Tuesday Tab Sweep

Nine Essential Characteristics of Good UX Designers – Passion should be a the top of the list.

Book review: Wrench in the System by Harold Hambrose – Might be a good read for the executive in your life who hasn’t yet seen the light.

Refreshing Three HCI Laws: If you’ve never heard of Fitts’ Law, Hick’s Law, and the Power Law of Practice, here’s a quick recap.

Front End Concerns When Implementing Faceted Search – Part 1 – Daniel Tunkelang, Chief Scientist at Endeca, walks you through implementing a Faceted Search.

Managing UI complexity – An interaction designer discusses the various techniques he’s used to reduced the visual complexity of the application he’s designing.

Restarting the New Zealand Calendar of UX Events

I’ve been talking to a few Auckland-based User Experience (UX) folk recently – discussing how we can better connect, network, learn and be inspired.

In my talks, I’ve noticed that not everyone is necessarily aware of all the various UX-related events already happening in Auckland, so I thought it would be a good idea to restart my UX Calendar of Events.

The UX Calendar lists each event individually, but here’s a brief overview of what’s already happening in Auckland:

  • Auckland Web Meetup – John Ballinger & friends organise a great event, typically with 3 speakers each time, so there’s usually at least one topic of interest. And there’s free beer and pizza,  and drinks afterwards – good opportunity for networking.
  • Auckland UX Book Club – Two books successfully discussed so far, and the group is growing. Thanks to Peter Grierson for kicking this off this year!
  • Auckland Pecha Kucha – Initially started by the Architecture crowd in Auckland, but topics vary and provide a great insight into how other creatives work and think. I love the format: 6 minute presentation means you never get bored.
  • Girl Geek Dinners – Monthly dinners for the more geeky women amongst us, but I’m sure they’re welcoming to everyone…
  • DINZ run occasional events, such as Designers Speak Plurals. The next one is in Auckland on 29th July. Looks like a great line-up of speakers.
  • YMedia are currently running the YMediaChallenge.
  • Design Assembly  put together an evening of talks and discussion for Graphic Designers four times a year. The next one is on 30th September. 
  • There are even rumours of an upcoming TEDx event in Auckland (Oct 1?). More info shortly. 

Let me know if I’ve missed any…