Making User Interface Elements Difficult to Use By Intent

Nice write-up by Jacob Gube describing situations in which it makes sense to design an interface to be harder to use:

1. When using the interface element is costly to the user if used by accident
2. When there’s an overall improvement to the UI as a whole
3. When the cost of maintaining a feature is costly to the provider if used frequently

Read more:

Making User Interface Elements Difficult to Use By Intent

11 Principles of Interaction Design explained

“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.”

 - Albert Einstein

Paul Seys, a UK-based user experience designer, describes 11 core principles of interaction design, including one of my favorites, Cognitive Load. Put simply, don't make users think.

• 11 Principles of Interaction Design explained

Your Design Is Wrong (And Here's Why)

Mike Rundle explores the pros and cons of design critique on Dribble, and where design execution can go wrong. Mind that kerning!

Your Design Is Wrong (And Here's Why) ~ Flyosity by Mike Rundle

App Icons on iPad and iPhone

Handy for those doing mobile application work for iPad and iPhone:

Technical Q&A QA1686: App Icons on iPad and iPhone

Drop-Down Usability: When You Should (and Shouldn’t) Use Them

Good reminder: 7-15 items is "ideal", although I'd go lower if appropriate for a given interface. Great suggestion about auto-completing large lists.

Drop-Down Usability: When You Should (and Shouldn’t) Use Them | UX Booth

Building Buzz and Audience Before a Launch

Sachin Agarwal writes about how BlueLeaf created excitement around getting invited to participate on their site. Interested case study in experience design and marketing:

• They make users request publicly to get in, and offer unlimited invites – but for a limited time-window
• They use Facebook as their exclusive marketing channel; they don't blog about their product, and only announce features via Facebook notes. 

Read more:

• Ten Steps To Ten Thousand Sign Ups Before We Even Launch Our Startup