The Concept of Brand: A Lesson from Edward “Blackbeard” Teach
Edward Teach, the pirate better known as Blackbeard, is one of the most infamous pillagers in history. More relevant to our interests, however, is that he was also a man who understood the importance of creating an enduring impression. In short, he understood the value of brand.
Before a siege, Blackbeard dressed himself in a dark heavy coat and captain’s hat to accentuate his domineering stature. He strapped pistols to his chest and tucked lit, smoking fuses under his hat and in his beard to create an image reminiscent of the devil himself having just emerged from some smoky brimstone...
If you run at least one user study per week, it's worth building a dedicated usability laboratory. For most companies, however, it's fine to conduct tests in a conference room or an office — as long as you can close the door to keep out distractions. What matters is that you get hold of real
In this step, the team moves through the stickies on the board collaboratively and clusters similar notes that belong to the same quadrant. Name your clusters with themes that represent each group (for example, “validation from others” or “research”). Repeat themes in each quadrant if
Next, determine the specific experience to map. This could be an existing journey, where mapping will uncover positive and negative moments within that current experience, or a “to-be” experience, where the mapper is designing a journey for a product or service that doesn’t exist yet. Make
Blockchain Trends that Everyone Should Watch Out For 2019
As indicated by one report, the utilization of blockchain innovation to verify information and gadgets in the web of things (IoT) multiplied amid 2018. This pattern is probably going to proceed one year from now and past, as more associations wake up to the capability of circulated, scrambled
A 60-Second Trailer of the 60-Day Report on Cybersecurity
She explained that the original design of the Internet was driven more by considerations of interoperability rather than security, and as a result we are now faced with almost insurmountable issues. Some examples include online criminals who steal our information, mass bandits who have the ability
A 60-Second Trailer of the 60-Day Report on Cybersecurity
Melissa Hathaway came across our radar recently when President Obama tasked the former Bush administration aide with leading a 60-day review of Bush’s Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative; a largely classified, purported $30 billion, multi phase plan to address cybersecurity issues
Design Thinking 101
Each phase is meant to be iterative and cyclical as opposed to a strictly linear process, as depicted below. It is common to return to the two understanding phases, empathize and define, after an initial prototype is built and tested. This is because it is not until wireframes are prototyped and
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Layered Interaction Analysis of Direct Manipulation (Jakob Nielsen)
A user who often wanted a wide bar to appear in the left margin could construct a button (perhaps labelled "Make Change Bar") that would have the same effect as calling up the control in Figure 5 and modifying it as shown. This hypothetical interface would be an immediate command specification. As
Wireflows: A UX Deliverable for Workflows and Apps
This low-fidelity wireflow shows a simple user task. The use of screen designs, rather than abstract flowchart symbols, keeps focus on the product with which users will be interacting. While wireflows can be created in high fidelity for the purposes of communicating detailed design
Dot Voting: A Simple Decision-Making and Prioritizing Technique in UX
To prevent skewed voting from the HIPPO effect (or other strongly opinionated team members), dictate the order each person places their votes. Have junior participants place their votes first, while saving stakeholders or subject-matter experts for last. This approach protects the votes (and
Popups: 10 Problematic Trends and Alternatives
Wait to present the content in the popup until it’s contextually relevant to the user. Use the reciprocity principle: give value to your visitors before asking them anything — whether it’s requesting an email address, or even the action of dismissing the popup. Run user testing to identify
8 Steps to Prepare for the Holiday Shopping Season
January is the time to initiate in-depth user research to identify the deeper reasons that people leave your site without buying, as well as how to increase shopping cart size for those who do buy. Most likely, you'll find that your site and its content require substantial changes. By getting an
UX Stories Communicate Designs
In contrast, UX stories are specific; they have developed characters, context, and well-formed plots. The audience leaves with a clear understanding of the user’s goals and motivations. While other methods of storytelling are valuable, these stories — ones that communicate the value of the
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When and How to Create Customer Journey Maps
Next, determine the specific experience to map. This could be an existing journey, where mapping will uncover positive and negative moments within that current experience, or a “to-be” experience, where the mapper is designing a journey for a product or service that doesn’t exist yet. Make
Using Prioritization Matrices to Inform UX Decisions
Prioritization charts are helpful outside of work, as well. If you are considering a new job opportunity, try plotting opportunities against the things most important to you: pay, travel, growth, or mentorship. If you are contemplating a big trip, perhaps you plot cities against what you value
Join WP Engine at SXSW 2019
In this panel, Brunner will be joined by popular Austin figures as they discuss who and what has been the major change agent in Austin. Brunner will represent technology while other panelists will represent food and film. Joe Nick Patoski, author of Austin to ATX: The Hippies, Pickers, Slackers
WP Engine's London Office Recognised as a Great Place to Work
In 2015, WP Engine opened our first global office in London as a physical representation of our desire to expand our team of WordPress specialists and better serve our customers globally. Since then, we’ve worked hard to create a workplace that is collaborative, productive, and fun. Today, we
WP Engine's London Office Recognised as a Great Place to Work
In 2015, WP Engine opened our first global office in London as a physical representation of our desire to expand our team of WordPress specialists and better serve our customers globally. Since then, we’ve worked hard to create a workplace that is collaborative, productive, and fun. Today, we
How to Upgrade Your Cyber Defenses to Protect Growth
Ideally, that person is on staff, but recruiting a full-time cybersecurity expert isn’t easy or cheap. As an alternative, many companies are turning to managed security providers, third parties that manage your cybersecurity for you. These firms are equipped to evaluate your current security
Is Your Chief Security Officer Prepared for M&A?
For many companies, fines are paid and damaged reputations become yesterday’s news. But the pain from an operational and/or business standpoint remains. How convincingly can you demonstrate commitment to investing in and rolling out a more robust security strategy? How quickly can a large
A 60-Second Trailer of the 60-Day Report on Cybersecurity
She explained that the original design of the Internet was driven more by considerations of interoperability rather than security, and as a result we are now faced with almost insurmountable issues. Some examples include online criminals who steal our information, mass bandits who have the ability
Business Loan? Budding Entrepreneurs Raise Their Chances
Business credit is the grease that keeps the wheels of a business enterprise moving. The fact that business enterprises rely on business loans from time to time is an obvious statement. Regardless of the scale or the diversity of a business — budding entrepreneurs running from pillar to post
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How Self-Service Technology Can Boost Startup Growth
For every company or brand, the need to have a customer self-service portal is essential. Now that the whole world is going digital, you’ll want to attend to your customers more digitally. Self-service gives customers more confidence in what you offer. A perfect example is the new DSTV Eazy Self
7 Critical Time Management Skills to Boost Your Productivity
Tasks that are neither urgent or important may include constantly checking email, designing a new support form, or setting up social media support. There’s nothing wrong with these activities, but they should only be completed when everything else on your todo list is already done. This matrix
Brand Is Experience in the Digital Age | Scaling User Interfaces: An Information-Processing Approach
Scaling User Interfaces: An Information-Processing Approach
Websites that are specifically designed for mobile start from a different assumption. They do take into account the limited channel capacity and make assumptions about what the users may be interested in. They deliver to the channel: they presume that, since content that’s buried too deeply into
Image-Focused Design: Is Bigger Better?
Most sites will do best with a balanced approach: images that support the brand, without obscuring other important content. For example, the StateFarm homepage presents a large image representing driving, a critical part of their business. But this image is balanced by strong navigation elements
Evolution of a Home Page Design: Article by Jakob Nielsen
The different kinds of information were shown by different graphic conventions, but the use of the same style arrow buttons for all options made the interface look less prioritized and more like a "laundry list interface" in last year's homepage style: in 1994 it was considered good
