Friday, August 29, 2008
The Refresh Site and Brave Colours
The Refresh site made it into Function’s post from a month or so ago on 32 Examples of Websites with a Brave Colour Scheme. Some cool examples in the article, check it out.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Refresh 010 — Social Design Patterns
August 28, 2008
6:30-8:00PM
Calvert Holdings, Inc.
1225 Crescent Green, Suite 115
Cary, North Carolina 27518
Jackson Fox, user experience designer at Viget Labs, shares:
These days it seems like every new site, and even venerable old sites, are embracing social features. We have dozens of friends lists, more inboxes than we can count, libraries of avatars, and everything can be shared with anyone. In the process we’ve had to struggle with loss of privacy, new security challenges, and new forms of online etiquette.
As social software evolves, we’re starting to see emerging patterns of behavior and design. We’ll take a look at some of these emerging social design patterns, both good and bad, and look ahead at the patterns that we still need to create.
Friday, August 01, 2008
009 Recap
This month’s Refresh the Triangle 009 was our quarterly show-and-tell meetup, where we geek out on some of the share interesting news, valuable secrets, hot tips, neat tools, or whatever else happens to pop into our heads.
Clinton Nixon kicked things off with a really-fast recap of OSCON 2008 where he gave a tutorial on building Rails plugins. He also recommended Douglas Crockford’s new book Javascript: The Good Parts.
Mindy Wagner shared two new sites she’s been using — PatternTap is a collection of web interface patterns and examples, and ScrnShots is a site for sharing and tagging screenshots. Both are great resources when you’re looking for some design inspiration, or if you’re interested in building out your own library of inspiring designs.
Casey was recently introduced to the prototyping tool Axure and gave us a tour of the kind of wireframes he’s been building with it. Axure lets you build interactive prototypes in a GUI designer, and then export those prototypes to HTML.
Casey also recommended SpringLoops, hosted Subversion service with some nice tools for deploying web apps and connecting to Basecamp, and IE Tester, a tool for running multiple IE versions. IE Testing lets you show versions side-by-side, but seems to be a bit rough around the edges still.
I attempted to demo the slick new user testing tool Silverback from Clearleft, but the projector refused to cooperate. Instead, I talked about using Ethnio and UserVue for remote usability testing, and demoed Balsamiq, a flash-based wireframing tool.
Following up on our Silverback discussion, Nathan talked about his new favorite screencasting tool - Screenflow. Screenflow does all the standard recording tricks, but also includes a decent video editor with effects for panning, zooming, and highlighting user actions.
Lastly, Michale Kimsal was nice enough to start our very own Refresh the Triangle room on FriendFeed.
Thanks everyone who came out and shared with us! You can check out photos from Refresh 009 on Flickr.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Web Strategist
Ironworks is still growing! We are looking for a Web Strategist who can work closely with our creative and technical teams while leading the delivery of client-specific work.
This individual will participate in the delivery and sales process of User Experience consulting engagements. Engagements broadly fall within the category of:
• Web and E-Commerce Strategy
• Web Site and Intranet Design & Development (including CMS and Portal solutions)
• Usability Testing
• Online Marketing
Engagement work is diverse, often including strategy, primary and secondary research, competitive analyses, customer profiles, site optimization, and more. Project management responsibilities are also required on occasion. Core Duties/Responsibilities include the following:
• Scopes and participates in the selling of consulting engagements
• Consults with and delivers results to clients within tight time constraints that consistently meet or exceed client expectations
• Collaborates with clients and internal teams to identify solutions that enable clients to achieve business and marketing objectives
• Interviews and interacts with senior level client executives and sponsors, linking these key stakeholders’ objectives to project efforts
• Works closely with Creative, Technology and Project Management groups to provide input and ensure business objectives are met
• Leads the delivery of client-specific deliverables such as: Target Audience Analyses, Competitive Analyses, Expert Site Reviews, Web Strategies, Implementation Plans
• Works with clients to develop sites that attract, engage, and retain customers
• Facilitates and coordinates primary research, including focus groups, usability testing and surveys
• Contributes to the growth of the User Experience team by identifying opportunities and new service areas
Required Skills & Experience
• Strong understanding of the Web, the role of User Experience and the relationship between User Experience and Technology
• Familiarity with online business and what makes sites successful
• Familiarity with marketing and branding principles
• Ability to develop fact-based strategic insights that effectively communicate the value of ideas and approach to both clients and prospects
• Grasp industry and competitor information and integrate that knowledge into recommendations and approach
• Solid writing and interpersonal communication skills in both raising questions and describing and clarifying findings
• Demonstrated experience in developing and leading presentations at multiple levels of management
• Strong client services and client engagement skills
• Strong project management and time management skills
• College degree required
• 5+ years relevant work experience
• Experience working for an Interactive Agency or Ad Agency is helpful.
Ironworks is a consulting services firm that doesn’t believe in big-bang approaches or seemingly endless sales pitches. We provide the flexibility and dedication of a smaller firm combined with the broad experience and deep expertise of a large consultancy. Ironworks hires smart, honest people who measure personal success through the success of our clients. Our mission is simple: never fail a client. Learn more about who we are and what we do at www.ironworks.com. Apply online at http://www.ironworks.com/company/careers.htm, or send resume to cnicolls@ironworks.com for immediate consideration!
Todd Warfel’s full-day workshop on effective prototyping
Durham, NC — Mon, Sept 15, 2008, 9:00AM-5:00PM
Are you interested in making prototyping a key part of your design process? Or do you currently practice prototyping and need some fresh ideas?
This highly detailed, practical, and hands on workshop will provide a framework for creating and testing prototypes. We’ll discuss what prototyping is, when to use it, when to use other methods, and what to expect.
This is the first event in TriUPA’s new training series.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Need one-off wordpress/podcasting help
Hello all:
I’ve got a friend who needs some one-off work doing some wordpress upgrades, itunes/podcast tweaking, and a few other housekeeping chores.
I don’t think I have the time to handle this and am wondering if someone else in the area can help. He’s in the Raleigh area, and though I think this might be able to be all done remotely, meeting face to face once might help both of you get a handle on what’s needed faster.
Email me at mgkimsal@gmail.com if you’re available to help.
Thanks.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Refresh 009 — Fresh Perspectives
215 William Penn Plaza, Durham 27704 — Thurs, Jul 31, 2008, 6:30-8:00PM
As we’re trying to do once each quarter, we’ll take a break from the formal presentations this month to have a group share. We’ll take 30-45 minutes to geek out on some of the latest web industry news and share some personal favorites, valuable secrets, tips, tools, or whatever you feel could benefit the group.
Come ready to share anything you’d like — a headline or news item, a site, a tool, a snippet of code, a device, a book excerpt — anything large or small that you feel is current and elevates our web knowledge. And don’t think it has to be entirely unique (as in no one else knows about it already), it’ll kill the vibe. Just come with something that you know has been valuable/noteworthy to you, and don’t over-think it. It can be as quick as sharing a URL and a sentence about why we should visit the site. Or it can be as long as 5 minutes in a text editor demonstrating a few lines of code.
So stop for a few minutes before you head out and think of something to share. Do that, come relaxed, and the results will be sweet. See you there.
Location:
Independence Park Apartments
(mini-movie theater!)
215 William Penn Plaza
Durham NC, 27704
Refresh 008 Recap
Thanks to everyone who came out last night to watch and discuss the webinar from Jared Spool. We drew a small crowd by the usual standards (about 17 people attended), but our discussion afterwards was Refresh at its finest. If you were there and you learned something or shared something, feel free to leave a comment.
Mindy Wagner wrote up a recap of the meeting and we posted photos on Flickr. We’re looking forward to seeing you next month on July 22nd. We’re looking for a host / sponsor - let us know if you’d be up for it.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
A Great Opportunity for a Great Designer
Overview
You understand beauty. You care about both form and function. You understand the power and possibility of AJAX technologies to make a web experience that is dynamic and compelling. You are comfortable in Photoshop but also in the guts of CSS and HTML. You might even know Javascript and frameworks like Ruby on Rails.
Come join our product team in RTP. We’re using cutting edge technologies on a leading Web 2.0 collaborative community site. We have a dynamic start-up environment with proven leadership and established market traction. Help shape the future of the web together.
Responsibilities
* Generate compelling UI designs balancing powerful features with approachability for a broad audience
* Implement designs using standards-compliant markup
* Establish and maintain a robust CSS strategy including effective cascading and theming
* Collaborate with a talented product team on all elements of the development process
* Contribute to standards and best practices in an evolving, agile work environment
Qualifications
* Strong Expertise in CSS, along with cross-browser issues and workarounds
* A hunger to learn and a commitment to excellence
* Familiarity with current trends in web development
* Experience with UX principles and practices
Bonus Points
* Experience with Ruby on Rails
* Experience with event-based Javascript and AJAX
* Familiarity with agile programming methodologies
* Experience with Web 2.0 dynamics and concepts
Contact
charles@near-time.com.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Information Architect/ UE Specialist
Information Architect. Web Strategist. Usability Pro. Client Champion. Could all of these be in your title? If so, you could be the one to help grow the User Experience practice of Ironworks Consulting’s Cary office.
Ironworks Consulting, an established web technology consulting company, is seeking a well-rounded Information Architect/ User Experience Specialist for our growing Cary, NC office.
We might be for you if you:
- Are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about many areas of User Experience
- Can not only come up with great ideas, you can execute them in Information Architecture deliverables
- Have a solid portfolio demonstrating wireframes, sitemaps, and case studies
- Are confident and polished when giving client presentations
- Have excellent collaborative skills when you work with internal teams
- Know what a usability lab is
- Have a record of delivering to your clients on time and on budget
- Understand the importance of look and feel, but aren’t looking to be a full time designer
- Have experience in developing web strategies
- Don’t mind some work related travel
- Are dedicated to making your clients and coworkers successful
- Enjoy working with a team that actually likes to hang out together even when they don’t have to
If this could be you, send your resume and samples to cnicolls@ironworks.com
Ironworks is a consulting services firm that doesn’t believe in big-bang approaches or seemingly endless sales pitches. We provide the flexibility and dedication of a smaller firm combined with the broad experience and deep expertise of a large consultancy. Ironworks hires smart, honest people who measure personal success through the success of our clients. Our mission is simple: never fail a client. Learn more about who we are and what we do at www.ironworks.com.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Refresh 008 — UIE’s Strike Up the Brand
Location: Durham, NC — Thurs, June 26, 2008, 6:30-8:00PM
In this virtual presentation, Jared M. Spool, User Interface Engineering’s Founder, will discuss UIE’s recent usability research into how people perceive brands on the internet and how teams can ensure their designs strengthen each user’s relationship with the brand. You will learn:
- The two important outcomes of branding efforts—affinity and dispositional returns—and why designers need to understand how these work
- Why ‘message’ branding doesn’t strengthen engagement, but ‘experience’ branding does
- The important role that user experience research plays in the design process for branding
- How measuring brand engagement can show the effects of a design
In his presentation, Jared will show how Amazon, Walmart, Ford, Apple, and Netflix have attempted to increase their users’ brand engagement.
Location:
American Tobacco Campus
Teach for America Offices
Washington Building, Bay 12
Suite 1120
Durham, NC 27701
(Map)
Refresh 007 Recap
Refresh 007 was a big hit! Stuart Halloway was highly engaging and his presentation, “Ending Legacy Code in Our Lifetime,” gave everyone lots to talk about - not just the developers, but the designers and “others,” too. Stuart’s slides are available, and I know of at least one recap of the event.
Many thanks to Stuart for being our speaker. We’re also grateful to the West End Wine Bar - they let us have their downstairs, The Cellar, all to ourselves at no charge. The ceilings were low, but the vibe was great. I think everyone had a lot of fun.
Photos are on flickr. See you next month!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Designer, Developer, and Writer, Oh my
The DukeHealth.org team is looking for a Web: designer, developer, and writer. Follow the links for more details.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Refresh 007 — Ending Legacy Code In Our Lifetime
Location: The Cellar — Thurs, May 22, 2008, 6:30-8:00PM
Most software developers don’t have an exact definition of legacy code, but to paraphrase Potter Stewart, they “know it when they see it.” Unfortunately, legacy code has something else in common with Stewart’s famous subject — it is embarrassingly ubiquitous.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Stuart Halloway, CEO of Relevance, will share:
- A better definition of legacy.
- How existing technologies and development practices guarantee that most code will slide into legacy immediately.
- How you can stave off legacy by writing low-ceremony, essential code.
Agility can be done right. By respecting the dynamic, living nature of software/human systems, you can create systems that evolve to meet changing needs.
Location:
The Cellar (downstairs at The West End Wine Bar)
450 W. Franklin St.
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Monday, April 28, 2008
006 Meeting Recap
Refresh 006 was a major success. Nathan Huening from OnWired gave a great talk called “Dr. jQuery (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the DOM),” and his passion for the material was evident. In a series of increasingly complex examples, Nathan showed off the power and simplicity of the jQuery JavaScript library. He demonstrated that most of jQuery can be reduced to “grab things, do stuff,” starting with simple CSS modifications and moving to AJAX, animation, and custom functionality.
To get a good taste of the presentation, you can use FireBug to run Nathan’s sample code against the demo page he set up. You’ll want to be running FireFox 2, as FF3 Beta 5 gave me a lot of grief while I tried to follow Nathan’s examples.
Big thanks to Nathan and to Duke’s Blackwell Interactive for hosting the event, as well as to everyone who came out; maybe we’ve got you pictured on our Flickr page.
Hope to see you next month.