Notes on "Web Anatomy"

[kelleyP]

UX Book Club // May 26
Book = Web Anatomy by Robert Hoekman Jr & Jared Spool

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NEXT BOOK: "Making Ideas Happen" by Scott Belsky (discussion June
23rd)

TWO BOOKS OUT: "Smashing Book" (order now for July's meeting - it
takes a while to get this // available at
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/12/03/smashing-book-its-out-now/)

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THINGS WE LIKED //
- Simple - landing, gallery & content page info was good // used the
illustrations to help a client understand the overall concept
- Good analogies relating concept to the real world (also useful for
discussion w/ client) - i.e. building in seredipity
- Frameworks can really increase your ability to reuse (especially
when teams are consistent and/or platforms are limited)
- About Us section description was good; people don't validate
purchases there, it's for investors, journalist, people applying for
jobs
- Conversely an About us that tells a great story can make you want to
buy
- Login section was helpful to have a basis to work from - more
structure on team of one would help speed up some processes


THINGS WE DIDN'T LIKE //
- Hard to use if you're contracting, changing dev teams or changing
platforms


ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION //
- SUN uses frameworks and components - did save time; framework was
pretty flexible; after a few years, starts sucking creativity out of
you; helps narrow down choices for stakeholders
- chase's company has a few grids
- Designers do get concerned that WF box them into a certain design
- It's OK to go design anything - but do a scope & development check
to make sure the plan is technically feasible within your budget
- couchsurfing.com
- craigslist - was great, but now with no barriers to entry creates
lots of garbage vs. cars.com that requires more info (and money) from
users)
- Do you feel like you go to sites often that are attractive?


ICEBREAKER QUESTION // What's your most annoying or hated user
experience?
Kelley - new shower with terrible window placement
Ryan - band-aids; water controls in hotel showers
Chase - poorly-timed drop-downs; cold-activated Coors label
Laurel - un-penatrable packaging; eggs in flimsy cartons
Matthew - syringe packaging (for insulin); credit card readers
Val - site redesign with no warning or retraining
Pennie - teapots that drip or scald your hand with steam
SuAnne - clients that provide content that includes "click here
to...", stoplights that require you to be at an overly specific angle
to see the color
Matthew - PowerPoint; window lips that get covered by the blinds
Mike C - CS5 is the most awesome software you can get, but is still
not integrated