Coming Up For Air: Updates & Links

Hello! We know it’s been a while since the last update, but things have been really hectic around 201 Fayette the past few weeks—not that we’re complaining! I know some of the other folks have a few entries cookin’, but until we get something more substantial posted, a few updates and links:

1. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out our latest job posting for a Sr. Experience Designer on LinkedIn.

2. We’re headed to An Event Apart in early May to frolic with some of the big dogs in the design world—and are very excited for a little Think Brownstone field trip (“make sure you know who your buddy is, and don’t lose them”) . Maybe we’ll see you there!

3. I’m continuing to catch up on reading books people have been talking about for a few years now—the latest being Alan Cooper’s The Inmates Are Running The Asylum (a great read so far, with fantastic case studies). As usual, I’m gathering a little collection of favorite quotes from it that I’ll be posting after I finish it…and am again reeling at the juxtaposition of this book and Kurt Vonnegut’s 1952 masterpiece Player Piano (which I just finished). The experience and usability undercurrents in that book, particularly how they play against self-worth, belonging, and satisfaction, are just mind-blowing. It goes to show that these concepts are universal, timeless, and sociological; they are certainly not tied only to computers or the computer age, although they may be exacerbated by it.

4. If you have a few minutes, check out our buddy Jeff Lyons over at Used Wigs and his latest design rant about the design of The Huffington Post website—a solid design critique delivered in his characteristically snarky (and hysterical) style.

Over and out.