Making of a Web App: Part 10 – UI Evolution and Screenshots on Flickr

Making of a Web App is Synap Software’s step-by-step look at designing and developing a web app. In this article I share one iteration of an evolution of web application design layouts for PlaybookIQ. I set up a flickr photostream to show screenshots as they evolved. Read the rest of this blog entry first, andContinue reading “Making of a Web App: Part 10 – UI Evolution and Screenshots on Flickr”

Making of a Web App: Part 11 – Reduce and Refine the UI

Making of a Web App is Synap Software’s step-by-step look at designing and developing a web app. In this article I show an example of reducing and refining an interface. Reduce to: Make it easier for people using the application. Remove unneccessary clutter. Expose the level of development work required. Are the easiest way toContinue reading “Making of a Web App: Part 11 – Reduce and Refine the UI”

Making of a Web App: Part 9 – Why I Hope No One Reads My Use Cases

Making of a Web App is Synap Software’s step-by-step look at designing and developing a web app. In this article I share why, despite best attempts by the anti-paperwork crowd, I like written use cases. Use cases: Contribute directly to the final, deployed app. Expose risks to simplicity. Expose the level of development work required.Continue reading “Making of a Web App: Part 9 – Why I Hope No One Reads My Use Cases”

Making of a Web App: Part 8 – Styleguide

Making of a Web App is Synap Software’s step-by-step look at designing and developing a web app. In this article we get a little bit ahead of ourselves and talk about styleguides. Early PlaybookIQ Styleguide decisions: Use of the International Style Tab-based navigation Persistent search box A styleguide communicates an application’s look and feel, includingContinue reading “Making of a Web App: Part 8 – Styleguide”

Making of a Web App: Choose a Name, Part 2 – Update

Making of a Web App follows the design, development and deployment of a web application. This is the seventh article in the series. In this entry we pick a name for Synap Software’s new sales team collaboration application. Here’s the steps we followed: Wrote down the categories, benefits, and differences that describe the app. UsedContinue reading “Making of a Web App: Choose a Name, Part 2 – Update”

Steve Jobs: Mac OS, designed by a bunch of amateurs

Designing Interactions is Bill Moggridge’s collection of interviews with the people behind great product designs. One of those interviewed is Cordell Ratzlaff, senior designer at Apple for five years. Prior to OS X, Apple was an engineering driven company. Steve Jobs turned it around into a design driven company. That change; designing for the userContinue reading “Steve Jobs: Mac OS, designed by a bunch of amateurs”