Macchiato No. 32 // A Shot of UX with a Dollop of Graphic Design

I’m back from my short break and happy to fill your cup with this week’s delicious dose of Macchiato. I’ve added a few more links than usual, so we’ll call today’s post a Starbucks Latte Macchiato.

Espresso:

• Clutter helps nothing when it comes to design, especially in a time when it’s harder than ever to get noticed through all the noise. This article provides insight on how to apply the principle of limited attention to UX design: Cognitive Psychology and UX: The Principle of Limited Attention.
• The Android Team at Google created a very simple system to measure users’ gut reactions. They use the least techie of tricks: Google’s Dead-Simple Tool For Making UX Decisions: 2 Jars Of Marbles.
• “What are we talking about when we talk about simplicity? Clarity. Not everything can be simple.” When It Comes to UX Design, Simplicity is Overrated.
• See when big companies redesigned their sites (screenshots included). I love seeing the evolution of design: UX Timeline by Jacinthe Busson , COO & Co-founder Elegantt.com.
• What makes for a good customer experience? How exactly do we get there? " X: The Experience When Business Meets Design" was written by customer-experience visionary Brian Solis , and is “…a crash course in architecting great experiences and…a must-read for any designer looking to brush up on his trade.”

Foam:

• Are These Graphic Design Trends Going Out of Style? Here is a list of graphic design trends that are on their way out. Muted and natural color schemes, you have served me well for the past sixteen years. Even though you are on this list, I’m probably still going to use you!
• On the other side of muted and natural color schemes, we have the bold and bright. One thing you will notice in Japanese graphic design is that it’s full of color and life: Graphic design from around the world: Japanese Design. This source provides inspiration and a little insight into Japanese culture.

Salute!