The Informed Life

My guest today is Dr. Jeff Johnson. Jeff has been applying his background in psychology towards designing better human-computer interfaces for over forty years. He teaches computer science at The University of San Francisco, and has written several influential books on UI design. Among these, he co-authored with Kate Finn Desiging User Interfaces for an Aging Population, which is the focus of this conversation.Listen to the full conversation Download episode 46 Show notesJeff JohnsonUI WizardsCognitive PsychologyCromemcoXeroxGUI Bloopers 2.0: Common User Interface Design Dont’s and Dos by Jeff JohnsonDesigning With the Mind in Mind: Simple Guide to Understanding User Interface Guidelines by Jeff JohnsonConceptual Models: Core to Good Design by Austin Henderson and Jeff Johnson (My notes on Conceptual Models)Designing User Interfaces for an Aging Population: Towards Universal Design by Jeff Johnson and Kate Finn Tesla Model S InteriorGoogle MapsSome show notes may include Amazon affiliate links. I get a small commission for purchases made through these links.

Design strategist and researcher Tanya Rabourn discusses the role of ethnographic research in understanding diverse cultures for effective design strategies. She shares her experiences in UX design and research worldwide, highlighting the importance of human-centered design. Tanya explores designing innovation centers for refugees, navigating language and cultural dynamics in research, and reflecting on costs and benefits in design projects.

My guest today is Alexis Lloyd. Alexis is VP of Product Design at Medium and co-founder of Ethical Futures Lab. Previously, she led design and innovation work at The New York Times, Axios, and Automattic. Alexis has been thinking about the future of media for a long time. In this conversation, we focus on the evolving ways we consume and produce media.Listen to the full conversation Download episode 44 Show notesAlexis Lloyd@alexislloyd on TwitterResearch & Development at The New York TimesAxiosJohn Maeda (MAEDASTUDIO)AutomatticMediumEthical Futures Lab The future of news is not an article by Alexis LloydTed NelsonProject XanaduQuotebacks Link to Text Fragment Chrome extensionThe Informed Life Episode 6: Beck Tench on TinderboxTinderboxZettelkastenRoam ResearchDEVONthinkBuilding a digital garden by Tom CitchlowPinterestAre.naDropbox PaperSome show notes may include Amazon affiliate links. I get a small commission for purchases made through these links.

My guest today is Rob Haisfield. Rob is a behavioral product strategy and gamification consultant. He’s also an expert user of Roam, “a note-taking tool for networked thought.” In this conversation, we talk about Roam — what it is and how it can help you think more effectively.Listen to the full conversation Download episode 43 Show notesRob Haisfield@roberthaisfield on TwitterRob Haisfield on LinkedInInfluence Insights, Rob’s consulting companySpark WaveCenter for Advanced HindsightRoam ResearchOneNoteRob’s public repositorySpaced repetitionNudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Richard Thaler and Cass SunsteinDEVONthinkGuidedTrackRob Haisfield’s Tour of Roam Research (video)Some show notes may include Amazon affiliate links. I get a small commission for purchases made through these links.

My guest today is Nataly Restrepo. Nataly is an industrial designer specialized in food design. She works as a food and beverage innovation consultant for restaurants and consumer goods, and is based in Mexico. In this conversation we explore food design and how designing for experiences calls for a holistic understanding.Listen to the full conversation Download episode 42 Show notesNataly RestrepoNataly Restrepo on InstagramNataly Restrepo on LinkedinFood Design Education on InstagramFood Design Education Facebook groupCENTROMarije VogelzangPlay-DohSome show notes may include Amazon affiliate links. I get a small commission for purchases made through these links.

Arvind Venkataramani, a creator of an open source toolkit for designing secular rituals, dives into the transformative power of intentional rituals. He discusses how structured rituals can enhance human connections, especially in today's isolated environment. The conversation highlights the adaptability of rituals during the pandemic and introduces a toolkit to help anyone create meaningful experiences. With a focus on fostering community, Arvind emphasizes the need for personal rituals that bring a sense of belonging and shared meaning in modern life.

My guest today is Heather Hedden. Heather is an information management consultant specialized in taxonomies, controlled vocabularies, metadata, and indexing. She’s the author of two books, including The Accidental Taxonomist, a guide to the discipline of taxonomy creation and management. In this conversation, we explore taxonomies and why they’re important for organizations.Listen to the full conversation Download episode 40 Show notesHedden Information ManagementHeather’s blog Heather’s online taxonomy courseThe Accidental Taxonomist, 2nd Ed by Heather HeddenCengageRoget’s ThesaurusAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI)International Organization for Standardization (ISO)World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)Web Ontology Language (OWL)Resource Description Framework (RDF)Simple Knowledge Organization System (SKOS) Microsoft SharePointSome show notes may include Amazon affiliate links. I get a small commission for purchases made through these links.

Stephen P. Anderson, design leader, discusses transforming information for better understanding. Topics include distributed thinking, cognitive environments, interface design in spacecraft cockpits, and tools for overcoming challenges.

My guest today is Andy Polaine. Andy is a service designer, consultant, educator, author, and podcaster. He’s co-author of the book Service Design: From Insight to Implementation and host of the Power of Ten podcast. In this conversation, we discuss service design, and how it helps organizations think more holistically about the experiences they enable.Listen to the full conversation Show notesAndy PolaineAndy Polaine on TwitterAndy Polaine on LinkedInPower of Ten podcastService Design: From Insight to Implementation by Andy Polaine, Lavrans Lovlie, and Ben ReasonAdobe Director (aka Macromedia Director, or Video Works)AntiromSchool of the Arts & Media, University of New South WalesBen ReasonLiveworkLavrans Løvlie (in Norwegian)Chris Downs on LinkedInFjordPowers of Ten (film) by Charles and Ray EamesThe Guide to Self-sufficiency by John SeymourService blueprintDesign for the Long Term by Andy Polaine UK Government Digital Service (GDS)This is HCD networkSome show notes may include Amazon affiliate links. I get a small commission for purchases made through these links.

Audrey Crane, a partner at DesignMap and author of 'What CEOs Need to Know About Design,' delves into the vital role of design in today’s organizations. She discusses the shift from individual expression to user-centered problem-solving in design. Audrey highlights the necessity for better communication between designers and CEOs, while also exploring the intimacy required in research discussions. She emphasizes balancing internal and external resources in design teams, especially post-pandemic, to drive innovation and address organizational challenges.