This month, everyone’s favorite name in color introduced a brand new system… or as Pantone describes it, “A new vision of color.” That sounds like hyped-up marketing speak, but given a little time, it might just be a realistic assessment.

The system is called Goe, and has the ambitious job of replacing (or enhancing) the decades-old PMS spot color matching system that just about every print designer currently uses. The Goe System starts with the GoeCube—a package so beautiful that you’re tempted to buy it regardless of what it’s actually for. Is it full of spiders? Read the rest of this entry »

Missed the first part, click here

Key Question 2: Are the Controls Intuitive?

No matter how great a new functionality is, if the user can not figure out how to use it (or that it exists), the value is obviously diminished. Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic have done a nice job utilizing AJAX to improve the interaction between customers and their website. Their “QuickLook” functionality, which shows a larger picture and more product information without taking the user away from a product listng page, saves time and frustration when trying to compare items from within the same category or promotion. This interface does, however, offer a few challenges. Instead of surfacing the QuickLook functionality to the viewable level, the user must hover over an image before the option appears. If a user is not aware of this feature, they may not look for it or expect to find it.

Even if Read the rest of this entry »

In 2006, 450 Radio Shack employees opened their email one day and found a message that stated: “The workforce reduction notification is currently in progress. Unfortunately your position is one that has been eliminated.”

Looking at this ill-advised approach from the outside, it’s easy to see that email was a poor communication method for the circumstances. From within our own client universes, though, it’s sometimes a bit more difficult to determine when email could be a similar liability. Consider these research tidbits:

• In one study, Read the rest of this entry »

Designers and developers are often too easily ensnared by the hype of new technology — in today’s case, AJAX, etc. — and often ignore standard usability practices to be the first on the block with the latest and greatest. Remember splash pages with flash intros? How about cheesy animated gifs? Marquee tags? Of course you do. Yet you would likely never, ever put any of these elements on a website today (without giggling excessively about it).

A few years ago, however, web designers were regularly utilizing these tactics, jumping to implement latest trends. Looking back, it is quite simple to understand the errors in our ways, to see why these design tools were used both ineffectively and excessively. In order to prevent ourselves from making the same errors in the future, however, we must Read the rest of this entry »

This article from Computer Arts (UK) explores the challenge of staying fresh and original while still employing the tools of visual shorthand in communicating concepts.

I’m reminded of a quote from Pablo Picasso: “Good artists copy. Great artists steal.” Hey, that’s what all those award books are really for, right?

But I’m also reminded of a good technique for pushing past a pre-existing form. I’m not sure where I read this, but it was originally related to copywriting and the use of a “swipe file,” which is a file of ads and other marketing materials that one thinks are singularly effective.

The key was this: rather than re-execute the original, create the sequel.

Many designers believe that marketing the widest range of services to the largest possible group is the path to success. You’d rather be a generalist because you think you’ll get more business. And on one level it makes sense: the more opportunities you have to make a sale, the more sales you are likely to make. But in reality it doesn’t work that way. In fact, success comes to those who focus on Read the rest of this entry »

Several years ago, we hired a pet-sitting company to give our dogs a walk on occasional days when our work schedules meant too long a stretch for canine comfort. At first, things seemed to go well enough. But after a few weeks, the company failed to show up on several agreed-upon days and our poor dogs bore the brunt of the no-show.

Initially, I thought it was a scheduling snafu or a miscommunication. I tried to be more clear, and requested call-backs to confirm. It didn’t work. When I called one of the owners directly to address my concerns, her response hit me right between the eyes: “You’ve got no right to question us when you never even pay your bill on time!” she said angrily. Read the rest of this entry »

404 Not Found! 403 Forbidden! What better way to send your site visitors away then with an ugly error message? A user who encounters an error message on your site may have the good sense to head back to your home page, or, more likely, will turn tail and find some other site.

But with some clever crafting of custom error message pages, you can help users feel comfortable and quickly direct them to a working part of your website.

Pandemedia.biz has a simple 404 page design that immediately clues users in to where they are and how they may have ended up at a dead end. A basic link, as well as global navigation bar, is used to get you back to the home page safe and sound.

There are dozens of possible error codes that can be reached, but the most common for average web users are 404 Not Found (the file requested isn’t on the server), 403 Forbidden (the file request is there, but the server won’t let you access it, possibly for server permissions reasons), and 401 Unauthorized (the file is there, but authentication is needed to access it). Depending on your site, Read the rest of this entry »

You asked your legal, copyright and trademark questions, and Jean has answered! All questions are taken from comments posted on the original ‘Ask Jean’ post. We invite you to ask more questions.

Dear Jean,

This is regarding architect’s sketched design solutions that are produced after a request from a client, but without prior fee or professional appointment agreement.

How can I protect my copyright of the sketch design solutions that I have labored over? Do I simply show and discuss the scheme to the client, but not release or handover copies of the work? Or, do I go about formally copyrighting all sketches legally and get my fee proposal signed before issuing copies? After the agreement is made for my services, presumably the copyright of the work is still retained by me? Read the rest of this entry »

Imagine that it’s a Saturday night and you’re headed to the movies with friends. There’s a new blockbuster movie and people whose taste you trust have told you it’s a must-see. Picture yourself buying your ticket and joking around with friends while standing in the concession line. Imagine the taste of the popcorn as you share a bucket with the friends sitting next to you. Imagine the trailers for upcoming flicks.

Now the blockbuster you’ve come to see begins. Let’s say, for the sake of our imagination, that it’s The Simpsons Movie.

Do you stand up and shout to the audience, “This is ridiculous! You’ve wasted your time and money! The Simpsons don’t really exist! It’s not believable! I beg you to stop listening to this!”

Of course you don’t. Hopefully. If you do, I don’t imagine your friends invite you to the movies very often. Read the rest of this entry »