Monthly Archives: September 2009

Is your model mental?

Written by Joe Natoli. Posted on September 29, 2009. Filed under think fast, user experience. Tagged , , , , . No comments.
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We spend a lot of time talking with development teams (and clients) about mental models. When designing a screen, especially if the item is a control of some kind where the user is asked to take action, it's important that the UI's conceptual model matches the user's mental model. In other words, speak their language, express ideas and directions in ways they'll readily recognize and understand. That means symbols they're familiar with, phrases they'd likely use themselves -- even slang if appropriate. Not doing so means users have to spend time and mental effort to learn how to use your interface.

UX + Apple: A Developer’s Viewpoint

Written by Joe Natoli. Posted on September 17, 2009. Filed under Uncategorized, Web 2.0, think fast, user experience. Tagged , , , , . No comments.
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My colleague Chris Goodman, a developer here at Mind Over Machines, posted the following yesterday via Facebook on something too many of his fellow developers still fail to recognize. Great rant, solid points and a quick read.

The four Lessons of Lou Dorfsman

Written by Joe Natoli. Posted on September 11, 2009. Filed under design, think fast. Tagged , , . No comments.
Over the course of his career, Lou Dorfsman was responsible for everything at CBS from its advertising to the paper cups in its cafeteria. Every bit of it was executed with intelligence, verve, glamour and taste. Trying to get good work done from inside a giant institution is supposed to be hard. How did Lou Dorfsman make it look so easy?