Archive for category Media
Thoughts on SXSWi 2010
Posted by admin in Media, Technology on April 12, 2010
OK, this was my first time going to SXSW. The last big conference I attended was Flash Forward 2000 in San Francisco, so my conference skillz were a little rusty. I was also a little nervous about how relevant and informative this would be, but I was excited by the focus on User Experience. I needn’t have worried. The speakers and presentations were thought provoking and downtown Austin was awesome. The city handled the conference with aplomb and even rolled out 3 days of beautiful weather, Tuesday notwithstanding. I wish there had been a few more in-depth, technical sessions, but I know that’s hard with such a large and diverse group of attendees. In the end I found the whole thing very inspirational.
Some things I took away as a whole:
- Social media is still in its infancy and although it’s the current “next big thing,” it’s here to stay. I agree with one presentation that the growth in this area is somewhat tied to human nature and how non-linearly our minds work. The total impacts to our privacy, psyche and legal system will not be known for years to come.
- Playfulness is a good thing. It may sound cliche, but playing games is in our nature just as much as the need for social interaction. By injecting playfulness and spontaneity into our design processes, we can reduce stress and improve brainstorming.
- Use paper up front in the design process. It really does reduce the investment in a particular idea. It allows you to scribble, jot, crumple and start over a lot faster than going directly to the computer.
- We are not order takers nor short-order cooks. Don’t be afraid to ask questions when a client or stakeholder comes to you with their proposed solution. Adding a green dropdown menu in the right column might be what one user wants. It’s our job to correctly identify the problem, provide the best solution that works for the majority of users, then track and verify the decision after implementation. This will provide real, measurable benefit over time with an eye on the site as a whole, not just what’s needed now. Now, this isn’t always easy, nor is it applicable to every project, but unless someone has an overarching plan or clear vision for the site, the result will inevitably be piecemeal and frustrating. That is what we as UX professionals are here to solve.
It was very refreshing to hear and discuss this exciting field with with so many like-minded people.
Pixar’s Cars: review with spoilers.
Posted by hollowmyth in Media on June 19, 2006
Ok, I’m a huge fan of Pixar. I own every one of their movies. And maybe it has to do with the fact that I have kids, but I even love how schmaltzy the stories are.
This time, however, I didn’t come away raving like I did for Nemo and the Incredibles. I came away from this movie feeling about like I did after A Bug’s Life. I loved the overall concept and animation. But, I felt the characters and situations, as a whole, felt forced and sappy. I truly believe that the gimmick superceded the storytelling.
Now, don’t get me wrong. There’s a lot to love in this film, especially if you’re even somewhat of a car fan and like a good dose of Americana. You can tell a lot of research went into this film. From the classic references to racing and the meticulous design of each car, to the wide open landscapes and variety within the car “cities” you really get a feeling that this world was pretty fleshed-out.
That’s why I hated to see such middle-of-the-road performances from the cast. Maybe they just weren’t given much to work with, but I really expected better. The exception here was Paul Newman. Such a nuanced performance! And the animator(s) who caught every expression in that chrome bumper and the windshield eyes cannot be commended enough. Incredible stuff. And I must say I didn’t hate Larry the Cable Guy as much as I thought I would. Sure, it was an extension of his regular schtick and there really wasn’t too much to his character, but the character design and that big, buck-toothed grin made up for a lot.
The last thing that bugged me, I also thought that the music was uneven in parts. Perhaps there were a few too many pop songs, but I felt that Randy Newman’s score just didn’t quite hold up the whole time.
Overall, I loved the concept, the animation and the general feel of the movie. I didn’t like some of the characterization and the uneven music. But, I must say that this is still a great film and a worthy entry in the Pixar line-up.