1. Things of note:

    • I recently became unemployed.
    • I am available to make your things look better!
    • I am available to put your things on display on the internet.
    • I am available to make your things on display on the internet look better! 

    Things you can do to help me be less poor:

    (Source: whatjewsay)

  2. Issues in Honest vs Evil usability design
Meanwhile on Reddit:
If you do this on your site, FUCK YOU.
One of the conversations that ensued, (this is not all branches of conversation, each blockquote is a reply to the line above it):
———————————-

vectoredzev
Welcome to the world of Dark Patterns…. Evil Usability Design…
http://wiki.darkpatterns.org/Home

———————————-

b3mus3d
Whether you agree with it not, I don’t think this qualifies as ‘User Interfaces Designed to Trick People’, does it?

———————————

carlhuber


Yeah it’s not tricking, it’s abusing.



————————————

mercurycreative 


How is this abusive? If they asked for your credit card information would that be abusive? If you don’t like the terms of the agreement don’t download the product.



———————————-


vectoredzev


My concern with your statement, is you dont know how the product was offered. Was it offered, free, no commitment? Or was it a paid product.
Either way, no one should be REQUIRED to publicize something before downloading it.
It should only be an option.
You mercurycreative are supporting evil design.



———————————-

mercurycreative 


Assuming the product was free, then I see no issue with this. It is neither abusive nor “evil design”. It is a creative barter agreement. They give you the content for free in exchange for you providing a little publicity. If you don’t wish to participate then look elsewhere for the product. It doesn’t appear that they ask you to support it or evangelize the product, just state that you downloaded it.
This company is not REQUIRED to give you the product for free. They can offer you any form of exchange for the download they like. You are free to accept the terms or move on.
Angry Birds does this to unlock levels. Is that abusive? Or a creative way to get marketing and engage the friends of a user?
We need to start thinking of new ways to engage, market and monetize websites and their products. It’s all well and good to demand that everything be free and catered to your whims, but your clients need to make money off of their products. Either you be the creative person thinking up of new ways to market or someone else will take your job.
EDIT: This wasn’t even an example from something in the wild. It’s from a demohttp://tutorialzine.com/2011/05/tweet-to-download-jquery/



———————————-

vectoredzev


Btw. I posted a live version of one, down below. People use it, just not with that text, so its harder to find.
Seriously, go read the website I linked to. Dark Patterns. You might learn something.
What this tool did is not about engagement, its about being viral, and not in the good way. In forcing your name throughout the web.
Tools like this are not an example of good experience, product, and branding. It’s an example of manipulation. Offer a product, with a requirement.
The same way capitalism works. You mention marketing and monetizing. You’re right, that is exactly… EXACTLY what this is doing. But it’s not doing it in a reputable way.
The point of Dark Patterns is to point out the ways companies “Monetize” and retain their users. But they do it without giving an option.
In Louis CK’s iAmA here on Reddit. He pointed out that the LAST thing he did on his site was decide whether or not to let users “opt in” or “opt out” of the newsletter. That was his decision. He chose the default option to be “Opt Out”, and in doing so, gained the respect of more than a handful of his users. Which replied by thanking him in the AMA and supporting his album, which only cost $5.
There is a difference between creative engagement and ruthless entrapment.
That’s where the line is drawn between good and bad memorable & forgettable products.



———————————-

mercurycreative


I have read it. Which dark pattern do you believe this site is employing?



———————————-



vectoredzev 
While the costs are minute: http://wiki.darkpatterns.org/Hidden_Costs
Also,http://wiki.darkpatterns.org/Misdirection
And,http://wiki.darkpatterns.org/Road_Block
You pick.

The end… for now….
I dont know if the convo continued… but that’s what I was a part of.
What do you think?

    Issues in Honest vs Evil usability design

    Meanwhile on Reddit:

    If you do this on your site, FUCK YOU.

    One of the conversations that ensued, (this is not all branches of conversation, each blockquote is a reply to the line above it):

    ———————————-

    vectoredzev

    Welcome to the world of Dark Patterns…. Evil Usability Design…

    http://wiki.darkpatterns.org/Home

    ———————————-

    b3mus3d

    Whether you agree with it not, I don’t think this qualifies as ‘User Interfaces Designed to Trick People’, does it?

    ———————————

    carlhuber

    Yeah it’s not tricking, it’s abusing.

    ————————————

    mercurycreative 

    How is this abusive? If they asked for your credit card information would that be abusive? If you don’t like the terms of the agreement don’t download the product.

    ———————————-

    vectoredzev

    My concern with your statement, is you dont know how the product was offered. Was it offered, free, no commitment? Or was it a paid product.

    Either way, no one should be REQUIRED to publicize something before downloading it.

    It should only be an option.

    You mercurycreative are supporting evil design.

    ———————————-

    mercurycreative 

    Assuming the product was free, then I see no issue with this. It is neither abusive nor “evil design”. It is a creative barter agreement. They give you the content for free in exchange for you providing a little publicity. If you don’t wish to participate then look elsewhere for the product. It doesn’t appear that they ask you to support it or evangelize the product, just state that you downloaded it.

    This company is not REQUIRED to give you the product for free. They can offer you any form of exchange for the download they like. You are free to accept the terms or move on.

    Angry Birds does this to unlock levels. Is that abusive? Or a creative way to get marketing and engage the friends of a user?

    We need to start thinking of new ways to engage, market and monetize websites and their products. It’s all well and good to demand that everything be free and catered to your whims, but your clients need to make money off of their products. Either you be the creative person thinking up of new ways to market or someone else will take your job.

    EDIT: This wasn’t even an example from something in the wild. It’s from a demohttp://tutorialzine.com/2011/05/tweet-to-download-jquery/

    ———————————-

    vectoredzev

    Btw. I posted a live version of one, down below. People use it, just not with that text, so its harder to find.

    Seriously, go read the website I linked to. Dark Patterns. You might learn something.

    What this tool did is not about engagement, its about being viral, and not in the good way. In forcing your name throughout the web.

    Tools like this are not an example of good experience, product, and branding. It’s an example of manipulation. Offer a product, with a requirement.

    The same way capitalism works. You mention marketing and monetizing. You’re right, that is exactly… EXACTLY what this is doing. But it’s not doing it in a reputable way.

    The point of Dark Patterns is to point out the ways companies “Monetize” and retain their users. But they do it without giving an option.



    In Louis CK’s iAmA here on Reddit. He pointed out that the LAST thing he did on his site was decide whether or not to let users “opt in” or “opt out” of the newsletter. That was his decision. He chose the default option to be “Opt Out”, and in doing so, gained the respect of more than a handful of his users. Which replied by thanking him in the AMA and supporting his album, which only cost $5.



    There is a difference between creative engagement and ruthless entrapment.

    That’s where the line is drawn between good and bad memorable & forgettable products.

    ———————————-

    mercurycreative

    I have read it. Which dark pattern do you believe this site is employing?

    ———————————-

    vectoredzev 

    While the costs are minute: http://wiki.darkpatterns.org/Hidden_Costs

    Also,http://wiki.darkpatterns.org/Misdirection

    And,http://wiki.darkpatterns.org/Road_Block

    You pick.

    The end… for now….

    I dont know if the convo continued… but that’s what I was a part of.

    What do you think?

  3. Did I mention my wordpress plugin has gotten 131 downloads already. In a day. →

    Do you realize how pumped this makes me feel?

  4. Tablet (iPad/Android) use on the rise! What’s your plan.

    If you’re a marketer and not already focusing on tablets, now’s the time. Consumer tablet usage statistics were recently released in a study and infographic created by The Pew Research Center in conjunction with The Economist Group, and the findings collectively illustrate a key point: as mobile usage continues to increase among consumers, tablets have become more than a passing fad and should be considered an important part of your mobile marketing strategy.

    [Source]

    Not only is this something that should be affecting people’s marketing plan, but also their entire web presence. While most tablets are capable of showing your website exactly the way its been designed, why wouldnt you provide a website experience that is customized for the tablet itself. Or just make an app that your customers can come back to day after day. 

    If you provide a retail service then imagine the tablet as a hand held portal into your store, they can swipe through categories. Moving quickly from product to product. Enabling them to move through your store quicker, and get what they need. Which will ultimately give them a better user experience; bringing them back to your store again. Take advantage of this medium and the landscape design, add a everpresent list of sections on the left hand side, and then product details on the right. 

    If you’re a blog you can do something similar, hosting a list of categories, or post titles on the left hand side, with options to read it later, or hide it. And then the post on the right.

    There is so much that can be done with the tablet layout to make the user experience a better one. What do you have planned?

  5. whatjewsay:

THIS. IS. AWESOME!!!!

Adobe Proto lets you create wireframes of websites and apps on your tablet.
Design interactive wireframes and prototypes for websites and mobile apps with the convenience of simple touch gestures.
•	Sketch website and mobile app wireframe layouts with simple finger strokes on your tablet’s touchscreen.•	Insert interactive wireframe components from the component toolbox, including menus, tabs, accordions, and more, to quickly capture your design idea. •	Build wireframes using well-known CSS grid systems.•	Take advantage of the WebKit preview and jQuery support.•	Upload your files to Adobe Creative Cloud* and then access them from your desktop for further work in Adobe Creative Suite® software, or to share with others.
By clicking the Install button, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to the Adobe Software License Agreement at http://www.adobe.com/go/tt_eula.
*Internet connection required. Adobe online services, including the Adobe Creative Cloud* service, are available only to users 13 and older and require agreement to additional terms and Adobe’s online privacy policy at http://www.adobe.com/misc/privacy.html. The applications and online services are not available in all countries or languages, may require user registration and may be subject to change or discontinuation without notice. Additional fees or subscription charges may apply.
Pricing in the European Union, Norway and Switzerland includes tax.
Learn more about Adobe Proto and other Adobe Touch Apps:http://www.adobe.com/go/touchapps



When I get my tablet back after I graduate next week (it was a gift for graduation) I’m going to buy this. SO COOL. 

    whatjewsay:

    THIS. IS. AWESOME!!!!

    Adobe Proto lets you create wireframes of websites and apps on your tablet.

    Design interactive wireframes and prototypes for websites and mobile apps with the convenience of simple touch gestures.

    • Sketch website and mobile app wireframe layouts with simple finger strokes on your tablet’s touchscreen.
    • Insert interactive wireframe components from the component toolbox, including menus, tabs, accordions, and more, to quickly capture your design idea. 
    • Build wireframes using well-known CSS grid systems.
    • Take advantage of the WebKit preview and jQuery support.
    • Upload your files to Adobe Creative Cloud* and then access them from your desktop for further work in Adobe Creative Suite® software, or to share with others.

    By clicking the Install button, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to the Adobe Software License Agreement at http://www.adobe.com/go/tt_eula.

    *Internet connection required. Adobe online services, including the Adobe Creative Cloud* service, are available only to users 13 and older and require agreement to additional terms and Adobe’s online privacy policy at http://www.adobe.com/misc/privacy.html. The applications and online services are not available in all countries or languages, may require user registration and may be subject to change or discontinuation without notice. Additional fees or subscription charges may apply.

    Pricing in the European Union, Norway and Switzerland includes tax.

    Learn more about Adobe Proto and other Adobe Touch Apps:
    http://www.adobe.com/go/touchapps

    When I get my tablet back after I graduate next week (it was a gift for graduation) I’m going to buy this. SO COOL. 

  6. Just spent part of my night putting together a new contact form on my website. It’s actually more than a contact form. It’s a new client brief questionnaire. I’m always more and more impressed by what wordpress and its plug-ins can do. Everything on the subdomain (portfolio.zevdesigns.com) is wordpress. It took a lot of finessing, but now I’ve got a professional looking design.

I also finally updated my navigation, and set it up across all three of my sites! You cant get away from it now!

 So if you’re looking for a freelance multimedia designer: Hire Me! 

    Just spent part of my night putting together a new contact form on my website. It’s actually more than a contact form. It’s a new client brief questionnaire. I’m always more and more impressed by what wordpress and its plug-ins can do. Everything on the subdomain (portfolio.zevdesigns.com) is wordpress. It took a lot of finessing, but now I’ve got a professional looking design.

    I also finally updated my navigation, and set it up across all three of my sites! You cant get away from it now!

     So if you’re looking for a freelance multimedia designer: Hire Me