Category Archives: Best Practices

Thanks to Amazon, I survived Black Friday

I’ve never ventured out on Black Friday. In fact, as I get older, the more I despise Xmas. Or at least America’s version of it.
But I do have kids, and it’s hard to deny a child a toy that they really want. Our 4 year old wanted a drum set for xmas. We did [...]

Less is more: good UI design, good health care.

The Less is More concept to application/UI development has been around for a long time and–on the web–has gotten a bit more press lately with the whole ‘web 2.0′ (blech) trend to simplify tasks and interfaces.
I agree with this. Even I fall into the trap of overdesigning the functionality of my applications. Yesterday, I, along [...]

Accessibility…who does it REALLY help?

Whenever the topic of accessibility comes up amongst web designers, there’s always a few who insist on seeing some numbers. The argument usually consists of ‘why should I do X to accomodate the small insignificant group Y’. Of course, this fails to take into consideration the fact that accessibility isn’t specifically about accomodating some minority [...]

Jakob Only Has Two Weblog Mistakes Right

I read through Jakob Nielsen’s Weblog Usability: The Top Ten Design Mistakes. As someone with a couple of weblogs, I only agree with two of his “mistakes”. The rest of them have valid, strategic uses.

No Author BiographiesSure, a general “I like puppies and long walks on the beach, I dislike mean people” is useful. We’ve [...]

Find a Human

This is a handy list of all the shortcuts to getting to an actual human when calling companies’ support lines. This page needs more publicity and more entries. Spread the word.
Some of my favorites (with my commentary in paranthesis):

Cingular
For faster service, press the option that you are looking to close your account, You [...]

to hell with mr. clean…

Hello mrs. meyers .
Being an advocate for making peoples lives a little less stressful, less complicated, enabling the average user to get whatever task they need accomplished in the least amount of time, I am singing the praises of Mrs. Meyers Clean Day products. Yes, these are household cleaning products - but my god - [...]

ALAP’s new more-important design

It’s been mentioned everywhere, but, in case you missed it, A List Apart just redesigned. A nice look. And completely arrogant.
Yes, they’ve decided that their site is so immensly important that I should close all my windows and hide my bookmarks pane and maximize my browser so I can bask in the glow of all [...]

FontSmack

Jonathan Snook has launched a new web site: fontsmack.com. Fontsmack is a repository of read-to-go sIFR files. sIFR files are small flash files that can be uses with the Scalable Inman Flash REplacement method of providing an (almost) completely accessible method for using custom fonts on your web page headers and headlines.
Jonathan, a web [...]

Rhode Island Alumni Store

I recently stumbled across RISD’s online store (via speakup). What’s unique about this store is that it only sells products that have been created by RISD alumni. It’s a great way to not only showcase alumni talent, but to visually and immediately explain the broad concept of design and the value of a degree from [...]

MNBits: Structure, Scripting, and Standardization

Whew…I’m way behind on my Friday MNBits posts. Well, Summer came, and some major yard work, then we decided to remodel the bathroom, and then the kids started t-ball, and then…oh…I’m rambling. Sorry.
So, on with the MNBits…
script.aculo.us
In addition to getting me thinking about having to now get my own ‘ious’ URL, this site is a [...]