Search results for design

Benefits of Good Usability

by on 28. Mar, 2008 in Usability

Usability increases the success of your website since it focuses on the expectations and needs of your target groups and fulfils certain standards and success criteria.

Fulfilment of expectations
It happens rather frequently that websites are a direct reflection of internal company structures, since the website creators are themselves very familiar with the topics. As a result, internal needs and expectations are prevalent. Good usability assures that the site focuses mainly on the expectations and needs of your target groups and functions in accord with their habits regarding online behaviour.

Usability

High quality
Every website must achieve its intended purpose – providing information, entertaining, selling products, building a user community, etc. In each of those cases the user does not want to think about the interaction itself. The more intuitively a user can use the site, the better. If the site meets user expectations, a feeling of trust and quality is established. This is a great opportunity to distinguish the site from the competitor’s.

Increased retention time
The better the site’s concept caters to the target group and the more intuitively it can be used, the longer the user will stay. The focus is, for example, on how the user can be stimulated to look at further content on the site and on how fast central questions of the users are answered.

Higher interaction rate
Intensive use of a site is the result of a targeted structure as well as information and good interaction design. The site’s benefit is obvious to the user, and he can easily find valuable information. How quickly and how intense does the user get involved with your site? What are the incentives to visit the site again? How are interactive elements used?

Reaching a broader audience
By complying with certain design and publishing guidelines the website can reach a broader target group. The site will be accessible for the elderly as well as for the physically or visually impaired.

Joy of use
Over the last few years, the notion of “joy of use” has received increasing attention. It describes the degree of experienced joy of use of a site or software and indicates the personal satisfaction and motivation to interact.

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Installing a husband

by on 25. Mar, 2008 in Humour

Dear Tech Support,

Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a
distinct slow down in overall system performance, particularly in
theflower and jewelry applications, which operated flawlessly under
Boyfriend 5.0.

In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs,
such as Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5 and then installed
undesirable programs such as NBA 5.0, NFL 3.0 and Golf Clubs 4.1.
Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and Housecleaning 2.6 simply
crashesthe system. I’ve tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems,
butto no avail.

What can I do?

Signed,
Desperate.

DEAR DESPERATE,

First keep in mind, Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment Package, while

Husband 1.0 is an operating system.

Please enter command: ithoughtyoulovedme.html and try to download
Tears 6.2 and don’t forget to install the Guilt 3.0 update. If that
application works as designed, Husband 1.0 should then automatically
run the applications Jewelry 2.0 and Flowers 3.5.

But remember, overuse of the above application can cause Husband 1.0
to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5, Happy Hour 7.0 or Beer 6.1. Please
note that Beer 6.1 is a very bad program that will download the
Snoring Loudly Beta.

Whatever you do, DO NOT install Mother-In-Law 1.0 (it runs a virus
in the background that will eventually seize control of all your
system resources.)

Also do not attempt to reinstall Boyfriend 5.0 program. These are
unsupported applications and will crash Husband 1.0.

In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have limited memory and cannot learn new applications quickly. You might consider
buying additional software to improve memory and performance. We
recommend Cooking 3.0 and Hot Lingerie 7.7.

Good Luck,
Tech Support

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Book review: The Brand Gap by Marty Neumeier

by on 08. Feb, 2008 in Book Reviews

Subtitle: How to bridge the distance between business strategy and design.

This is one of my all-time favourites. Why? It’s a fantastic, quick read packed with insights and full of wisdom on what branding is all about. I think it’s a great read for anybody involved in selling a service, product or idea.

Marty explains in a very descriptive and in easy-to-understand language how to keep any brand on track and why brand consistency will pay off. He defines 5 disciplines on how you can build a sustainable brand and which obstacles to look out for. And it is often exactly those obstacles why even big brands are struggling.

What also stands out is that Marty practices what he is preaching with his own book: focus and differentiate. His book could not be any more condensed, and his book itself is a brand. Great illustrations and graphics visualise his ideas in a way you won’t forget.

Here is a condensed version of his book in PDF format – enjoy:
Powerpoint version of “The Brand Gap” by Marty Neumeier (PDF 3.5 MB)

I am not sure if the following is still valid, but if you need books for your branding team:
Bulk discounts on the THE BRAND GAP are
available for educational and corporate groups.
Contact STEPHANIE.WALL@NEWRIDERS.COM.

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About Us

by on 05. Feb, 2008 in

Vera Brannen setzt sich seit über 10 Jahren für einfach bedienbare und Brand stärkende Websites und Software ein. Sie studierte Kunst- und Medien-wissenschaften an der Universität Konstanz sowie Neue Medien an der York University in Toronto, Kanada. Nach mehrjähriger Agenturerfahrung gründete sie 2004 die Usable Brands AG, die Agentur für Usability und Brand Experience Design.

Vera Brannen hält regelmässig Vorträge an internationalen Konferenzen (z.B. Zeit Online Talk: DRadio Wissen; M&A Alliance Inc. Springconference, Boston USA; Global Summit of Women 2007 Berlin, Germany; SuisseEMEX.)

Sie unterrichtet Usability an der Migros Klubschule Business: Online-Marketing Manager Diplomlehrgang, wo sie auch im Prüfungsausschuss tätig ist und schreibt Artikel für Zeitschriften und Fachmagazine (z.B. Persönlich, icom).

Seit 2009 ist sie in der Nominierungskommission des Grimme Online Awards. Seit Sommer 2010 ist Vera Brannen Präsidentin der Swiss Usability Professionals’ Association, die unter anderem den weltweiten Usability Tag in der Schweiz ausrichtet.

Michael Huber ist als Interaction Designer für Konzeption und Design zuständig und sorgt für die konsistente Umsetzung des Brands von erster Idee bis zum fertigen Produkt. Sein Fokus liegt im Interaction Design auf emotionalen Konzepten, welche nicht nur visuell begeistern. Ursprünglich gelernter Grafiker in den Bereichen Print- und Screendesign hat er vor kurzen den Studiengang  für Interaction Design an der ZHdK mit Bestnote abgeschlossen. Seine Vertiefung liegt in den Bereichen Interaction Design, Infografik und Motiondesign.

Tango van Enthius ist Head of Security und verteidigt sein Revier (noch) schwanzwedelnd.

 

 

 

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