Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

e Seven Commandments of User Experience.Nick Finck, October 4, 2008

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

?Who the f#@k is this dude?

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

• Principle & Director of User Experience for Blue Flavor

• Publisher of Digital Web Magazine

• Based in Seattle, Washington

• Over 13 years working in the web field

• Projects: Adobe, Cisco, CitiBank, Converse, FDIC,

HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Oprah, PBS, Peet’s Coffee

Nick Finck

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

?What is User Experience?

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

• Accessibility (GAWDs)

• Information Architecture (IAI)

• Information Design (IDA)

• Interaction Design (IxDA)

• Technical Writing (STC)

• Usability Engineering (UPA)

• User Research (HFES)

• Visual Design (AIGA)

• Web Analytics (WAA)

UX is the umbrella that covers:

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

The First Commandment

It’s All Aboute Users

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Photo by Andrea Wigginshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/anikarenina/550438755/

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Who Really Is the User?

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

“You are not the user. Neither is your boss.”- Jessyca Frederick

Director of Product Management,ThisNext

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

?But if I don’t listen to the client or boss,

won’t they will fire me?

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Customer (or User) Goals

Busin

ess G

oals Technical Goals

SweetSpot

Finding the Sweet Spot

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

The Second Commandment

Avoid Solutioneering

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Identify Problems Before Finding Solutions

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

“Design, by very definition, is the act of solving problems. In order for anything to be designed well, we

must first identify the problems we are trying to solve and the goals we are trying to reach.”

- Jeff CroftWeb Designer, Blue Flavor

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

The Third Commandment

Form Always Follows Function

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

“[Design is] adding experience but taking away the hard edges, and allow people to embrace the tool or

service in a closer interaction.”

- Thomas Vander WalPrincipal, InfoCloud Solutions

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Photo by Tex Texinhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/textexin/401742074/

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

The Fourth Commandment

Allow for Failure

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

“Failure is not falling down. Failure is not getting up.”- Nick Finck

Principal, Blue Flavor

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

!Michael Jordan failed to make his varsity basketball team

Albert Einstein's teacher described him as "mentally slow"

Walt Disney went bankrupt several times

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

The Fifth Commandment

Do Not Imitate, Innovate

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Pedometer Nike+

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

The Sixth Commandment

Do Not Get in the User’s Way

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

ink about the Context

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Photo by ATIS547http://www.flickr.com/photos/albaum/1564680070/

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Content is Critical

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

“On any page with text, make sure most of your best design efforts account for making that text scanable,

clickable, readable and understandable.”

- Jay FienbergPrincipal, Juxtaprose

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

!95% of web users do not read 80% of your content!

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

This doesn’t mean that your content isn’t important, it

means it’s more important.

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

The Seventh Commandment

Use Your Network

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Always Have A Mentor

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Photo by K.G. Schneiderhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/kgs/2415050174/

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Be a Connector

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Don’t be Afraid to Reach Out for Help

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Forget reference books, you are here and I have

business cards!

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Thank you!

Come to our party tonight, we’ll get you drunk

Webmaster Jam Session 2008 - Atlanta

Seven Commandments of User Experience.Nick Finck, October 4, 2008

http://www.blueflavor.com/http://www.blueflavor.com/blog/nick@blueflavor.com