Why Balance is King When Building Great User Experiences

A while back I had the pleasure of sitting down with Geoff McMahen of Outcome Digital to chat about how user-centered design can be damn good for business. And then I forgot to share it. Doh! If you like this episode, be sure to check out the rest of the podcast. Geoff and his crew… Continue reading Why Balance is King When Building Great User Experiences

The Value of Concept Testing for User Experience Design

My friend, Deborah Edwards Onoro of Lireo Designs, invited me to be a guest blogger on her blog where she posts about web development, user experience, and accessibility. Of course, I was happy to oblige! I wrote an introduction to qualitative concept testing, a method I use quite a bit in my design process. Check… Continue reading The Value of Concept Testing for User Experience Design

I’m the new Experience Architect in Residence at Michigan State University

Although I’ll always be a wolverine, my collaborations with the fine folks at Michigan State University’s new Experience Architecture program have taught me that there is more than one Michigan school I can call my own. A new program that just graduated its first class, Experience Architecture is an interdisciplinary program that prepares students to create experiences for people… Continue reading I’m the new Experience Architect in Residence at Michigan State University

A Sober Start to 2017

TWO BLOG POSTS IN ONE WEEK?! Yep, believe it… times they are a’changin. This post is dedicated to what they call “accountability”. For beginning Sunday, January 1, 2017, I’ll be climbing on the bandwagon and starting my year off 100% SOBER. Dry January is a thing, in case you haven’t heard. Not a fun and exciting kind… Continue reading A Sober Start to 2017

2016, A Year in Review

It’s been quite a while since I’ve sat down to reflect on my life, let alone an entire year of it. Chances are I’ll overlook quite a bit. IN FACT, I’ve got to open up my calendar to know for sure what memories belong in this year for fear I’m reporting on 2015. Which is… Continue reading 2016, A Year in Review

Surveys Stink: 7 Mistakes to Avoid a Crappy Survey Experience

For the past six months or so, I’ve been “volunteering” as a survey panelist through SurveyMonkey Contribute.  I’ve used SurveyMonkey quite a bit for my personal and UX related survey needs, so when my account manager explained to me how my audience panel would be sourced, I decided to give it a try myself.  Unlike paid… Continue reading Surveys Stink: 7 Mistakes to Avoid a Crappy Survey Experience

Context is King

A little over two months ago, my husband, my dog, and I arrived in Portland, Oregon. A week later, I was sitting at my desk at Empirical UX, thinking about what to write for Empirical’s Ask the Expert column “advertorial”. Since I was new on the job, I didn’t have much to go on from… Continue reading Context is King

Saying Goodbye

Today begins my last full week as an Experience Architect at Organic and the only word I can think of to describe how I feel is bittersweet. As blessed as I have been with great jobs in my life, this has been the best one yet.  In fact, let me count the ways: Sandy Cumming… Continue reading Saying Goodbye