Comments on: Pragmatism, not idealism http://www.cennydd.co.uk/2008/pragmatism-not-idealism/ Design, technology, doing things differently. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:19:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: cennydd http://www.cennydd.co.uk/2008/pragmatism-not-idealism/comment-page-1/#comment-111 cennydd Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:34:15 +0000 http://www.cennydd.co.uk/?p=157#comment-111 Your mileage may vary of course, but yes, I've met a rather worrying number. As I say, it seems particularly prevalent amongst recent graduates, all of whom have an good understanding of mental models, heuristic evaluation etc, but I doubt they'd score above ten in the <a href="http://www.justsayhi.com/bb/html_quiz" rel="nofollow">HTML element quiz</a>. Fortunately the more senior end of the industry is still very much clued in, but 'design thinking' seems to be in the educational ascendency right now. I tend to agree with <a href="http://abriefmessage.com/2007/11/01/saffer/" rel="nofollow">Dan Saffer's article</a> that yes, this is nice and all, but as designers we have to get our hands dirty sometimes. Hopefully as these juniors climb the ladder they'll realise the value in really understanding their medium. Your mileage may vary of course, but yes, I’ve met a rather worrying number. As I say, it seems particularly prevalent amongst recent graduates, all of whom have an good understanding of mental models, heuristic evaluation etc, but I doubt they’d score above ten in the HTML element quiz.

Fortunately the more senior end of the industry is still very much clued in, but ‘design thinking’ seems to be in the educational ascendency right now. I tend to agree with Dan Saffer’s article that yes, this is nice and all, but as designers we have to get our hands dirty sometimes. Hopefully as these juniors climb the ladder they’ll realise the value in really understanding their medium.

]]> By: I draw boxes » Blog Archive » Wireframes are simply facilitators for discussion http://www.cennydd.co.uk/2008/pragmatism-not-idealism/comment-page-1/#comment-109 I draw boxes » Blog Archive » Wireframes are simply facilitators for discussion Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:20:08 +0000 http://www.cennydd.co.uk/?p=157#comment-109 [...] was just reading a couple of blogs by Cennydd Bowles and Lee McIvor on the fact that IAs and UEs need to be multidisciplinary in their skills set - [...] [...] was just reading a couple of blogs by Cennydd Bowles and Lee McIvor on the fact that IAs and UEs need to be multidisciplinary in their skills set – [...]

]]> By: Chris Sainsbury http://www.cennydd.co.uk/2008/pragmatism-not-idealism/comment-page-1/#comment-107 Chris Sainsbury Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:40:50 +0000 http://www.cennydd.co.uk/?p=157#comment-107 Is it really true that there are user experience professionals with little or no knowledge of the underlying web code and technology? Maybe I've misunderstood your point, but I think it's imperative that IAs, UEs etc., as well as web designers, have an understanding (to varying degrees) of how things work under the hood. Maybe my vision is clouded by my own experience - I worked for 4 years as a developer and did IA on the side before specialising in IA. I guess I thought everyone in IA and UE had a good understanding of the technology. Don't they? As for interactive prototypes, I've not got into them yet but I'm sure it's only a matter of time... Is it really true that there are user experience professionals with little or no knowledge of the underlying web code and technology?

Maybe I’ve misunderstood your point, but I think it’s imperative that IAs, UEs etc., as well as web designers, have an understanding (to varying degrees) of how things work under the hood.

Maybe my vision is clouded by my own experience – I worked for 4 years as a developer and did IA on the side before specialising in IA. I guess I thought everyone in IA and UE had a good understanding of the technology. Don’t they?

As for interactive prototypes, I’ve not got into them yet but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time…

]]> By: leemcivor.co.uk - Modern UX practice http://www.cennydd.co.uk/2008/pragmatism-not-idealism/comment-page-1/#comment-101 leemcivor.co.uk - Modern UX practice Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:57:10 +0000 http://www.cennydd.co.uk/?p=157#comment-101 [...] talks recently on his blog about UX and usability folks and the need for them to be more flexible in their approach to how they practice their trade. Specifically he suggests that UX professionals [...] [...] talks recently on his blog about UX and usability folks and the need for them to be more flexible in their approach to how they practice their trade. Specifically he suggests that UX professionals [...]

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