Archive for the ‘Usability’ Category

A few times a year, Bluewire Media will submit some of our latest websites to the IMA (Interactive Media Awards). We’ve had much success over the years, with 6 “Best In Class” awards and 5 “Outstanding Achievement” awards. One of our latest entries, however, has scored our best mark yet – The Maura Fay Group’s [...]

My grandfather once criticised me for saying it was a REALLY hot day… “You’re really good at pointing out the blindingly obvious.” Zap. OK, so maybe on that occasion my comment wasn’t necessary, but I’m going to take a punt and risk the “blindingly obvious” again… The first priority of your web strategy has to [...]

The best UI you have ever used — UX Exchange The worst UI you have ever used — UX Exchange 50 geeky gifts for Valentines’ Day — Hongkiat Apple unveils iPad Tablet — Sydney Morning Herald 53 New York City Storefronts vs Their Websites — Blue Fountain Media UX case study: Designing a user-focused web [...]

Most people who have the pleasure of using one Sarah Hyne’s websites, wouldn’t be able to put a finger on what makes them so good. Why is that you ask..?  Well, they just WORK! And that is the key to usability and web design according to Bluewire’s impressive web designer Sarah Hyne. I sat down with [...]

I’ve just finished reading Steve Krug’s excellent book on web usability called Don’t Make Me Think. It’s often the case that people (clients and web designers alike) know their websites too well. So well they can’t see them from an objective viewpoint anymore. That’s why I really like Steve’s reasoning for doing user testing: “Testing [...]

Top 10 Internet moments of the decade — Sydney Morning Herald The Googlephone: Google gears up for attack on mobile-phone market — The Times Showcase of beautiful typography in web design — Noupe User reviews: Increased sales, traffic and transparency — The UX Booth How to evaluate what CMS to use — Six Revisions   [...]

App to find nearest toilet? Data flood unleashed — Sydney Morning Herald The Font Kingdom: Search, explore, create and download fonts for free — Tech Crunch Getting started with content management systems — Smashing Magazine The process toolbox: Prototyping — Erskine Labs 5 simple but useful CSS properties — Web Designer Wall Long tail user [...]

  I sat down with Sam Sargent, one of our web site programmers and Help desk manager to talk shop about Content Management Systems.   1. What is the purpose of a Content Management System (CMS)? To allow a non-technical person to update their website.   2. Therefore, what is the most important aspect of [...]

Popular logos with hidden symbolisms — Six Revisions 10 things to remember before launching a website — The Design O’Blog Why your next website should be designed with wireframes — Build Internet Internal site search analysis: simple, effective, life altering! — A List Apart Technology + Design = Apple? — The Huffington Post What’s golden [...]

15 great free online file sharing alternatives — Hongkiat The case for content strategy: Motown style — A List Apart Free and commercial stock photography sites — Smashing Magazine 12 reputation management tools to track your name — The BINC Blog Panasonic gets savvy to social media — Digital Media Microsoft takes more steps towards [...]