Designing fresh experiences

Editor's Notes

• #4: Start the journey by really rethinking this.If you don’t have fresh experiences. If you aren’t thrilled with what you have done, What you think is probably not true.EFFICIENCY ONLY TAKES YOU SO FAR.some app/sites are not efficient or even the most informative but it is pretty and fun to interact with (like a high heel)Health, banking, weather, searching
• #6: BREAK OUT OF THE “UP AND DOWN” TO TAKE EXPERIENCES TO THE NEXT LEVEL
• #7: *(site hyperlinked)Standards started as NO to horizontal scrolling, now as devices (such as tablets and smartphones become more prevalent), horizontal scrolling is much more accepted, and even praised as a fresh form of nav.Horizontal scrolling is excellent for mobile apps, anything that wants to mimic the physical act of “flipping through,” agencies or individuals looking to showcase works, and sites or apps that take aim to take you through a “journey.”There should always be some anchor point(s) in the Nav to bring you back to certain points on the page.The site shown- Exit10, is a full-service advertising agency located in Baltimore MD
• #8: Things are not linear anymoreThe days of designing a singular product or service are done– we must understand the value of a complete EXPERIENCE.The kind of information users need when they’re on the go, at home, at work, in a public space, is different. Products and services are starting to learn where we go, anticipate our needs and how we want to access digest information in each of those places.
• #9: Anticipate what people want
• #10: SSENSE, a luxury retail company based in Montreal, was one of the first to introduce the concept of the “interactive shoppable music video.” As the music video plays, the viewer can hover over the video player when they see an outfit they like, the “SHOP THIS LOOK” button appears and bring you to (next slide)
• #11: Since it’s release, other players in the industry have caught on- you can now see these types of videos for -Neiman Marcus-Gucci-Barney’sAlso rooms on houzz and pinterest has direct links from browse to buy.Not a new form of advertising by any means, celebrities and musicians have been endorsing products for years-- but cutting out several steps to Point of Purchase and works on the emotion… is pretty ground-breaking.
• #12: What’s lean back?Is ipad lean back?Wanna see something that makes you want ot lean forward?*(video hyperlinked)Made by Condition One (a startup), began as an experiment in war reporting, has developed a software that fundamentally re-thinks the way we watch video.“Our technology is software,” explains Chang. “We’re allowing people to use existing cameras and lenses on the market to shoot 180 degrees in front of them. … Our software maps that to a 3-D hemisphere of data, which users can then explore through the touching or using the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the iPad/iPhone.”Breaking the rules of 2-directions– they are big players in opening up the gates of exploration (letting the user explore the digital space they are in). Moving from a ‘lean-back’ passive experience to one that it is user-led. Condition One’s player is an embeddable API that apps can build around (Popular Science has incorporated the tech into their latest issue), and even though it’s young, a lot of improvements are on the way. Condition One teased the ability to support HD video and live streaming.
• #13: http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/nycm042712/s_n02_dma01739.jpgDoppl like structure and certaintly? Chaos and uncertainty?
• #14: CAPTIVATE users by evoking a visceral reaction
• #15: eBay recently re-designed their tablet app, bring the IMAGE to the forefront with the hopes of their users spending more time (an ultimately more $$$) on the site.The company researched and thought about the iPad user experience and psychology before designing the app–The eBay team envisioned the user sitting somewhere comfortable, enjoying mental downtime, and looking for engagement and entertainment— which is why the site is designed to mimic an interactive “window shopping experience.” 
• #16: “The Pinterest style grid (masonry) forces your eye to zig-zag through content, slowing down your scrolling.”Pinterest brings the content (why we’re there in the first place) to the forefront, without hiding it behind sub-folders and links (the option of seeing sorted content still remains)Intuitively we think it would be confusing or overwhelming but there is actually a calming feeling in knowing we are seeing all there is to see, there’s nothing hiding anywhere. Along the lines of posting all of your brainstorming ideas up on a big wall, instead of flat, categorized folders…Visually interesting and engaging without being overwhelming
• #17: KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID
• #18: Put together with Google Docs, github, and the New York Times Olympic APIThis site became popular during this summers Olympics– it is pretty self-explanatory which is why we are discussing it.Simple, to the point, not overwhelming, ALSO quick development time.Calm and clean visual design, minimalist, no drop shadows, unnecessary outlines or colors- Same with content- just the barebones of what we really care about.Answers the question of “was an olympic record set today?” with a giant YES or NO
• #19: Based on dieter rams 5 principles of designScales down entire experience of weather on to 1 pageNo settings screens, no ads, no distractions, no need to push any button at all.Designed by: David Elgena1$ iPhone app
• #20: The nest learning thermostat, invented by the ipod’s original product manager Tony Fadell, is a good case study in making small, thoughtful improvements that help users.Adopting Apple’s principals, the Nest team did whatever they could to make the interface, packaging and installation as simple and clean as possible – not cheap to do but worth itUnlike the thermostats you know, it learns your living patterns and senses whether you’re at home, managing your energy use. Programming it is a matter of adjusting a dead-simple, dial interface. When combined with an iPhone and web app, Nest is a solution to a much bigger problem of how much we know about our energy use, and how we learn about it.Similarly to the WTHR app, it is perhaps overly-designed for something as bland as a thermostat, but Nest is designed to create joy where there was once annoyance, to turn a mundane task in to an engaging (and productive) one.Making users WANT to interact with your product brings them closer to you– and once you have them close…the possibilities are endless (iPod to Macbook airs)
• #23: Again, grid layout
• #24: creates anticipation and excitement
• #25: solar weather app (by hollr)“Design for designs sake” – makes you want to look at itSwipes replace buttons – allows for clean and simple interface, the curiosity behind the swipe (what will it bring), the fun act of swipingIt has “good enough utility embedded in a pleasing sensory experience” Apps like solar are designed to be LIKED – similar to watches; you buy one because you like it, it’s something we have to see several times a day. (relate back to nest– turning an ordinary task in to a delightful one)
• #27: *(video hyperlinked), start at 36 secondsIKEA Spring 2013 catalog marked the arrival of the popular Swedish furniture company entering the “digital age”BUT not just a tacked-on, after thought of bringing them “up-to-date” with a useless new app or digital feature, they actually managed to 1. Make it useful and 2. Be unobtrusive about itThey have taken something we viscerally enjoying flipping through- a physical piece of mail , a paper catalog and added another layer of information and value to it through digital tech.With their free app you could interact via phone or tablet with various pieces of furniture in 3-D.As you hover of different sections of the catalog the app shows you:Pieces in motion (say cabinets opening/closing) or How-to guides (how to arrange shelves, put together a dresser)Inspirational (decorating ideas, etc.)Also, organized the catalog by action verb (working, sleeping, relaxing, “me-ing”)By agency McCann-Erickson, given the task of refreshing the catalog without alienating loyal customers (something we all know is one of the hardest tasks in any re-design)
• #29: An internet of “things” – countless connected sensors – it’s coming (and here)Should feel natural – voice and natural gestures - getting rid of extraneous and artificial , not get in the way, should feel like real life without the extras - Mimic natural movements and behaviorsTechnology should augment our abilities to enhance what we already do, not detract from itFocus on the content that doesn’t change, the experiences, people, photos, interactions – that which is always there - not just using a device - A “mobile” experience is not contained in a device but should act as a part of a network/ecosystem of interactionsMoving experiences away from a device and to a more natural extension of us – making the technology feel invisible, getting rid of tools and products and using our natural abilities Creates unlimited possibilities for information to feed in to a larger system or “colony” of digital information
• #31: Picture descriptions (clockwise):Top left:The heart of this new experience lays in what Disney has dubbed MagicBands. They are RFID (Radio-frequency identification) bracelets that allow guests to use for a collection of services throughout the park. They require no extra devices or tools, and feel like a natural extension of us. Data collected allows Disney to track users behavior around the park, to better understand patterns and trends. Even more magic the bands provide- characters now know the names of the children they meetOf course the simplest benefit is that MagicBand replace all forms of tickets and money – allowing families to walk in and through the park without cash or credit cards
• #32: *Click video: Linked to YouTube vidPrimeSense- makers of the technology in Microsoft’s Kinect recently released their newest 3-d sensor, called Capri, which is small enough to fit in smartphones, tablets, and almost anywhere else you can imagine.This new sensor opens up the doors of possibility for experience and interaction designers.
• #34: A new social app that scours instagram for realtime events near you. Free iOS appCurrenty doesn’t have the full capabilities to find everything real-time/live (in development)Gathering VISUAL information from people like you (both using same app – instagram), near you (photos are geotagged from instagrams API), regarding offline interactions – one many apps in a recent trend of using location based technology and visual information to impact your life offline.
• #35: You know those nights you really, seriously don’t want to get up off the couch? You know how the only reason you even bother, (if you do), is just to be able to tweet: Drinking a [insert some unknown brew name here] at [insert some trendy Brooklyn shop name here]!” along with an Instagram snapshot? CouchCachet was created for you. Their motto? “Live the life you’ve always wanted without ever leaving the house.” In case you want actual details, here’s what the app can do: “it can look for a party, check you in on foursquare, tweet cool lyrics of indie bands no one knows” so that you can sit at home relaxing while the app lives your life. “Life without the hastle of living!” Yes, please. Guess I’ll be hitting quite a few parties from the couch this weekend…
• #37: A solution to each new problem or challenge should begin with a blank canvas and an open mind, not with the nervous borrowings of other people’s mediocrities.TOMORROW’S TRENDS AND TODAY’S STANDARDS ARE HAVING NO STANDARDSLEARN WHAT IS GOOD, LET THAT BE YOUR GUIDANCE, TRAIN YOUR EYE HAVING STANDARDS IS BACKWARDS & EXPECTEDWhat were standard concepts as little as three years ago are now outdatedIt’s imperative to understand that the public conception of a “good design” changes very quickly THE MOST NOTABLE DIGITAL EXPERIENCES ARE THOSE THAT ARE NEW, SURPRISING AND UNEXPECTEDUSE DESIGN TO YOUR ADVANTAGE;IT IS A BUSINESS STRATEGYRaymond Lowey’s “MAYA”how far can we push the general public (social), how far can they go and still have technology advance