Do Users Really Want to Be Engaged More?

I’ve been skeptical of the latest wave of apps and widgets that claim to “engage” customers and claim to differentiate online retailers and service providers from their competitors. This article from the Harvard Business Review showcases a study that implies that customers don’t want higher levels of engagement, they want simplicity. And, that it’s simplicity or “ease of use” that generates brand loyalty and ultimately conversions. It’s a really good read.

To Keep Your Customers, Keep It Simple
(Note: HBR only allows “guest access” so you may only be able to access the article a few times.)

Scale of the Universe

Scale of the UniverseA simple UI, yet a supremely rewarding experience. You don’t have to know much about science to enjoy this little ditty. Click on each object for some pithy commentary.

The Scale of the Universe

UPDATE: As if this weren’t amazing enough, turns out it was built by Cary Huang, a 14-year-old ninth grader from Moraga, Calif., with technical help from his twin brother Michael. Seriously. A couple of 9th graders. Ridiculous.

Responsive 960 Grid Framework – CSS Smart Grid

In previous posts, I’ve written a little bit about screen resolution and responsive design. In the past, it’s been accepted practice to design two sites, one for standard PC resolutions and one for smart devices. Lately, responsive designs have become more robust and full-featured, allowing designers to essentially build one site that works on many platforms. This particular framework STARTS with mobile first and expands to accommodate standard screen sizes. After checking out Starbucks  corporate site I think this is the the way of the future. Spend a little more time up front and reap the benefits across many platforms.

Check out CSS Smart Grid

Website Screen Resolution – Bigger is not Better

Flat Panel MonitorA question that’s been popping up a lot these days is, “Should I design pages for resolutions larger than 1024×768?” Given the trend of monitors getting bigger (I have a 23” monitor) you would think larger webpage screen resolutions would become the norm. In this post I’m going to talk about: monitor trends,content design,how users may manage multiple applications,layout and typography,smart phones & tablets and some exceptions. So far designers haven’t been designing for higher resolutions, and hopefully they never will. Read More…

Mobile Devices Generated Nearly 10% Of All Internet Traffic In 2011

According to a recent article in WebProNews, mobile devices generated nearly 10% of all internet traffic In 2011. That’s a trend that will surely continue. And what was once considered to be a fringe demographic is quickly becoming mainstream. Sites and applications now have to work on all devices equally well or clients risk loosing a critical competitive advantage.

Mobile Devices Generated Nearly 10% Of All Internet Traffic In 2011

Here’s a similar article from SlashGear:

StatCounter says 8.5% of Internet usage comes from mobile

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