Article We Imagine Technology for a Distant Future…But Want it Now by Christopher Butler on January 20, 2010 It's pretty clear that the creators of Star Trek anticipated the tablet computer. The tablet of their future was referred to generically as the personal access display device, or PADD, and was interchangeable to the extreme. Some scenes even depicted starfleet officers delivering each other orders by simply handing one PADD to the other. Perhaps this had something to do with the elimination of currency in the future. No currency, no brands. Anyway... Read Now About
Article Three Ways to Use Google Analytics to Improve Usability published on January 19, 2010 In an ideal world, we'd have the time, budget, and skill to lead formal usability testing, but that's not a reality for nearly any of us. Lucky for us, we have Google Analytics. Think of it as the all seeing eye that peers over the shoulder of every visitor on your site (creepy right? well, sort of). In this blog post, I'll review how you can leverage your analytics data to form a better understanding of how users behave on your site, what's working, and what's gotta go. Read Now About
Article Creativity and Efficiency in Web Writing published on January 19, 2010 Two models of writing: one based on efficiency and utility, one based on metaphor and narrative. Is there room for both in web content? Read Now About
Article Prototyping the Marriott published on January 13, 2010 How Courtyard by Marriott used two of our favorite things--prototyping and positioning--in a successful redesign of their lobbies. Read Now About
Article We Are Already Living in a Virtual World of Our Own Making by Christopher Butler on January 13, 2010 The stark contrast between technology and nature in this image makes clear the absurdity in reading the latest tech-gadget magazine on your tablet while standing amidst real, natural beauty. Whether our dreams for such a device (whether from Apple or the like) come true this year, we already do this, don't we? We already "augment" our experience of everyday life with our constant online activities, which, once called "virtual," are now quite actual... Read Now About
Article How We Redesigned Newfangled.com by Christopher Butler on January 12, 2010 What a thrill--the latest version of Newfangled.com went live this morning! After six months in development, I'm so pleased with the results. The success of this redesign really comes as a result of one simple decision--to follow, for the first time, the same process we use for every one of our client projects. Our process enables the success of many new projects ever year by diligently pacing the client through every step, from planning to go live. Why not give ourselves the same value. So, starting with the budget and scope planning that happens in every sales negotiation, we treated ourselves just like a client. Once we determined our budget, we handed the project over to Katie and Brian to manage. They, along with Justin and Dave, showed us first-hand how valuable our process and people really are... Read Now About
Article Content Strategy Ten Questions to Ask Before You Start a New Web Project by Christopher Butler on December 31, 2009 Building a new website is a big deal. It takes a lot of time and effort from many people. If you were expecting to simply place an order and be notified when your site is done, you should be prepared for disappointment. That is how basic templates are delivered, not how great websites are built... Read Now About
Article Reading Highlights from 2009 by Christopher Butler on December 22, 2009 Today is the last day I'll be in the Newfangled office in 2009. What a year it's been! Over the last week, I've had numerous opportunities to reflect upon the year with Mark and other coworkers, which has been a very enlightening and edifying experience; we've all certainly learned a lot. Then, this morning I saw Michael Surtee's interview with Inaki Escudero, who read 52 books in 2009 (one per week). Though I read quite a bit, I honestly can't imagine reading that much. In responding to the interview, I was able to look over and count the list of books I read this year, which totaled 32--much more than I thought. I'll reserve final judgement as to whether I can add another twenty this coming year for sometime later, but at this point I'm doubtful.But in reviewing my list, I realized that I had read a few really great things this year. Here are seven books that really impacted how I think and work this year... Read Now About
Article Prospect Experience Design The New My.Newfangled.Com published on December 22, 2009 Two weeks ago, after much planning but with little fanfare, we rolled out the new My.Newfangled.Com! We previewed the new My.Newfangled.Com and explored how it fits into our overall website management strategy in our Coping with Complexity newsletter - but here's a real behind-the-scenes tour, now that the upgrade is live. My.Newfangled.Com is a special portal that consolidates our clients' information in one place, under one login. The "new and improved" site offers immediate access to the prototype, design profile and layouts, staging site, live site, and Google Analytics through tabs at the top of the page... Read Now About
Article My Love-Hate Relationship with Email published on December 10, 2009 Chris passed along an article this morning called 10 Proposals for Fixing the E-Mail Glut" by Nick Bilton and it made me think about the issues I have with email in the workplace. For me, email is like what Winston Churchill said about democracy, "democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time." Email, for me, is the worst form of communication, except for all the others... Read Now About
