UX Vision and UX Strategy: The path to seamless, positive experiences
Topics:
User Experience, UX strategy, UX vision
t3n 73
Positive experiences are becoming increasingly important for companies and, especially in times of increased competition, can be a decisive differentiator that sets an organization apart from others. But how can organizations ensure that everyone aligns in the same direction and contributes to positive experiences for their users or customers? Luckily, UX visions and UX strategies are useful tools for achieving this alignment. What do you need to consider when creating UX visions and UX strategies?
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Making Understanding Visible: Exploring Mental Models with Concept Mapping
Topics:
Concept mapping, User Experience, user research
t3n 68
UX designers should know the mental models of users to design human-centered digital products and services. However, these mental models are not easy to capture and vary substantially from person to person. Concept mapping is a valuable method to explore mental models. But what to consider when using concept mapping in UX research?
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UX Maturity: People in focus, success in sight
Topics:
Design, User Experience, strategy
t3n 63
User experience (UX) is a key success factor in the design of digital products and services. However, companies and other organizations are at different stages when it comes to aligning their processes for a positive UX. UX maturity models help to identify where an organization stands in terms of UX maturity. How can companies use this to systematically design for positive UX and turn it into business advantages?
More diversity for better experiences
Topics:
Design, User Experience, diversity, strategy
t3n 60
In a connected world, target audiences are more diverse than ever before. In user experience (UX) design, this complexity is a major challenge. However, the right design approaches allow creating digital services and products that stand out positively from the rest.
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Design guidelines for the web
Topics:
Webdesign, Gestaltung
Upload Magazin 72
Wrap-up of different design guidelines for web layouts – classical design guidelines, findings from user research, and psychological effects. An excerpt from "Grundkurs Gutes Webdesign" (2nd edition). The article is only available in German.
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Guerrilla-style UX design
Topics:
Design, User Experience, strategy
t3n 56
Little money, little time and still a great user experience? That sounds too good to be true. But the Guerilla-style UX design process promises exactly that. Part 2 of my series on Guerilla-UX is dedicated to exploring user needs, brainstorming, and prototyping.
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Guerrilla-UX-Testing
Topics:
Testing, User Experience, Guerilla UX
t3n 55
Testing the user experience of websites or apps usually involves a lot of effort. However, this does not have to be the case, because small tests are better than none. Especially if they are lean, fast and agile. Part 1 of my Guerilla-UX series provides a look at the powerful tactics of guerilla UX testing.
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Chatbot development: From strategy to prototyping
Topics:
chatbot, prototyping, user experience
t3n 53
Since a couple of years, the popularity of chatbots is rapidly increasing. Their advantages: They are available at any time, you do not have to install them, and they use well-known communication patterns. In my article in t3n 53 (in German), I describe how chatbot prototyping can enhance user experience.
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Details in web design: all the small things
Topics:
web design, details, user experience
Screenguide 37
Web designers are used to considering the "big" things in a design: grids, responsive layouts, typographic systems… However, a closer look at the details is also worthwhile in order to enhance the user experience. Screenguide 37 considers some of these aspects: small details, micro interactions, micro copy, typographic details.
Colour in web design: the right choice
Topics:
web design, colour
t3n 50
Colour is one of the most important stylistic choices in web design. There are countless colours and combinations, but the choice should be guided by a good conceptual idea. An excerpt of my book explains the basics.
Chatbot development: From strategy to prototyping
Topics:
chatbot, prototyping, user experience
t3n 53
Since a couple of years, the popularity of chatbots is rapidly increasing. Their advantages: They are available at any time, you do not have to install them, and they use well-known communication patterns. In my article in t3n 53 (in German), I describe how chatbot prototyping can enhance user experience.
» read online
Designing Conversational User Interfaces: Chats as a design language
Topics:
User Experience, Conversational User Interfaces, Natural Language User Interfaces
t3n 45
Chats, messengers and digital assistents are not only channels of communication and marketing. They stand for a new paradigm in the design of user interfaces: the Conversational User Interface (CUI) or Natural Language User Interface (NLUI). My article in t3n 45 considers this trend from an User Experience perspective.
Intercultural web design: other countries, other design
Topics:
Webdesign, Interkulturalität
t3n 44
Intercultural web design considers the cultural imprint of people. Using the theory of cultural dimensions by Geert Hofstede, I explain how to create the right designs for different cultures.
The right images in web design
Topics:
User Experience
t3n 42
Images inform, create emotions, direct the user's attention and establish brands. I the 42th issue of the t3n magazine, I explain how the pictorial language of a web site contributes to the User Experience.
How interaction design helps digital brands
Topics:
interaction design, digital brands
t3n 41
It is becoming more and more difficult for brands to create a unique selling proposition in the digital world. A great User Experience can help making brands distinctive. My article in t3n 41 takes a look at how interaction design can create a lasting positive impression of a digital brand.
Great one page web designs
Topics:
web design
t3n 37
One page web designs are trending. My article in t3n 37 explains how to use their creative power.
Animations in web design
Topics:
web design, animations, User Experience
Screenguide 24
Animations are an important creative tool in web design to enhance the User Experience. My article in Screenguide 24 takes a closer look at their role.
Digital minimalism
Topics:
Digital Lifestyle, Streaming
Netzpiloten (September 25th, 2014)
Minimalism is a attitude towards life trying to find happiness through eschewal. What is the role of digitalisation in this regard?
Big Data & privacy: The role of ethics
Topics:
Big Data, privacy
Netzpiloten (September 18th, 2014)
The collection of user data is an integral part of e-commerce and online marketing. However, Big Data changes everything: The enormous quantity of data makes analyses possible which were previously undreamed of. This calls for a new ethics.
Big Data and the Anticipatory Web
Topics:
Big Data
Netzpiloten (September 9th, 2014)
Big Data can help anticipating the behaviour of people. However, could this also lead to stronger stereotypes?
Can privacy help Ello become the next important network?
Topics:
Social Media
Netzpiloten (August 29th, 2014)
Ello was a huge topic in August 2014: a social network without advertising, saying it won't use the data of its users. I analysed the strategies of the network, focusing on emotions and being part of a movement.
Is Big Data the future of the web?
Topics:
Big Data, Semantic Web, Web 3.0
Netzpiloten (August 29th, 2014)
The Semantic Web (or Web 3.0) tries to make the semantics of information available and create a net that not only finds information, but also understands it. Can Big Data help establish the Semantic Web?
Combining typefaces
Topics:
typography, eeb design
t3n 36
Web fonts create an enormous typographic variety in the web. I explain how to combine different typefaces in t3n 36.
Webdesign-Trends 2014
Topics:
Grafik, Kreativität, Usability, Webdesign
t3n 35
Im Web heißt es mit der Zeit gehen – aber nur, wenn es für das eigene Projekt Sinn macht: 12 Webdesign-Trends für das Jahr 2014, kritisch und anschaulich dargestellt.
Using search data to create content ideas
Topics:
Content Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Keyword Planner
contentmanager (March 3rd, 2014)
New ideas for content marketing: In a guest post on contentmanager.de, I explain how to create new content ideas using the Google Keyword Planner and Google Trends
Modern UI design by Microsoft
Topics:
creativity, Microsoft
t3n 34
Microsoft set new design trends with their Modern UI (formerly known as Metro). My article in t3n 34 explains how to use the metro-style grids in web design.
Ebook readers
Topics:
ebook readers
Multimedia supplement Pirmasenser Zeitung December supplement 2013
In the december edition of the Multimedia supplement, I examine ebook readers from various perspectives: Which devices are on the market? How does the technology work? What is Digital Rights Management, and what rights do buyers of ebooks have? Which services and startups are interesting?
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Grids in web design
Topics:
Webdesign, grids
Screenguide 19
Screenguide 19 published an excerpt from the first edition of "Grundkurs gutes Webdesign", explaining grids in web design.
Smart Living
Topics:
Smart Home, Smart Living, Smart Watches, Wearables
Multimedia supplement Pirmasenser Zeitung Octobre supplement 2013
Smart Living is a trend in consumer electronics. In the Octobre supplement, I concentrate on fitness wearables and smart home devices.
Net neutrality
Topics:
net neutrality
Multimedia supplement Pirmasenser Zeitung May supplement 2013
In spring 2013, plans of the German Telekom to restrict the bandwidth of Internet connection after exceeding a certain threshold became public. The May supplement explains the background and the aspect of net neutrality.
Evaluating Usability
Topics:
Usability
t3n 26
My article in t3n 26 gives ideas of how to evaluate the Usability of web sites.
Podcasts in education
Topics:
education, Podcast
Netzpiloten (Februar 14th, 2011)
Andreas Auwärter of the University of Koblenz is using podcasts in educational contexts. I speak to him and his students regarding their experiences with the new medium.
Creative Commons in Journalism
Topics:
Creative Commons
Netzpiloten (August 19th, 2010)
My article explains the advantages of using Creative Commons licenses in Journalism.
Discussion about surveillance: Brave New 1984
Topics:
discussion, surveillance
Netzpiloten (July 13th, 2010)
It has been a couple of years that we discuss surveillance on the web. My articles examines two famous novels which can help understand the debate: While one side seems to fear the situation like in "Brave New World", the other seems to be more concerned with "1984".
Tips to start in Social Commerce
Topics:
Social Commerce
Netzpiloten (July 2nd, 2010)
Social Commerce has been a huge topic in 2010. In my article for the magazine Netzpiloten, I give tips for the start.
Social Commerce: Etsy vs. Dawanda
Topics:
Social Commerce, Etsy, Dawanda
Netzpiloten (May 31st, 2010)
Etsy and Dawanda played a vital role in the discussion about Social Commerce in 2010. A comparison of the two services.
What is Social Commerce?
Topics:
Social Commerce
Netzpiloten (19. Mai 2010)
To start my series on Social Commerce in 2010, I give a practical definition of what Social Commerce is.
Crowdsourcing: Wisdom of the Crowd
Topics:
Crowdsourcing
t3n 19
Crowdsourcing – a word creation consisting of "Crowd" and "Outsourcing" – is trying to benefit from the Wisdom of the Crowd. My article in t3n 19 gives practical tips for the start.
The future of the web: The technology of the Web 3.0
Topics:
Semantic Web, Web 3.0
Netzpiloten (Oktober 14th, 2008)
How could the Web 3.0 be realised? I take a look on the technological ideas in 2008.
What is Web 3.0?
Topics:
Semantic Web, Web 3.0
Netzpiloten Octobre 13th, 2008
In 2008, Social Media was still called "Web 2.0" – but we already had discussions about the next step. Using the example of a restaurant, I explain how this future of the web could look like.
Wisdom of the Crowds: Definition, practice and criticism
Topics:
Crowdsourcing, Wisdom of the Crowd
Netzpiloten (15. Mai 2008)
Crowdsourcing tries to use the Wisdom of the Crowd. The idea is based on the book "The Wisdom of the Crowds" by James Surowiecki. What is the trend about?