The Three Ps of UX

There are three types of people in the world; pacifists, predators and protectors. UX people are the protectors. 

Feature Creep, and the Allure of Axure

Axure RP is an amazing tool for creating working prototypes, regardless of whether they’re low or high fidelity. And because it’s so good at writing HTML5 that can be shared remotely it quickly becomes an indispensable tool for all your UX documentation needs. This can include content maps, use cases and wireframes. But, before you make it the primary tool in your UX toolbox, beware of feature creep.

Feature creep is the ongoing addition of features and functionality which can eventually lead to over-complication and diminished efficiency. In the case of Axure, its ability to make all this documentation interactive, and to take static wireframes to the next level is a feature that can be, for some, irresistible. But just because you can, doesn’t necessarily mean you should.

If Axure is the primary tool in your UX workflow, use it judiciously. Getting caught up with all that you can do in Axure can put a heavy burden on deadlines and deliverables. The solution is to have clearly defined boundaries as to the scope of the deliverable in terms of interactivity at each project phase.

One way to accomplish this is to create two sets of “sitemaps”. One for the proposed information architecture, and the other for only the pages that will be framed out in the wires. As the project progresses, the page icons in the IA sitemap (which I prefer to call a “content map”) can easily be remapped to the wireframes, which will evolve into your prototype when the appropriate stage is reached.

Also, working form a library of standardized interface and content elements can be helpful. Resist the temptation to customize everything up front, and you can drag and drop your way to wireframes in no time, with time to left over to ideate for the long haul.

The Waning Desktop

Undoubtedly, the desktop computer as we know it has peaked, and it’s time to move on to a new paradigm.

The Mac Desktop experience is, in my opinion, better than ever. But for some time now, that experience has been part of a more portable device…the notebook computer. The use of notebook components has allowed the transformation of the desktop into a combined CPU-display form factor. And the migration toward notebooks as replacements for those desktops has largely been driven by the business world. 

I’m a Mac user. And for me, the ability of the MacBook to dock with larger displays, and the abilities of the Lightning connector to facilitate that process has made the transition to a more portable desktop computer seamless and practical. 

The next phase of this transition was revealed at the WWDC with the announcement of Yosemite, which will integrate all of Apple’s desktop, portable, tablet and mobile devices into one cohesive experience.

Proof of Concept

Yosemite, scheduled to be released in September, is definitive proof that the mobile space is driving the desktop computer.

A Great Resource for Responsive Testing

This site hosted by StudioPress allows you to enter a site’s URL, and see how it appears on a variety of screen widths and devices.

StudioPress