With the release of the newest version of Apple’s iOS, a four-year-old technology called Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) just became an overnight success. Like the term “Ajax” in 2005, the term “Progressive Web Application” is a buzzword applied to a handful of new technologies. Specifically, it’s the way that web browsers on desktop and mobile devices will now grant their native-application powers to websites. Chrome and Firefox users on Android and Windows (yes, on the desktop!) have had access to these features for some time. Now that they’ve been released to iOS, those Progressive Web Application superpowers will quickly be … Read more of the post All Your Dreams Came True Overnight With Progressive Web Applications

A thousand critical details go into making a website secure. But we often overlook the most critical piece of security: usability. “Security at the expense of usability, comes at the expense of security.” – AviD, user on Stack Exchange Think about all the times you’ve seen someone write down their password and stick it on their monitor. If the best security is too hard to use, people will look for ways to bypass it. The best security is the security your users will actually use. Here at Think Company, we spend all day every day thinking about your users’ experience, … Read more of the post The Last Mile in Website Security: Usability

Since I moved into the design industry six years ago, I’ve found myself having a whole new appreciation for my interactions and experiences as a customer. In my first job out of college, I worked for a large financial services firm. While user experience (UX) design was not a focus for them at the time, they did a good job of working with their clients to make sure the customer’s voice was heard. They even established customer support groups for folks to share their experiences with one another, pool funding for enhancements, and weigh in on new product features. This … Read more of the post Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop—UX is Everywhere

Here’s a little-known fact. Until 1986, the New York Times prohibited the use of “Ms.” as an honorific for women. Think about that. For the majority of its history, whenever a woman was referred to in the pages of the New York Times, her marital status had to be included. This was not so (and never has been) for men. This is important because the way we structure content says a lot about the values we share. If we require Mr., which says nothing about marital status, before a man’s name but either Miss or Mrs. before a woman’s name, … Read more of the post The Revolution Will Have Structured Content

Six Sigma and related methods like DMADV and Lean Six Sigma are powerful ways to improve processes and systems. They have been used successfully for decades to reduce errors and increase efficiency, but there is a blind spot that can undermine their effectiveness: not adequately accounting for the human perspective. “We are trained to look at how to make [a process] faster and more efficient rather than how to make it engaging.” – T.B., Six Sigma Black Belt Any process that involves the actions of people will contain hidden complexity and opportunity. Business processes and systems must be aligned with … Read more of the post Six Ways to Add a Human Perspective to Process Reengineering Projects