UI/UX Articles and Interesting Tidbits of the Week
April//5//2024
Here are some interesting finds on UI/UX of the week!
1.
Product Roadmaps. Very pertinent article from the User Testing Blog on the topic of Product Roadmaps. I’ve previously mentioned in one of the newsletters, that there are indeed different types of roadmaps, namely Product, Field and Specialty. This article in particular, focuses on the “why” and “how” to implement effective Product Roadmaps. The article thoroughly details aspects such as its key components (which includes Goals and Objectives, Timelines, Prioritizations, and Dependencies to name but a few), why these roadmaps are so important, and also the different subtypes of roadmaps that can exist within this Product domain. The article also goes into great lengths explaining the different steps involved in creating one, including considerations on strategy, stakeholders, key components, to name but a few. Well worth reading through. Highlight of the article includes:
“When crafted thoughtfully, product roadmaps provide immense value to organizations. They act as more than just a visual timeline of features or goals. Well-defined roadmaps align stakeholders, communicate strategy, spur collaboration, outline the vision, and give transparency into development. Whether serving external customers or internal teams, products drive competitive advantage. With so much riding on product direction, roadmaps guide teams on where to allocate their efforts and resources.”
2.
Picking the Perfect Font Size. Another substantial and impactful article from the A11Y Collective, this time around on the topic of choosing the right font size, in a way that abides or aligns with the needs for accessibility. The article from author Caitlin de Rooij is thorough and very informative, including recommendations on standards of font size, namely Regular body text — a size of 12pt (16px) is generally suggested, Large text — a size of 18pt (24px) is typically recommended as a minimum, which as one can read from the article, are suggestions to keep in mind when creating digital products. The article also includes some good recommendations on best practices for website text. It’s one of those articles always worth bookmarking and revisiting. Highlight of the article includes:
“Choosing a font size that’s too small or too large can decrease readability, especially for users who may be experiencing conditions such as myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism. This could make it harder for them to absorb your web content and navigate your site, leading to many unwanted consequences, such as poor user experience, increased bounce rates, bad Search Engine Optimization (SEO) performance, and reduced conversions. With over half of online traffic coming from mobile devices, each with varying screen sizes, the challenge of font size becomes even bigger. This makes responsive design and scalable font sizes essential to ensure users can access your content in a format that caters to their device requirements.”
3.
Relevant Resumes. I’ve decided to include an article pertaining to crafting impactful resumes, as this is something that everyone (myself included of course), has to keep top of mind when navigating their professional career. Since the pandemic, and particularly when it comes to the Technology world, the job market has witnessed a rollercoaster type of activity, one that has hit peaks and lows (I’d volunteer we’re still going through the lows, with the number of layoffs not stopping). This article from author Nathan Eddy for Dice, touches on topics such as Relevant Experience, its importance, how to list it, and how to identify the different types of relevant experience in itself. While none of this may seem transformative information at first glance, it does allow for a reflection on how we want our content, our accomplishments to be read and understood by those who are trying to bring value to their teams (the hiring managers). Worth reading through. Highlight of the article includes:
“Weizman points out relevant experience serves as a testament to a candidate’s track record of success in similar environments or projects, validating their capabilities and potential contributions. This includes concrete examples of past achievements and problem-solving skills. Orozco says applicants should focus on quantifying their accomplishments with numbers and percentages wherever possible, as this provides concrete evidence of their impact. “Simply copying and pasting job descriptions onto a resume is a common mistake, as it fails to highlight individual contributions and achievements,” she explains. “Instead, applicants should delve deeper, discussing specific projects, their duration, team size, and tangible outcomes.” Depending on the role applied for, accomplishments could relate to coding, project management, or cost-saving initiatives.”
