User Interface Trends » Sarah Selser

Spec Wreck

Sarah Selser — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 04:38:08 +0000

Why is it so difficult to build to spec? (Just to be clear, I’m referring to all design fields, not just the software industry.)
Is compromise just an inherent part of the process? How detailed do our specs really need to be? Lately, my specs have become pretty lean. This seems to work well on a small scale because additional verbal communication adequately bridges any gaps, but what about on a larger scale when verbal communication might not be an option (due to different time zones, etc.)? Is creating detailed specs, only to have to compromise during development, really the best way to go?

BIXI!

Sarah Selser — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:23:28 +0000

BIXI is a bike-share program in Montreal, QC. The system was fun and easy to use, as well as relatively inexpensive. The entire experience, from using the kiosk, to adjusting the one-size-fits-all bikes, to locating another bike rack after reaching our destination, was pretty simple. Check it out:

http://montreal.bixi.com/home

breast implants. spray cheese.

Sarah Selser — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:17:54 +0000

Here’s a little article I found while digging through some old emails a few days ago. It’s all about breast implants, spray cheese and lorem ipsum. Okay, it’s mostly about lorem ipsum and when it is, and when it’s not, appropriate to use fake data. Enjoy!

http://karenmcgrane.com/2010/01/10/in-defense-of-lorem-ipsum/

Let me lay it out for you

Sarah Selser — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:08:16 +0000

Trend: Page Layout Options

Do you want your thumbnails to appear in a nice, neat grid or a messy collage? Or how about in list form? Well, many sites are offering different page layout options, so you can choose whichever format you want. I’m all for customization when it comes to page layout. Here are a few sites that I think handle this well (Although, I think the iconographic implementation chosen by Dropular and Image Spark works best.):

I Like Big Buttons and I Cannot Lie…

Sarah Selser — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:20:48 +0000

Trend: Big Buttons

It’s a pretty basic concept, but assigning a larger size to the buttons that you want to emphasize most is a great way to call attention to them (smart color choice is also key). Here are a few examples:

Take My Hand: Faceted/Guided Navigation

Sarah Selser — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:14:42 +0000

Trend: Faceted Navigation

There are times when the majority of users agree on how an item should be classified, but when dealing with an extensive list of items, this is rarely the case.* Faceted, or “guided” navigation works well in these situations because it allows the user to access the item via multiple “facets”. Here are a few good examples:

*Unless a standard convention for classifying those items already exists.

Functional Footers

Sarah Selser — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:17:58 +0000

Trend: Functional Footers

Footers containing dense site information allow the user to scan content without the limitations of more complex hierarchical menus.

Good reference: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/04/08/footers-in-modern-web-design-creative-examples-and-ideas/

Upper Right Hand Corner Menus

Sarah Selser — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:23:05 +0000

Trend: Upper Right Hand Corner Menus

Many sites place certain menu items such as “Settings”, “Help” and “Sign Out” in the upper right hand corner of each page.

Date Selection

Sarah Selser — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:28:17 +0000

Trend: Mini-calendars for date selection

Expedia allows the user to select a date by clicking on a calendar.