An (Unintended) Exploration of Tax Software Usability
I had the questionable joy this year of trying out, not one, not two, but three tax return applications online to file my Canadian taxes. This is...
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The Power of a Good Story
It was a dark and stormy night and Lynn Weston couldn't figure out how to turn off her computer. She had just gotten a new Windows 8 system and...
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Design Will Save the World
In a recent interview with Zane Lowe of the BBC, Kanye West said that he believes that the world can only be saved through design. “I...
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Improve Desirability: Improve your Experience
As I fought to run away from a sudden hoard of attackers before they killed me, I accidentally pulled out my cell phone holding it up so that it...
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The Perils of Choice (and how to avoid them)
One Saturday in an upscale supermarket in California, shoppers were greeted with an extraordinary display of 24 types of jam to sample and buy...
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Please Let Me Go – The Usability of Flight Booking Systems (Pt. 1)
Your name is André Aumond and you wish to book a flight from Toronto, ON, Canada to Orlando, FL, USA for two weeks, leaving the 15th of July. You...
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Google Goes Gaga for Gestures
"For years radios had been operated by means of pressing buttons and turning dials; then as the technology became more sophisticated the...
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Violating User Expectations
“Mom, I'm going to have to call you back. I need to call 911.†I announced suddenly in the middle of my phone call. In retrospect...
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Always Be Testing
Usability is defined as the effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction with which specified users achieve specified goals in particular...
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Who Is Your Market?
I was recently on a business trip to Qatar for the first time. I had never been to Qatar, nor did I know anything about its history. A quick...
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The Impact of Pinterest on UX Design
It's been over five years since the launch of the addictive photo sharing website, Pinterest. And the impact that it has had on visual and...
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Where Do I Put My Cereal Box? (The Usability of Recycling)
“Is this recyclable?†my boyfriend asks, holding up a black plastic food container. “No, it's black plastic. You can't...
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Understanding Defaults and Notifications (or, why I hate my dishwasher) – Part 2
This is part two of a two part series. In part one we went over the guidelines around using defaults and talked about some pitfalls to avoid. You...
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Is Responsive Design Great Mobile Design?
The first time in your career that you notice things have changed since you started is a pretty exciting milestone. In a young industry like...
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How to Perfectly Orchestrate Your Web Design Style Guide
After recently completing an extensive website design style guide for a client, we were reminded just how much this document reflects the...
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