of social networking practices and personalization that users are starting to expect.

Being UX consultants, Adaptive Path shares many stories related to past engagements with little advice on the details of how we as creative professionals fit into the larger picture of developing a project. The details of working with other members of an extended team including developers and how to address concerns related to technology decisions and limitations. To be clear, I do not come to hear talks on specific technology platforms, applications or languages. However, I would like to hear advice on what technology pitfalls to avoid  and how to better prepare myself for the workflow that happens between developers and designers. This is especially useful information to have as projects continue to grow in both size and complexity. 

Being a designer who works at Microsoft I realize the potential conflict in my previous statement and attend UX Week for personal growth, as well as, the opportunity to be in the company of other creative professionals. I value the relationships established with many of the AP folks, find great inspiration in the approach they take with clients and the work they produce. I also recognize the extreme tension in having Microsoft as a major sponsor of not only UX Week but other related AP events and workshops. While not directly involved in the sponsorship effort, I felt the providing of the lounge, software and admission to the Remix Boston events for all attendee's by Microsoft was approached as if a sell-out to "the man". In my opinion (and that of other Microsoft representatives) comments made while on stage were condescending, short sided and an unprofessional way to treat a major sponsor. Enough about that. 

I skipped the last day of the conference which is highlighted by "field trips"  to a couple selected DC museums for the opportunity jump on a train to New York City. I have been looking forward to my own "field trip" for almost as long as UX Week. As I write, the Manhattan skyline is starting to appear out my window. Over the next few days (weeks) I will continue to dig into my notes with the intention of publishing more thoughts and some notes. UX Week was though provoking, enlightening, informative and a good user experience overall. I return to my office refreshed and with a new perspective on how to improve my approach to the projects I am responsible for delivering.