UI/UX Articles And Interesting Tidbits Of The Week
November//27//2020
Here are some interesting finds on UI/UX of the week!
1.
Effective User Interviews. Hailing from PixelFridge, this article sheds light and provides some very insightful recommendations on how to conduct User Interviews. Having conducted quite a few during my career, I can attest to how valuable they are when it comes to shedding light on processes, expectations, frustrations, and generally gaining a better understanding of actual users behaviors and the discrepancies between what say, analytics provide, and what users expect solutions to deliver. This article highlights aspects such as Impartiality, Conditioning Questions, to name but a few. Worth a read. Highlight of the article includes:
“Silence is a powerful tool when used correctly. We humans are social creatures. We’re trained to fill silences. When conversation comes to a halt the weight of silence can feel unbearable. This is a slightly devious use of social psychology, and you can use it to your advantage. Users will often give you broad or open-ended answers. If you’re too quick to ask for clarity, you may rob the question of it’s impact or (worse still) influence their dialogue with your follow-up question. Instead, try pausing for a little while. Hold off on saying anything for a few seconds after they finish answering. It might encourage them to dig a little deeper, and share something else with you.”
2.
Job Search Guide. Though not something I typically highlight on this newsletter, this article hailing from Indeed’s Career Guide is one well worth looking at. It provides pertinent suggestions and avenues to focus on when it comes to Resume creation, Cover Letters, but also and just as importantly, devising a strategy and being methodical about approaching the process of finding a new career opportunity (looking at Organization’s social media pages, networking, are just some of their recommendations). Highlight of the article includes:
“Including a cover letter is a traditional part of a job application that is not always necessary these days. As you go through your search, evaluate each job individually to determine if you need a cover letter. In most cases, the purpose of a cover letter is to introduce yourself to a potential employer. You can use a cover letter to call out significant achievements, address gaps in your resume, or explain why you’re attracted to this job and organization. Sometimes employers may ask you to answer a specific question in a cover letter. If you come across a job description or application like this, make sure you follow the writing prompt closely. Employers include a prompt like this to assess your attention to detail and written communication skills.”
3.
Dropbox is Evolving. Interesting article from Fast Company focused on DropBox’s strategy to organize workplaces and work processes under this new reality, during and post pandemic times. It’s a very interesting take and illustrates the pivot experienced by this particular organization, well known for co-located product solutioning experiences, to now a virtual based one. Well worth a read for what it introduces and for their product feature enhancements that are enabling these shifts in path they’re performing. Highlight of the article includes:
“Even among tech companies that have reassessed everything about how they operate, Dropbox’s reaction to the pandemic has been dramatic. Last month, it announced that it was going virtual first, effective immediately. Working from home is now the official, permanent default experience, with “Dropbox Studios” physical spaces in San Francisco and the company’s other major hubs available for in-person collaboration when necessary. Except for “core collaboration hours” designed to span multiple time zones, staffers will also be free to devise their own schedules rather than sticking to anything resembling a 9–5 day.”
