OOUX is a framework that challenges designers to create content relationships that are built on heterarchies instead of hierarchies. It helps us to fulfill near infinite user routes, rather than traditional, linear, parent-child relationships. The framework separates all “things” into “objects.” Objects can be “conceptual” (social and mental constructs) and “physical” (everything else—the tangible world). In part 1, we established the reasons why this framework is useful to designers, developers, and the users themselves. We also gave concrete examples of how OOUX organization methods better mimic our physical realities and even the English language—and many other languages’ syntax structures. Now, … Read more of the post Object-Oriented UX, Part 2

You’re here because you want to use your design chops and knack for creative problem solving to take your career to the next level, right? UI/UX is a quickly-growing field that offers many opportunities, particularly in metro areas—though remote positions are on the rise, too. With a strong UI/UX design portfolio, you can acquire a job in the industry. Before diving into specifics, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page about terms. “UI” stands for User Interface Design, and largely refers to the design decisions made that impact what a person sees and interacts with on a digital … Read more of the post Essential Portfolio Components for Landing a UI/UX Design Job

Navigation, as a field of study, predates the web. Of course it does. At its core, navigation is the systematic process of monitoring and controlling movement through space (and sometimes through time). It’s the organized explanation of any skill that helps people to determine their position and direction. In order to know where a person is in physical space, we need a point of comparison—another position or location with which to compare a user. A person cannot be at Point B if Point A doesn’t exist. A person cannot be at both Point A and Point B simultaneously. During the … Read more of the post Navigation is Exploration

If you’re a growing visual or UX designer who wants to deliver your best work, paying close attention to quality and detail is key. In order to help folks at Think Company work with their teams to deliver work that is thorough, free of errors, and as high quality as possible, some of our current Design Leads collaborated on the following checklist. Keep a copy handy for your next design project. Design Work Quality Checklist Taking notes Capture thorough notes during meetings and calls so that you can refer back to them later. Be sure to note who said what, … Read more of the post Quality Control Checklist for Designers

I recently launched a conversation on Think Company’s Slack asking my designer teammates how they think through accessibility in their work. Web accessibility is a topic I’m passionate about—especially when considered as part of the web design process from start to finish (rather than as a consideration later on). I wanted to know more about the designer’s perspective on how and when accessibility becomes top-of-mind during the design process. Read on for some thoughts and resources from my fellow Thinkers.   Luke Pettway Hello, designers! 👋🏼 I was just curious: what materials do you use when you are designing things … Read more of the post Slack Chat: How Do Designers Think Through Accessibility?