erova notebook • a user experience blog by Chris Avore

Author Archives: Chris

This blog is meant to simply provide opinions and reviews of things I encounter–whether those things are other blogs, restaurants, movies, golf courses or just about anything else.

Interaction10 Wrap Up: Thoughts, Conclusions, and Looking Ahead

February 15, 2010 – 10:04 am

Last week marked the end of the Interaction10, concluding what was an unforgettable string of events, meetings, discussions, and laughs that could prove significant for years to come.

Posted in General, UX Show and Tell, User Experience | Comments

#UXMove: So long DC, Hello Philly, Jersey & NYC

November 20, 2009 – 4:56 pm

After almost 10 years in the Washington DC area, I’ll be relocating to New Jersey to begin a UX strategist consulting engagement.

Posted in General, UX Show and Tell, User Experience | Comments

Recapping UX Show and Tell Baltimore

November 16, 2009 – 10:29 am

Baltimore Parlay, a network of Baltimore-based information architects and UX professionals, hosted UX Show and Tell November 12, at marketing and design collective 4thought, Inc.

Posted in UX Show and Tell | Comments

UX Show and Tell Wrap-Up

October 2, 2009 – 8:35 am

The first UX Show and Tell was a success and can only get better. Read my wrap-up and see what you missed, and learn more about the free user experience workshop that’s all about the work.

Posted in Documentation, General, UX Show and Tell, User Experience | Comments

Perceived Control Better for Users and the Business

May 13, 2009 – 8:50 am

Though promising users total control of software may sound like good practice, perceived control is often the path to a better experience for the user and the company.

Posted in Design, Information Architecture, UX Remix, UX review, Usability, User Experience | Comments

Gauging the User Experience: In Defense of Usability Testing

April 23, 2009 – 3:25 pm

Can a designer build an engaging, effective user experience without usability testing? A prominent UX author thinks so, but I have my doubts.

Posted in Usability, User Experience | Comments

Digital Ground Book Review Published

April 7, 2009 – 8:39 am

Interaction design magazine Johnny Holland recently published my review of Malcolm McCullough’s 2004 book Digital Ground.

Posted in UX book review | Comments

Presentation Wrap-Up: User-Centered Interaction Design

March 20, 2009 – 2:40 pm

I summarize my presentation to high school advanced web design students on user-centered interaction design.

Posted in Design, General, Information Architecture, Usability, User Experience | Comments

Personality, Usability Critical to Successful Design

March 11, 2009 – 10:57 am

Can an interface’s personality make up for usability shortcomings? Or do spartan, emotionless interfaces resonate just as well with users as long as they work?

Posted in Design, Usability, User Experience | Comments

Promotional Studies, Rankings Distort Value for Impact

February 28, 2009 – 6:22 pm

Promotional news releases disguised as usability studies and web site rankings obfuscate how and why people interact with well-known web properties.

Posted in User Experience | Comments