Audience Experience

This is a bit of a response to an article in UX Mag , defining UX (yet again), as if they were coming from the all knowing voice of . . . Laura Dern??  "5 UX Lessons from Laura Dern" I am all about controversy, or taking unusual approaches, or using your favorite nerd-hobby to argue for  your professional approach. But, I would argue that there should be something called Relevance. The above article is well written, with lots of excellent references and good arguments. But it misses something crucial.  How is she (really?) associated with users again?  Has she chosen her roles based on a fundamental need to defend the user or to counter all the absurdity in the business world?  No, it seems not. It seems as if this writer has taken note of some good moments and complied, (gasp) something as revolutionary as a 5 element list. Don't get me wrong, she's an excellent actress.  Maybe even brilliant, as some of my friends who have seen the series "Enlighte...

I just got an email request to do a survey from a FAVORITE museum.  They sent me an email, addressed me as "Dear Friend". What could go wrong? They said it would take 15 minutes.  (Which is a LOT.  A lot for anyone.  Anything more than 5 minutes is a lot.)  It took longer than 15 minutes.  I lost track when the Progress Bar hadn't moved beyond the half way point after I answered a lot of questions. I left the tab open all day.  Checked in, did a few more answers every now and then.  Not even sure if it mattered after 5 hours.  When I got to the "Just a few quick demographic questions"  (again, not past the halfway mark on the Progress Bar). What got to me was the BAD design of the survey.  In terms of actions and GOMS (Goals, Operators, Methods and Selections) which is essentially a way to measure how long it takes to go from a mouse to a keyboard.  If you add it up, it matters.  Especially if you have a survey wit...

Lately, I've noticed people thanking, begging and just being generally annoying about "Likes" specifically on Facebook. Case Study #1: A singer reaches 25K likes on Facebook.  To reward the followers, a 7 Question Quiz is posted and two (only 2?? Out of 25,000) lucky winners will get a prize.  Maybe a private message or answering a question.  Something that could maybe go out to 25 (!) fans? This actually is less of a "reward" to the fans than a difficult and discouraging assignment.  Side note: the answers are NOT posted on the internet.   Included are questions about previous band members and current band history.  The singer does not maintain his current band site, nor does he link to performers he has played with in the past. The questions may be appropriate to a time/topic involving obscure trivia about the current band.  Maybe immediately prior to an upcoming show.  No mention is made of posting the answers.  Oh, and it should b...

The creepiest and most heartbreaking thing I've seen on "the Facebook" yet.  An insurance company is trolling for "Likes" by offering some money to a lucky winner who happens to be in debt.  Sounds good, right?  Soliciting ideas may unleash creativity during the campaign as well. Here's the page. Here's what they did wrong: 1. They lead with the headline:"WE'RE IN DEEP." So, Mass Mutual, are you REALLY trying to say that you identify with all the souls out there who are in "Deep Shit"?  (Because that's one way it could be interpreted)   As one of the millions who have crushing student loans, I'd be very interested in the "we" part of this statement.  How exactly are they involved-AT ALL? Somehow, unless they were bailed out in the last Financial Crisis, I cannot relate.   2.$1 Trillion Dollars, huh?  Then why are you offering only $20,000.  Oh-wait, they "might reward" you with...

Simple. Music. Vocal line. Sung Language (usually not English). Subtitles/Supratitles (usually a choice of several, in addition to the one sung) Amazing sets. Amazing lighting. Props. Costumes. Unusual Instrumentation. Multiple Actors/Actresses/Singers/Supernumeraries. They unfold over time in a dynamic fashion. The opposite of catchy pop music. The strict linear narrative is messed with for the sake of art and beauty. Intermission involves people-watching to match the costumes onstage. An unusual take on perhaps a well known story. Sitting in a darkened room with thousands of others who are seeing/hearing exactly the same thing that you are.  Not a million different things, like on the train to work.  Or the phenomenon of Sunday night tv/Monday morning watercooler. All the above things thrown together into one experience.  You can learn the score ahead of time, you can watch video after.  But the moment of being an audience member ...

If you are an author, especially one who needs to say your book title over and over, please say it out loud first. "Ike and Dick; A Portrait of a Strange Political Marriage"   It is written by Jeffrey Frank , who is a well rounded and experienced journalist and writer.  Former Senior Editor of the New Yorker !!  Had nobody asked him what book he was writing at a cocktail party? I'm very supportive of overlooked perspectives on history.  And since most of the publicity will be seen/read and not heard, maybe letters can still outrank phonemes in terms of title choice. Beware if the pronunciation of your title begins, "I can . . ."  It can easily turn into an unintentional joke. Seriously, in terms of larger marketing, publicity and word of mouth, a title which can potentially embarrass the speaker is NOT going to do well. "What book are you reading?" "Ike and . . oh, never mind"

College is intimidating, especially if you are a teenager.  Not just the amount of intellectual hard work, but in navigating all the ins and outs of the bureaucracy which can determine whether or not you graduate with crippling debt, or whether you graduate at all. The idea of "Help" and "Mentorship" needs to be formally institutionalized, to support those who need grants and scholarships the most.  The top 1% already know how to navigate the economic system for all advantages; the rest of us need support and access to these same strategies.  The designers of these processes themselves need to focus on helping out the neediest early on.  College has turned into a "survival of the fittest", in terms of economic and social help, NOT academics. College completion rates are stagnant, according to this NYTimes article .  "Need-blind" admissions and increasing grants are wonderful, but the system breaks down on a deeper level.  High schoolers are...