Aaron Adams
Pixel Cowboy
Tuesday January 20, 2009
Know Who You're Working For
The first in a series of articles coming out in the next week by Cynergy's User Experience Group, "Know Who You're Working For" kicks off our approach for good Rich Internet Application (RIA) design practices. We don't mean just designers, either. In the several years I have participated in the process of originating, designing and implementing RIAs, the triad of successful cooperation between Creators, Business Owners and End Users has never ceased to be worthy of better understanding. When business applications or consumer products fail, it is almost always due to the lack of proper inclusion of one or more of these groups. So let's point some fingers and get specific:
Creators (Designers/Developers)
I will mention this group first, not because they are the top of the food chain, but because more than likely, a designer or developer is reading this blog (and I am one of them). Creators make it happen. We simply do. In most cases, though, we are also hired guns. That's ok, just know that our perspective, our definition of success, may be different than the people that hired us and different than the people actually using what we created.
Common Problem: Tunnel Vision. Developers in particular make the very common, though not usually deliberate, mistake of designing an application for themselves. The user experience for the underlying functionality becomes exactly the kind of tool they can use. Designers make this mistake, too, when over-extravagance in graphics and animation replace purposeful design. This overdose of the "wow factor"—really anything that blocks users from easily finishing a task—means that designers failed to deliver. The trouble is that Creators should not assume to be actual End Users. When any one of the three roles in the relationship we're describing assumes to know the mind of the other, it means trouble. I believe the burden to get this right or at least know what is right, should be on the Creators.
- We need to understand the business behind each project to ensure their purpose is fulfilled, including an understanding of the competitive landscape.
- We need to really know users, understand their pain points, desired workflow and emotional triggers.
- We need to wire these two groups together in a way that gets value returned to Business Owners and value extended to End Users. I also believe that developers cannot do this on their own. Great software requires a great design process upfront and during development.
- We need to be good communicators with everyone. Don't take the Business Owners' knowledge of their users at face value. Get your hands dirty to observe, ask questions and allow real users to participate early in the process. Everyone will thank you for this later.
Business Owners
They own stuff. Business Owners own resource time, budgets, access (hopefully) to the target end users and more. They also want to get return value from any invested effort, be that marketing value, business intelligence value, improved efficiencies value or straight-up, hard cash. It's usually never "feel good" value, but always monetary. Don't forget that. It's also worth noting that beyond the high-level entities of corporation and brand, that Business Owners are human beings. The official goal is increasing value, but the reality is that someone's reputation, job or entire livelihood is on the line. I don't mention this to justify the abuse of Creators in the form of endless, all-night death marches without compensation, but as a reminder that decisions/impulses from "The Man" can be as much about fear or other personal pain. For the start-up whose angel investors are actually family and friends--not to mention a personal savings account, the sensitivity for something real being at stake is especially heightened. If you're in the Creator group, don't forget the reason you were brought on board. If you're a Business Owner, make it count by making good decisions on how you invest resources to increase the odds you'll get the returned value.
Common Problem: Mind-Changing. Business Owners may deal in budgets and deadlines, but during an actual software project they may continue to deal in ideas. Ideas are great and are the reason we're all here, but they are also easy to change several times per day. This can be frustrating to Creators and (unless money is not an issue) can infinitely prolong the completion of any project. Design and development should be forward-looking. You are working towards making something concrete. Anything less is just an exercise. It's much better to resolve to build a core set of concepts, release early and then release subsequent versions based on real user need and feedback.
Common Problem: Bad Resource Choices. Placing the burden for high-quality, purposeful design—the foundation on which to fully differentiate with RIAs—on the shoulders of average developers can kill your chance at success. The absence of a legitimate design process with real designers is almost always a very bad resource assumption that can turn early enthusiasm into sour frustration for your product team, and worse, for valuable users when they decide (in seconds) that your unique app is a drag. Good design matters. Your competition will learn this if you don't learn it first.
End Users
They use and consume. Some have spending power. They wield blink-factor judgement and love to share their opinions in emotionally-charged blog posts. Businesses that are deploying internal applications may have tighter control of what unhappy masses can actually do about it, but that doesn't mean a bad application won't earn a drawn-out, passive-aggressive, long-term rejection (not to mention lost efficiency value along the way).
Common Problem: Big Mouths. It's a blessing and a curse, isn't it? However, negative feedback can work in your favor if user input is gathered before and during product development. Use it early-on for driving concept development, then get it again during initial design and development for a purposeful, iterative implementation. To do this first and not last will increase your odds for the right kind of passionate user, a happy one.
Coming up...
Design for an Application, Not a Web Site
Plan Like an Architect, Refine Like a Sculptor
Stand on the Shoulders of Giants (Without Cloning One)
Balance Useable Design and Design That Sells
Leverage Basic Design Principles
Be Purposeful with Interaction Choreography
Kill the Columns and Rows, Visualize Your Data
Monday July 02, 2007
Cynergy's User Experience Group is Hiring
Your designs change how people use the web. At Cynergy, you will be part of an award-winning team, designing for the user experience in the context of Flex and Silverlight-based Rich Internet Applications (RIAs). User interface and interactive design is a component of this, as is having good intuition about what users really need to accomplish within an application. In addition, you will need to be able to lead our LookFirst process for client projects.
We'll Love You If:- You are passionate about discovering new UI interactions
- You are aware of UI design trends in RIAs
- You thrive at the pixel-perfect level
- You are a problem solver
- You have a history for creating passionate users
- You possess diverse creative skills
- You enjoy periodic traveling
- You can communicate well
- You like meeting with clients face-to-face
- You have excellent presentation skills
- You can write well
- You are looking for national exposure for your design
- You like ownership for all aspects of the design process
- You want to work for a diverse client base, start-ups and Fortune 500 alike
- You desire to write your own ticket
If you are not currently looking for a job, then this may be the perfect job for you.
This is a full-time position available with competitive salary and excellent benefits. Candidates must also be willing to relocate near one of our office locations in San Diego, CA, Grand Rapids, MI, Rochester, NY or Washington, D.C.
We look forward to talking with you and seeing your work!
Please contact us with resume and examples at hr@cynergysystems.com
Friday February 09, 2007
Cynergy is Hiring UI/RIA Designers
Your designs change how people use the web. At Cynergy you will be part of an award-winning team, designing for the user experience in the context of flash-based Rich Internet Applications (RIAs). User interface and interactive design is a component of this, as is having good intuition about what users really need to accomplish within an application. Read more...
Thursday November 02, 2006
Cynergy is Seeking Interactive UI Designers
Your designs change how people use the web. At Cynergy you will be part of an award-winning team, designing for the user experience in the context of flash-based Rich Internet Applications (RIAs). User interface and interactive design is a component of this, as is having good intuition about what users really need to accomplish within an application. Extreme proficiency is required in flash motion development and actionscript. In addition, you will need to be able to lead our LookFirst process for client projects.
We'll Love You If:
- You are passionate about discovering new UI interactions
- You are aware of UI design trends in RIAs
- You thrive at the pixel-perfect level
- You are a problem solver
- You possess diverse creative skills
- You "pretty much" could design in any style
- You can communicate well
- You have excellent presentation skills
- You can write well
- You have expert skills in the usual suspects: Photoshop, Flash, Illustrator, code editor of choice, and others
- You are happy
This is a full-time position available with competitive salary and excellent benefits. Candidates must also be willing to relocate near one of our office locations in San Diego, CA, Grand Rapids, MI or Washington, D.C.
We look forward to talking with you and seeing your work!
Please contact us with resume and examples at hr@cynergysystems.com
