IDEA8

mayabrasnovic — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:39:14 +0000

Although this website is very simple, it is evident that the though process into designing the IDEA8 website was well researched. So if you like it clean and simple yet effective have a look.

Personas-Mood Board

mayabrasnovic — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:28:01 +0000

This is a mood board representing persona, 75 year old Johnny Smith. The mood board is used to help define an archetypical user. It looks at what their style is, their likes and dislikes. The mood board helps when planning an interactive interface or design as it allows you to anticipate how a user like Johnny would respond. Click on the image for a larger version.

Storyboarding example- How to make toast

mayabrasnovic — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:26:20 +0000

This is 3 example frames that would be used when planning interactive design. With captions it is easy to communicate the idea and follow how it will be developed. Click on image to see a larger version of all 3 frames.

Alice in Wonderland

mayabrasnovic — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:57:56 +0000

The Alice in Wonderland website is worth having a look if your interested in looking at a good example of interactive design.

What is Interactive Design

mayabrasnovic — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:40:34 +0000

Interaction design revolves around the principle of action and reaction. It anticipates the various outcomes that can occur in each event and designs reactions for them. This way the user and the design communicate with each other, as opposed to non-interactive design where information is not exchanged or promoted but flows in a one-way direction.

Most interactive design is used when teaching, displaying or instructing. Examples of interaction design are information kiosks, such as the ones used when developing digital images as well as tutorials, digital manuals and websites.

Bob Baxley states that:

“Interactive design serves to translate the conversation that goes on between the technology and the user”

So we can see interactive design as being the mediator between the machine and us, helping us to gain information.

References

Baxley, Bob. “Introducing Interaction Design.” Boxes and Arrows. 2002. Public Square and East Media. 16 March. 2010. http://www.boxesandarrows.com/view/introducing_interaction_design

How to make toast

mayabrasnovic — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:13:51 +0000

When planning interaction design planning tools such as flow charts are helpful. Usually a text-by-text description is outlined and then is used to developed the visual flow chart. Here is an example using how to make toast.

What is Information Design?

mayabrasnovic — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:43:40 +0000

In the book Information Design: An introduction Rune Pettersson aims to define the term information design. He describes it as design that:

“…compromises analysis, planning, presentation and understanding of a message-its content, language and form. Regardless of the selected medium, a well designed information set will satisfy aesthetic, economic, ergonomic, as well as subject matter requirements.”(Petterson, 2002)

Information design uses the principles of typography and structure, philosophy of beauty, harmony and proportion, perception laws and more to provide unity and clarity when presenting information as images, text, or audio-visual form.

Pettersson also states “the goal of communication-orientated design of messages should always be clarity of communication.”

Information design has become an integral part of our everyday lives, for example without information design the large volume of information on the web would never really become knowledge. It would be a mass of virtual information that would never reach or be given the opportunity to interact with users.

Information design will convey a message clearly to the viewer. It can range from graphs that represent data to manuals that instruct on how to use a technology or even extend to the design of way-finding. A beautiful example of information design is designer Axel Peemoeller’s way-finding system for the Eureka building parking lot in Melbourne.

Design you trust.com has posted some beautiful and interesting sets of information design. These infographics are a good example of how large volumes of information can be designed to depict and communicate to the viewer quickly and efficiently and importantly with clarity their message.

Refernces:

Dmtry. “50 Great Examples of Infographics” Design You trust. 2007. Envisionext Host. 12 March. 2010 http://designyoutrust.com/2009/04/20/50-great-examples-of-infographics/

Peemoeller, Axel. “Eureka Car Park Melbourne.” Axel Peemoeller. last accessed: 12 March. 2010 http://www.axelpeemoeller.com/eurekacarpark.html

Petterson, Rune. ” Design Disciplines.” Information Design:An Introduction. Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing, 2002. 5-22.

What is Web 2.0?

mayabrasnovic — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:38:57 +0000

The word Web 2.0 appears to have endless definitions and various perspectives. There are many commentators with different opinions to what constitutes as Web 2.0.

In the book Web 2.0 and Beyond, Tom Funk is able to simply define Web 2.0 and its principles. He credits John Battelle, original editor of wired magazine and Tim O’Reilly, founder and CEO of computer publishing O’Reilly Media for coining the term “Web 2.0”. He quotes O’Reilly’s summary of what Web 2.0 actually is as:

“Web 2.0 doesn’t have a hard boundary, but rather, a gravitational core. You can visualize Web 2.0 as a set of principles and practices that tie together a veritable solar system of sites that demonstrate some or all of those principles, at a varying distance from that core.” (xvii)

So what are these “set of principles”? What is Web 2.0 made of?

The power is in the hands of the individual users and their networks. This means that the individual everyday user is able to distribute, sort, combine, display and create content on the web.

Web 2.0 is marked by new technology that allows complex software applications to be used on the web. Meaning that it opens up new possibilities to what content can be viewed and created by users.

Web 2.0 applications allow users to view rich media content such as Flash and streaming video, webcasts, podcasts, streaming audio software, music and video downloads and multi-player role playing games. (Funk, 2009)

Some examples include sites such as Google, Youtube, flickr, Facebook, Myspace and even the blog your reading right now.They give users the power and freedom to create content.

Ultimately Web 2.0 is about interaction; the interaction between users and users, users and applications and users and content. It places a strong focus on seamless integration between these interactions, which is another key principle of Web 2.0.

Reference:

Funk, Tom. “ introduction: What is web 2.0 and How Will It Change My Business?” Web 2.0 and beyond: understanding the new online business models, trends, and technologies. Westport: Praeger Publishers, 2009. Xi-1.

Alannah Hill Website

mayabrasnovic — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:53:40 +0000

Alannah Hill’s website is a beautiful example of interactive design. Designed by Paper Stone Scissors and Flint Design studios