UI/UX Articles and Interesting Tidbits of the Week
July//15//2022
Here are some interesting finds on UI/UX of the week!
1.
Better Bosses. Interesting article from Inc. Magazine and author Joe Galvin on the topic of developing better bosses within Organizations. Much has been written on the topic of the Great Resignation and how much the economy has changed during and after the pandemic. One pervasive statement and realization that has crystalized more and more, is the need for managers and bosses to demonstrate more empathy, to be more authentic, and as the article reinforces, be the heralds for what the Organization’s mission is all about. Being able to retain good talent, is now, more than ever before something to aspire and practice. However and as the article points out, bosses/managers also need themselves to get the proper training in being effective leaders. Well worth reading through. Highlight of the article includes:
“It has never been more important for business leaders to build the bosses they need. Setting up front line managers to act as an extension of an organization’s central vision will ensure alignment, work as a recruitment strategy, and keep employees engaged. A company’s best salesperson can make for their worst manager if their senior executives don’t first equip them with the right tools. The old school “sink or swim” mentality means that the majority will sink and some will swim. Even those managers who were able to swim in the “MF95” era are going to have to be re-skilled and retrained for today’s hybrid worker.”
2.
Accessibility First Approach to Data Visualizations & Infographics. Very pertinent and relevant article hailing from The Smashing Magazine, courtesy of authors Kent Eisenhuth and Kai Chang, focused on understanding best practices to consider when building Data Visualizations and Infographics, taking into consideration accessibility requirements. The article’s authors shed some light on the statistics of people with visual disabilities in the US, and then detail how they tackled a particular case study they had with “helping developers understand the overall latency and performance of their apps, websites, and digital experiences”. It’s an insightful case study which looks at details such as color contrast, but one that also provides additional resources to explore in regards to Accessibility in digital product solutions. Highlight of the article includes:
“Visualizations only work well for those who can fully see. According to the National Federation of the Blind, 7.6M people in the United States have a vision disability. We also know that color blindness affects 1 in 12 men worldwide. These people are typically not relying on assistive technology, like screen readers, to consume web content, and they will be the focus of our case study. For most of these people, the value and insights provided by a chart get lost, and in some cases, the chart provides little-to-no information. As part of our mission of organizing the world’s information and making it universally accessible, it’s our responsibility to be good citizens of the web by making data accessible to everyone.”
3.
Autonomous Work and Creativity. Another article hailing from the Invision Design Blog, this case study looks at what Credit Suisse is doing in terms of Organizing the work schedule and volume of initiatives across its Design teams and team members, all of which have a global footprint. While the topic and fear of micromanagement appears repeatedly in the article, it’s worth noting how they build a culture of trust and respect between all team members. While this article leaves quite a few unanswered questions in its path, and probably warrants a deeper understanding of team’s dynamics, including roles and responsibilities, it’s well worth reading and exploring for some of the considerations it surfaces on eclectic and widely distributed Design teams. Highlight of the article includes:
“Inclusivity can be a powerful collaboration tool for organizations, which is why the team doesn’t take its value for granted throughout the design process. Trust is built in safe environments, and the ability to feel like their contributions matter and have equal standing with everyone in a team, said L.A. Worrell, Design Thinking & Product Delivery leader at Credit Suisse. It also gives people the space for making and owning their decisions means letting them make mistakes, Christophe notes.”
