Sam has a girlfriend visiting from out of state for the weekend and Sam wants to show her around since it’s her girlfriends first time in the area. Her girlfriend wants some good seafood and Sam takes her friend down to The Redondo Pier for dinner. After dinner, Sam suggests they walk out on the pier where they will be able to take amazing pictures to commemorate her girlfriends first time to the area and to add some envy-worthy selfies to their Instagram’s. And maybe even get featured on The Redonda Pier sign Instagram page, where pictures are posted that people have tagged #TheRedondaPierSign.
She couldn’t move. Tired and achy she knew exactly what was making her feel like 50 pounds of bricks were balancing on her back and stomach. Good thing she was in the comfort of her apartment which made this familiar monthly feeling somewhat tolerable. She’s felt this way before. She’s a pro but that doesn’t mean she’s always ready. This was one of those times. It was too soon to be feeling so awful and she was definitely not prepared.
Rawpixel; Unplash
As the pain in her back and stomach throbbed she contemplated how she was going to obtain her essentials for getting through the next week. Good thing she didn’t need to go far to get what she needed. ” I need to go to the store” she moaned to herself. She took a deep breath, flung herself up, pulled her long curly tresses back, and with one swooping movement, rolled the black scrunchy off her wrist, twisted her hair up and put her hair in a bun. Off to the neighborhood store.
After grabbing her keys she paused to look around her apartment. ” What else do I need? ” she thought to herself. “Ugh, I don’t feel like carrying a whole bunch of shit back since I am walking, so I need to get only what I need right now. Hmmm, I do need to scour the sinks, so I will pick up some Comet, but that’s it!”
She made her way out her front door and down her shaded block, kicking large brown dry leaves that had met their fate after falling from the tree’s she passed along the way. She thought to herself, “Do I go to WholeFoods or CVS?” Both happen to be equal walking distance. ” Remember, you’re not trying to carry a whole bunch of shit back”, she reminded herself with a smile. “Yup”, she confirmed out loud and proceeded to walk to CVS. She had remembered her history of over speeding at WholeFooods.
Every. Single. Time.
Unsplash
To ensure she would only pick up what she needed, her tired and achy self-elected not to get a cart or a crate and proceeded to walk to the proper section and grab her monthly essentials. “Buy one get one half off” she read. With no hesitation, she picked up to packs. As she exited the aisle, she stumbled across a familiar bottle shape she had only seen at specialty stores. When she realized that it was indeed the product she had only purchased out of state previously at a store that sould Island goods, she picked up the bottle of Florida Water, which is often used to help with healing and aiding skin. ” Oh, I need this” she whispered out loud to herself as she picked up the bottle and tucked it under her arm. “Focus!” She yelled quietly in her head.
Remembering she needed to scour the sinks she made her way through the aisles to pick up some Comet but soon realized the store only carried Ajax and settled for just 1 can of that instead. All done.
But just when she was about to walk over to check out, a display for bottles of Rose Champagne at the end of an isle caught her eye, her favorite. Just then the 50lbs of brick she was feeling shifted to feel like 70 pounds piled on her back and stomach. It was just the discomfort she needed to give her the permission to pick up not just 1 but 2 bottles and then proceed to the checkout. “1 bottle for each location of the pain”, she chuckled to herself.
As she proceeded to the checkout, Richard a CVS employee called out,
“Next customer please.” ”
“YES!” She cheered in her head. Her in and out, then get back home time was about to be super fast. Just what she needed and expected.
Without missing a beat, she put the two bottles of Rose, the buy one get one free pads, the Ajax and her Florida water onto the conveyer belt.
” Did you find everything you were looking for today”, Richard cheerfully asked. Glancing quickly at his CVS nametag pinned to his vest, she smiled back and replied, ” Indeed I did, Richard. Indeed I did, thank you. ”
She managed to get the essentials she set out to purchase and limited the number of items to be able to handle getting back to her apartment.
After her quick walk back to her apartment, again kicking the piles of fallen leaves scattered up and down the sidewalk, one the Rose bottles was promptly opened to soothe her discomfort and she settled back into her home feeling accomplished.
” I really appreciate being so close to everything.” She said smiling to herself.
DISLIKE This campaign poster stood out for me as being really unfortunate. First, the pixelated stretched picture of the candidate is so distracting. Then the black lettering on the dark purple background made that part of the poster almost impossible to read. Finally, the call to action is to “Vote” by sheer dominance on the poster, which is great and all but the candidate’s name gets lost in the poster and doesn’t stand out amongst all the copy and picture. Someone driving by would probably miss her name entirely, which defeats the purpose of the poster.
The principle that is not being represented in this campaign poster is Consistency. The inadequate use of consistency in fonts, sizes, and colors makes this poster harsh on the eyes and brutal on the brain to comprehend.
LIKE
What I like about this poster is the ease of understanding the candidate’s name and the pleasant color combinations used on the poster. I enjoy not seeing the standard Red, White and Blue. The contrast used to emphasize the candidates last name is such a nice touch. And I appreciate the poster is using a darker blue on top of a lighter blue, it creates a subtle but distinctive poster. Finally, the call to action is the candidate’s name, nice and big so motorists can read and know the name of the candidate easily while driving by.
The principle of framing is being used in the poster with the candidates last name as a way to call attention to the most critical part a voter will see on the ballot. By using a darker color and making the last name larger the poster frames the name as being the important thing to remember.
The area in which I am focused on is considered midtown San Jose. It’s a great area that I have chosen to live in, in part because of the forces below.
Transportation
Transportation is a significant force in the area because it is a high commuter city since the majority of the residents work in the tech space in and around the Bay Area and there is also a large college close by, San Jose State University. The below picture is one side of the San Jose Diridon Train Station. This major transportation hub includes buses, Amtrack, the Altamont Corridor Express ( ACE) Train, the Cal Train, the major train line that goes up to San Francisco, and the VTA Line, which is a light rail that goes in and around cities in Silicon Valley. In addition, commuters can also access ride share scooters for their travels.
Parking
Parking in and around this area can be very challenging because of all the different rules that change from block to block and street to street. Some areas require a permit others allow only parking on some days or for a certain amount of time. This can be extremely confusing and frustration for residences as well as people just coming to visit or shop in the area.
Stores and Restaurants
The presence of restaurants and storefronts both small and large name brands throughout the area is a force that helps to influence the foot traffic all around the midtown area. The restaurants and stores including a coffee shop, cleaners, a CVS and more allow for easy access which again influences the number of people walking in the area.
Wholes Foods, San Jose. Also includes a Brewery and outside seating area.Local Coffe shop with outdoor seating area, next to cleaners and other storefronts.
Apartments
Throughout midtown, new apartments are going up on what seems to be like every corner. These new dwellings all have businesses or office space available at the ground level which adds to the culture of the area. Businesses such as new restaurants and exercise studios are usually the first tenants in these mix dwelling apartments.
Modera the Alameda Apartments- Open Sep 2018New Apartment Construction 1 block from Modera the Alameda Apartments.
Park and Green Space
There is a huge beautiful park and tall tree’s line all the streets which creates such a suburbia feel amongst the midtown hustle and bustle of people rushing to work, school and moving about. People are often seen walking their dogs, playing frisbee or fetch with their dogs as well as flying kites with kids and children playing in the area under the watchful eyes of a parent or adult.
My final map included feedback from my peers which helped to present the force of Parking in a more precise representation. Instead of single cars that looked like traffic, I grouped the cars together to represent cars parked behind one another. This helped to open up the map more so that the other force Green Space on the streets could be emphasized better.
This wall map is in one of the campus buildings where I work and displays the specific cities and areas that are considered in Silicon Valley. Several designs principles are used in this depiction of the area Wayfinding One of the more apparent principles used in this map is Wayfinding which is also a universal principle used in maps in general. In this example, location pins and illustrations of landmarks are used to assist with orientation. These symbols help to indicate, where you are.
Ockham’s Razor Another principle shown in the design of this map is its simplicity, following the Ockham’s Razor principle. The minimalist approach in designing this wall map helped to make the map appealing to the eye, especially at this large scale. Keeping the use of color at a minimal, as well as only highlighting a few landmarks within each city still help to provide context and orientation without overwhelming people.
ProximityThe location pin, illustration of a landmark, the landmark names and written out locations used throughout the map help to group each of the areas on the map in an easy way that allows people to quickly comprehend. This Gestalt principle of proximity is used throughout the map and is essential to the overall appearance and usefulness of the map.
Objects and things that cause a conflict in the thought process and increase cognitive load are known as the “interference effect.” When information is sending mix messages or different signals all at the same time, it is hard for the user to understand and comprehend. This inability to make decisions quickly is one of the many byproducts of interference within a user experience.
Example 1: The Pocket Universal Principles of Design
This depiction in the book of highway and traffic signs illustrates very clearly the Interference effects. Example 2: Online Example of Interference Effects from The International Design Foundation
Example 3 : Parking signs near me in downtown San Jose, California
The principle of gamification is the method of designing an experience that would not usually be experienced in a game like way. Applying a gaming experience to a non-game context is done to help “enhance the user experience and modify behavior”. Most importantly it helps with users overall engagement. Some examples of gamification are scorekeeping, showing progress, coaching along with a process, and motivating the user.
Example 1: The Pocket Universal Principles of Decision
Stairs in Sweden converted into a piano
In order to increase the number of people and motivate them to use the stairs instead of the escalator, a Swedish team created this “Stair Piano” in a busy transit area in Stockholm. They turned each stair into a piano key that would play once someone would step on it.
One of my favorite examples of gamification is from the design agency, Ueno. They created a very engaging and fun applicant experience as part of their career’s page. Through playful animations, storytelling, sounds, and illustrations, the user is taking through an adventure, meeting characters who represent the people who are part of the team and hiring process. This experience is much different than most career pages and the gamification helps to tell a story about who the company is and helps to keep the user highly engaged.
Characters on the left and interactive dialogue on the right,
Visit the website to experience the gamification career page here.
Example 3: My You Version Bible App
I have an app on my phone that allows me to read the bible daily. Some of the features include sending me push notifications with daily scriptures that take me to the full bible book and verse(s). One of the gamification elements of the app is a status notification that lets me know how many consecutive days have I read and engaged with the app. It’s a great way to remind me of how consistent I have been as well as it serves as an encouragement to not break the streak and also plays to my competitiveness.
References
William Lidwell, Kritina Holden, Jill Butler (2015), The Pocket Universal Principles of Design, Beverly, MA: Rockport, 2015
Throughout the workday, while at my desk, I generally rotate the chairs I sit in. The first chair I used to sit in ( after standing up at my desk first) is the Herman Miller Aeron chair, which happens to be the same chair Professor Jackson showed in the lecture video. Very grateful to have a Herman Miller chair but over time it didn’t feel the same. So I switched to the high chair which provided better cushioning and padding for my rear, thighs, and hips. The high chair also provided a bit of social/work status and as Cranz calls out, a ] “status marker”. No one else sits in a high chair on my team or the office floor and so I am often referred to as ‘The Queen” and the high chair is my throne because I sit above everyone else. The high table/bar chair also allows me to have a bit of fun. I can swing my legs back and forth freely as if I am on a swing and occasionally I give myself a whirl and spin around in the chair for several rotations while letting out a “Wheeeee!” It helps to lighten up the mood and atmosphere. Finally, to ensure I am engaging my core and practicing good posture, by the end of the day I will switch and sit on my Swiss/Medicine Ball. I force myself not to slump by keeping both feet planted on the floor, engaging my core and rolling my shoulders back.
When not at my desk I am usually in the UX lab conducting member interviews. The chairs in the lab are very comfortable and allow for much a more relaxed posture. I often lean on the arms or back of the chair when conducting interviews. What I appreciate about these chairs is how they engulf the body. This ‘tulip’ style chair as Cranz noted helps to create a soothing atmosphere for the participants and researchers. The design accomplishes both style and comfort. The arms, back, and seat of the chair are one connected piece creating an experience where it feels like the chair is hugging the body.
This is a standard conference room armchair that I sit in daily for meetings. The mechanics of the chairs are not as detailed as the Aeron chair at my desk and I suppose that is on purpose. These types of chairs that were chosen for the conference room are not meant to provide full ergonomic support because people aren’t sitting in them all day, although sometimes I feel like I am especially on days when I am in back to back meetings. I find myself always adjusting the height of the chair so it is as high as possible. This is in part because I am used to the high chair at my desk and maybe also someone psychological because I can sometimes be the only female in the room especially when I have meetings with engineers.
Transportation Chairs
The driver seat of my Camry provides a lot of comforts while I am driving. Although I only drive to work 1-2 days per week, it’s still always a pleasant and comfortable ride. After reading The Chair and realizing the number of armchairs I sit in during the day, it was interesting to look at my car seat and realize it is not an armchair but I am always using the middle console and the side of my door as armrests. The seat was definitely designed with some ergonomics as the shape of the high seat back helps to support the back including the lower back.
On most days I take the Caltrain into work where I am subjected to sit on basic L shape seats that may or may not be the standard blue pleather seats that are much more durable than the fabric seats pictured here. The lack of arms on the seats mean my private space is minimal. Furthermore, the design did nothing to incorporate erogonomics or style.
Home Chairs
One of my favorite chairs to sit in while at home is my chair on my balcony. This folding all weather armchair provides just the right amount of comfort to allow for relaxing while enjoying a beautiful day or evening outside. Sitting on the balcony allows me to be outside, observing nature and even people while not having to be seen. I sit perched like a bird looking down and around at everything while remaining inconspicuous. This chair also sits slightly lower to the ground, so I feel like I am lounging more as if on a beach. Being outside sitting on this chair helps me to relax after a long day and can transport me into deep thoughts. I have even fallen asleep in this chair.
My reading chair can be classified as an “Easy Chair” made popular, as Cranz points, out during the Victorian time in England. This wide upholstered covered chair with short legs and no arms makes relaxing and lounging very easy. One of the reasons I really enjoy sitting in this chair is because it doesn’t have any arms. Its give me more freedom to curl up in it and I can turn and sit on it in multiple ways. Because of this freedom, this chair is placed by my balcony window/door so that I can read while looking out and turn which ever way I want all while enjoying the natural sunlight
Team Chairs
Thought I would also share this full circle example of the power of chairs. My team is known as S.I.T because of the product areas we work on; Search, Infra and Trust. We decided to play off the acronym of our team name and come up with chairs that represent each of us. A couple of months ago one of our very talented designers illustrated the chairs and we all collaborated on the design. Our team slogan, “You can S.I.T. with us”. Bonus point’s if you know what movie the slogan is a spin-off of.
Below is the design & logo for our team shirts, stickers, and anything we can get it on. Can you guess which chair is mine?
My Sonicare toothbrush represents a functional object in my home that I love because of several design principles that help to make using the electric toothbrush enjoyable and easy to use.
Philips Sonicare
VISIBILITY: Several parts of the sonicare demonstrate great visibility. First is the easy access and clear indicator of the power button. The position of the power button is so convenient, easy to see and operate. The placement is right in line with the natural resting place of my thumb. I am able to quickly locate it (even without looking) while the brush is in my hand and press the button to turn it on. The button itself also has a power icon that is easily understood as it is a commonly used icon in electronics today. This ability to quickly identify the icon through recognition allows for better usability.
In addition to the power button, there are visual indicators which help to inform the different strength levels available for the brush. The different levels are indicated by a set of lines, from 1-3, representing the various strengths. Once selected there is also a green light that provides another visual cue letting me know which level the toothbrush is set to.
Power button and strength indicators on Philip Sonicare
FEEDBACK: One of the best features of the Sonicare is the “Quadpacer & Smartimer”. I absolutely love this delightful touch to the brushing experience. The feature helps to ensure I am brushing at least 2 minutes and in each quadrant of my mouth. Once I start brushing, after 30 seconds, the Sonicare will pause indicating that it is time to move to a different quadrant of my mouth. It continues to do so every 30 seconds until 2 minutes are finished and the toothbrush automatically turns off. The pauses are unobtrusive and help to make sure I am brushing all of my teeth and for the right about of time that is recommended by dentists.
Object I Hate: Multi-Switch Light Panel
Which is Which? The common question someone asks when trying to turn on a light downstairs in my place. I have lived in my loft for almost 2 years and I still have trouble with this multi-switch light panel located downstairs in a hallway. It never fails that I usually end up pressing at least two switches before I actually find the one I want.
VISIBILITY: This is an object that definitely goes against the design principle of visibility. First, there isn’t a clear convention of which way is On or Off. Unlike a standard light switch that has a little nub that when placed up usually means “on” and when the nub is down, usually means “off”, with these flat panel switches, the degree of difference is much harder to tell. Also, the convention of “on” being up and “off” being down doesn’t fit entirely in this example. The switch all the way to the left can actually go either way. This dual switch actual controls a light that is located upstairs. So if the light has been turned on upstairs it can be turned off on this switch by merely pressing it in the opposite direction. The direction of the switch is predicated on what the other switch upstairs has done and vice versa. The other two switches, the middle and the one on the right, do follow the up is on and down is off conventions. But having these two different experiences within the same panel increases the cognitive load. All of this is in addition to not knowing what lights each of these switches turn on. There is no clear indication what lights each of the switches control.
MAPPING: Another problem with this light panel is understanding which lights each switch controls. The mapping convections of the panel can make it difficult to remember. I am often thinking about which control operates certain lights. I often just rely on if I see the lights come on to indicate that I have pressed the right button. This uncertainty causes me not to rely on the switch itself to signal the correct operation but the actual light to indicate the I have used the correct switch. I often mix up the switch on the right which controls the main hallway/foyer light and the middle light which is for the kitchen. I often end up pressing each before I actually turn on the one I want. The last switch on the left which is mapped to a light upstairs illustrates how the relationship of function and space are important in design. The light upstairs is often hard to see especially in the daytime so it is difficult to know whether the light is on or off because I cannot see it. I usually have to flip the switch a couple of times to determine if I see a difference in the shadows or light of the room. Sometimes I have to actually walk to an area and physically look up to see if the light is on/off. The control and its effects are so far apart that it makes it difficult to understand the functionality of the switch.
I understand why I have seen people put strips of tape with names of the rooms or where the switches control. Between the visibility and the mapping problems, the tape becomes the visual cues people need to use the switches in the most effective ways, despite how the tape with writing looks next to the more sleek light switch designs.
Image Macy’s.com: Good Girl Perfume by Carolina Herrera
There are perfume bottles and then there are iconic perfume bottles that are distinct, classic and instantly become a collector’s item. Such is the case with the Good Girl fragrance bottle by Carolina Herrara. The midnight blue 2.7 oz tall stiletto with the gold accented heal adds so much femininity and strength to a bathroom or vanity counter. Also, the fragrance itself is incredible and provides a delightfully pleasant scent experience. When I first laid eyes on the bottle I was immediately intrigued. The deep rich mysterious blue color, the elegance, and seduction of a tall sleek heal had me captivated. Even before smelling the fragrance, I was already sold. I could envision this beautiful bottle on my own vanity, standing tall and out amongst my other fragrances. There is a presence. It’s bold, it’s edgy and the design helps tells a story. Who is this woman? She’s a Good Girl but also, a Bad Ass! Upon close examination, one can appreciate the smooth curves and overall shape and soft feel of the bottle that gives it an effortless appeal while balancing perfectly. The design so inspired me, I ended up buying two bottles because I wanted a “pair” of heels. I had become so engulfed in the design, I applied a real-life attribute to the bottle and began to see myself embodied in the fragrance and the design; powerful and bold, exciting and pleasant all at the same time.
“It represents the duality of a woman…We can be both good and naughty, ” – (Catherine Herrara Beaz, Creative Director; Carolina Herrara. Womens Wear Daily).
Image Macy’s.com: Special Edition Red Velvet Good Girl Perfume by Carolina Herrera
Wayfinding 
