Chance Bliss

Usability Observation #1

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:27:28 +0000

Which way would you open this door? Push or Pull? If you said, “Pull the handle, Moron!”, you would be dead wrong. I’ve been pulling on this door handle for 2 years straight. My brain is hardwired to pull handles not push them. Why does this door have to make me like an idiot every day?!!!!

The Internet and Beyond

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:16:21 +0000

Strangely funny and depressing at the same time. My last client meeting pretty much sounded like this video.

Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!: The Internet and Beyond

Managing projects through email sucks

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:34:00 +0000

There are many ways to sabotage a project, but the one I find the most effective is email. Every email sent to a developer, designer or copywriter is a invitation for distraction which in turn increases mistakes and decreases productivity. Before emailing a request for a status update or question about something for could look up yourself, everyone should take a step back and think about its impact, then close Outlook.

Only 3 more age ranges to go

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:21:37 +0000

I becoming less and less relevant to marketers. I think that’s good thing.

Space Miner: Space Ore Bust

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:14:25 +0000

Anyone looking for some great old school gaming should get Space Miner: Space Ore Bust. It’s a cross between Asteroids and those old adventures games like Monkey Island or Full Throttle. There’s also some RPG elements to it like armor and weapons upgrades.

With title like Fieldrunners, GeoDefense, The Creeps and now Space Miner, the iPhone is becoming my favorite gaming platform. Sure, the games are shorter and the graphics not as impressive, but the limits (screen-size, memory, speed…) countered with the touch screen are really bring out more creativity. Besides I can’t really play BioShock or Modern Warfare waiting in line at the supermarket.

The designer’s lament

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:38:42 +0000

You think you have a good client…think again.

Vote for the worst 80s cartoons

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:47:35 +0000

My heart sank every time I would hear the intros to one of these cartoons. Want to know something even worse? I would watch them anyways. Pathetic.

Mr. T – Gymnastics!!? Why not a mime troupe?

Rambo – Training video for our future right-wing militia groups

Chuck Norris Karate Commandos – Chuck Norris sleeps with a pillow under his gun.

GoBots – A poor man’s Transformers

Rubik, The Amazing Cube – Act 1: Match 1 Side; Act 2: Match 2 Sides; Act 3: Throw in Trashcan

Double Dragon – Punch Kick Punch Kick Punch Kick…

The Gary Coleman Show – Can’t think of anything

Ewoks – The beginning of the end for Lucas

Hulk Hogan’s Rockin’ Wrestling – Wasn’t the WWF just a live-action cartoon in itself? Seems redundant.

Jem and the Holograms – It’s all about the hair.

Project Scoping Questionnaire

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:35:50 +0000

Recently, I’ve moved back to the client website development side of things. In an effort to get back into the swing of things, I’m attempted to write a simple questionnaire for prospective clients (I borrow most of them from here). Many of the questions seems like no brainers which is why people often miss asking them. Also, the answers you get from the client would will be a good indication as to whether you want the project.

Why do you want to have a new website, or have your current site redesigned?
What will happen if you don’t have a new website, or have your current site redesigned?
Please describe your organization.
What is there about you and your background that sets you apart?
What problems do your prospects have that your business solves?
Why do you believe site visitors should do business with you rather than with a competitor?
Have you researched your online competition so you have an idea of what you do and don’t want on your site?
Please describe your current customers.
Is there a new set of customers you are trying to reach with the new website?
What is your budget for this project?
Who are the decision makers on this project? What is the turnaround time for making a decision?
What staff will be involved? What are their roles and responsibilities? Are they dedicated to this project?
What is your deadline for completing the site?
What is driving the deadline for completing the site? New product launch? New branding? Fixing existing issues?
Please list the names of five other sites that you like. Why are they attractive to you?
What do you NOT want on your site in terms of text, content, etc.?
Where is the website content coming from? Who’s responsible for updating it? Is it ready for use on your website?
Are you planning to do online sales? If so, what is the product, and how many items do you want to sell online?
How much time and resources do you spend online, responding to inquiries that come in via your website?
Once your website is completed, how long do you think it will be before you begin bringing in significant business from the website?
How do you plan to encourage repeat visitors and referrals?
How are customers find your web site? Advertising? Search? Referrals?
How are you tracking and measuring the success of your current site? visits? conversions? revenue?
How will you track and measure the success of your new site? visits? conversions? revenue?
Who will maintain the website after it is launched? Will there a dedicated team?

Please add some more.

Checklists Work

admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:30:03 +0000

I listened to Atul Gawande talk about his book, The Checklist Manifesto and immediately thought about how I could use his technique in web development. His basic premise (backed up with data) is that things have gotten so complicated in medicine that everyone needs a simple checklist to reduce errors. It doesn’t matter how well educated or trained the physician, nurse or technician. The facts is that individuals and teams will often forget small but critical steps such as washing their hands.

I know web development isn’t life or death, but a simple checklist at each phrase of a project would be extremely useful. Now I just have to figure out what’s on that list…

Stop apologizing and just ignore

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:47:44 +0000

It seems like everyday someone is in the news apologizing for something that has offended some person, group, nationality, race…the list goes on. In our efforts not to offend anyone, are we going to end up not saying anything at all?

In this particular case, why does Marvel Comics’ feel the need to even respond to the Tea Bag movement? Does the Tea Bag movement have a bunch of comic book readers? The best solution to this kind of phony outrage is to ignore it entirely.

Marvel Comics’ depiction of anti-tax protesters inspires anger, apology