Bright Ideas tag:contentgreenhouse.com,2007-10-04://1 2008-01-26T03:03:29Z The Blog of Content Greenhouse Movable Type Open Source 4.1 Designing Experiences is a Kindness tag:contentgreenhouse.com,2008://1.10 2008-01-25T21:47:44Z 2008-01-26T03:03:29Z Why should we design experiences? Because it's a nice thing to do.The act of designing for the best possible outcome of the user is an indication of caring, which reflects positively on an organization. Whether working as one of many... Bryan 87180838_13c7b7872c_m.jpgWhy should we design experiences? Because it's a nice thing to do.

The act of designing for the best possible outcome of the user is an indication of caring, which reflects positively on an organization. Whether working as one of many in a large corporation or frantically in a busy small office, we are people as well--with our feelings, values, preferences and concerns.

In "Global Corporate Citizenship," Klaus Schwab introduces many of us to an interesting concept: As governments exert less control over the individual at the same time that private companies provide more and more services to their stakeholders, organizations are being drawn into social participation in a way that has not been the norm. As a citizen, one should consider the good of the community as well as their own benefit.

How do you consider your stakeholders? Are the interests of your clients in your mind as you make decisions? What about your shareholders? Staff? Members of your physical community? As the world embraces globalization and endorses responsibility, your offerings will be held to a higher standard with international scrutiny. If you have questions, Content Greenhouse is here to help.
]]> Desire Lines tag:contentgreenhouse.com,2007:/blog//1.7 2007-12-05T13:05:18Z 2008-01-22T20:36:22Z Have you heard of desire lines? Surely you've seen them. They are the paths that cut through fields and across campuses; those bee-line shortcuts that connect two roads or show a way were none has been established. For many, they... Bryan desire lines?

Surely you've seen them. They are the paths that cut through fields and across campuses; those bee-line shortcuts that connect two roads or show a way were none has been established. For many, they are an eyesore. For an experience designer, however, they are absolutely fascinating.

Desirelines are invariably the shortest distance to a destination--no one leaves the established way to find a longer route. Additionally, they reflect the method of the user; you can be guaranteed that if there's a desire line someone thinks there's a better way. At very least, you can assume the established way is not preferred.

Outside of the physical world, this concept still holds bearing. Do you know how your employees work? It may be slightly different from how you have intended. Do you know how your customers use your product? You may be surprised to discover it utilized in ways you never expected.

Keep your eye open for desire lines. At Content Greenhouse, our work revolves around such examples of user experience, which provide helpful information for the development of your existing system.

]]> All Experiences, Great and Small tag:contentgreenhouse.com,2007:/blog//1.6 2007-11-07T12:46:38Z 2007-11-08T20:19:27Z What is the first experience you remember? Certainly that memory is tinged with nostalgia and viewed in soft focus, but it is indicative of how ubiquitous experiences are. When was the first time that you experienced remorse or regret? Can... Bryan Expectation, Realization, Regret on FlickrWhat is the first experience you remember? Certainly that memory is tinged with nostalgia and viewed in soft focus, but it is indicative of how ubiquitous experiences are. When was the first time that you experienced remorse or regret? Can you remember? More often than not, your first experience was impressionable but impermanent--considerably less permanent than your most recent experience with remorse.

I'm reminded of this by an experience I had this weekend while visiting friends. My wife had brought along some food to contribute to our hosts' offerings, and we all ate together. All the food was delicious, and all adults thoroughly enjoyed.

Our friends' six-year old son, however, was not hungry and was eager to be excused from the table. First he said he was full; then, in a second effort, he pointed out the food on his plate which he didn't like. He went to great detail to explain why he did not like these foods, completely unaware that his objects of distaste were our offerings.

Naturally, the parents were mortified, but we took it in stride and gave it no bearing. I did, however, reveal the whole thing to the little guy to see what he would do. He is rather fond of me, so I curtly interrupted him and said, "Hey! I made that food!"

He froze. His look was remarkable; it was the exact expression of adult remorse, here on this sweet kid's face. Though no one had done anything particularly wrong, it was evident that he regretted his comments. Full realization at such a young age!

Of course I hadn't prepared the food; my wife had. And he looked at me for some telltale sign that I was pulling his leg. I gave none. Finally his father broke the uneasy stalemate with a mild reprimand and a brief lecture on the feelings of others. I of course was immediately lost in thought, recalling my observations of my little friend during the episode. For how often do we feel remorse? Probably more often than we think. And now that we are adults, administrators, designers, managers and developers, our remorse may be the result of a much more noticeable faux pas. An email sent without a title, an appointment not met, a document not saved, a website not proofread or untested in various browsers or a user's unintentional selection on that page can evoke feelings of regret, remorse, and anxiety.

Bad experiences are experiences too; we simply try to minimize them. At Content Greenhouse our goal is to make every experience a deliberate action. Our good experiences should outweigh our negative ones, and those negative experiences we face should automatically point us to a better experience in a positive yet reinforcing way.
]]> breakfast tag:contentgreenhouse.com,2007:/blog//1.5 2007-10-30T16:54:53Z 2007-10-30T17:18:09Z We often forget how interestingly different people really are. More accurately, we forget that, even among those people to whom we feel most connected with , there lie minute differences.In no place is this more evident than in John Huck's... Bryan breakfast.jpgWe often forget how interestingly different people really are. More accurately, we forget that, even among those people to whom we feel most connected with , there lie minute differences.

In no place is this more evident than in John Huck's "Breakfast" photo series. Our expectations based on a person's snapshot may be inaccurate when we see the breakfast. Or, for that matter, it may be spot on; what can that tell us about our observations?

Perhaps, more importantly, what does breakfast have to do with user experience? Apart from the meticulous attention I might give to personal preparation methods and dish preference, a more general-yet-valuable analysis may note the size of the common breakfast (and its relevance to the size of the common lunch for a foodservice client), the importance of coffee to the common morning (for a storefront or office breakroom looking to accommodate its visitors) or the ratio of portable to "sit-down" meals (for a waste management or public transportation client).

What did you have for breakfast today? And what was your experience?


]]> Ask 37signals: Do I need a designer to make pretty? - (37signals) tag:contentgreenhouse.com,2007:/blog//1.4 2007-10-15T22:43:07Z 2007-10-22T20:06:57Z Ask 37signals: Do I need a designer to make pretty? - (37signals)Think of it like paper and pencil. A programmer can use those tools to create a technical diagram of databases and objects. A designer can use those same tools... Bryan Ask 37signals: Do I need a designer to make pretty? - (37signals)

Think of it like paper and pencil. A programmer can use those tools to create a technical diagram of databases and objects. A designer can use those same tools to create a compelling layout with a flow that's just right.

When designers and programmers work with the same materials, they speak the same language. That's an incredibly helpful way to work together (contrast with artists speaking in Photoshop and "HTML cutters" trying to adapt that to the web).
One of the first recommendations that I could give to anyone preparing a project is to get parties with different skillsets involved on a common ground of functionality. Subcommittees and relegation lead to disconnects that you'll expect your product or service to overcome on its own. Instead, take every opportunity to reinforce the unity of the project's team; a flow of information in a common area can usually be more beneficial than more traditional methods. This concept can be applied to the physical way in which your team works as well.
]]> Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism tag:contentgreenhouse.com,2007:/blog//1.3 2007-10-09T13:32:49Z 2007-10-10T04:42:11Z The New Atlantis - Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism - Christine RosenSelf-portraits can be especially instructive. By showing the artist both as he sees his true self and as he wishes to be seen, self-portraits can at once expose... Bryan The New Atlantis - Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism - Christine Rosen

Self-portraits can be especially instructive. By showing the artist both as he sees his true self and as he wishes to be seen, self-portraits can at once expose and obscure, clarify and distort. They offer opportunities for both self-expression and self-seeking. They can display egotism and modesty, self-aggrandizement and self-mockery.
Today, our self-portraits are democratic and digital; they are crafted from pixels rather than paints. On social networking websites like MySpace and Facebook, our modern self-portraits feature background music, carefully manipulated photographs, stream-of-consciousness musings, and lists of our hobbies and friends. They are interactive, inviting viewers not merely to look at, but also to respond to, the life portrayed online. We create them to find friendship, love, and that ambiguous modern thing called connection. Like painters constantly retouching their work, we alter, update, and tweak our online self-portraits; but as digital objects they are far more ephemeral than oil on canvas.
As the essay notes, this was once an issue only for the elite few: politicians, hollywood stars and musicians. Now, we all have our presence in the public eye; what ramifications should we be looking for down the road?
Also see: Ypulse's "Reflections on Youth & Technology"
]]> Finding inspiration tag:contentgreenhouse.com,2007:/blog//1.2 2007-10-06T04:18:24Z 2007-10-10T04:29:47Z As we open our doors and start on exciting projects, we have to work very hard to stay on task. It seems as if the whole world around us is begging us to be explored, plying us with new... Bryan inexhaustible_nature.jpg As we open our doors and start on exciting projects, we have to work very hard to stay on task. It seems as if the whole world around us is begging us to be explored, plying us with new ideas and fascinations. It would be no surprise, then, that we found this quote fitting.

Hope you find the world as interesting as we do. If not, there are plenty of things to get out there and enjoy!
]]> Our Marketplace is open! tag:contentgreenhouse.com,2007:/blog//1.1 2007-10-04T18:36:23Z 2007-10-04T19:26:02Z Welcome to Bright Ideas, the blog of Content Greenhouse. Here, you'll find practical tips, sources of information, and CGH announcements. Check back regularly to see what's new. We also hope that you'll join our blog. It is set up to... Bryan
We also hope that you'll join our blog. It is set up to support not just our comments and ideas, but yours as well. There area a variety of authentication methods made available to make your presence lasting and distinct. We welcome anonymous comments as well, but we'll screen those with a little more care.

Thanks for visiting; we look forward to a bright future with you!
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