Posts Tagged → mobile

Mobile UX/UI Candy: Writing For My Audience

Recently I asked some followers what they would like to read about on my site. I realized that writing content for myself would make me only go in circles. So I’ve made a turn in my site and am now writing more articles based on what my audience wants to hear.

Here is a request made by a follower:
“@anareyna: I’d like to see UI/UX tips every now and then :)”

I am going to focus on mobile UX/UI for this question. Mainly because I believe I’ve learned some valuable tips and also because I haven’t touched on it yet here on my site. Although a lot of these tips you could apply to web just as easily.

1.) You MUST create gray scale wireframes
I put this as number one because  without wireframes you’re going to have a non functional application. Creating the frames in gray scale is important because you can see the hierarchy of buttons and text. I use Illustrator or Fireworks for this process. But use whatever you feel comfortable with and is the fastest for you to use.

2.)  View your work live!
LiveView is a great desktop and iOS app that lets you view your work live. It’s great for seeing button sizes on your device and button placement. You can view it in both retina and non retina. You can also have the option to move buttons around on the actual device. I don’t recommend this because depending on your Internet connection It’s very slow and not accurate.

3.) See your app in motion
I love Mocksup, it’s a great site and app that lets you connect screens to be able to see the flow of your app on an actual device. You can link images together and tap on buttons just like you would if it was on your device. It’s pretty awesome. You can get a free account for one project only.

4.) Designing in Retina
Can’t begin to tell you how much I wish I knew this tip when I first started designing mobile applications. It’s best to design in retina so you can scale down. Even better if your work is vectorized so it’s easier to scale. Also, design in 640×960 and the zoom out to 50% to see what your app would look like at non retina. If you can’t see text and your buttons are too small, then thats a good indication that you need to reconsider your sizing.

5.) Last but not least, test, iterate and repeat
Never believe that your first set of wireframes is the right set. Even with a finished design, question it. I always ask myself “Is this the best possible way to communicate this action? Is there anything I can do here that wold be better?” If it means re-doing the UX or UI so be it! It’s always worth it in the end.

Remember, sometimes it’s necessary to replace beauty with functionality. Besides, the user will never know the difference!

Changes & The Power Of Networking

Hi Guys! I wanted to give a brief update on what has been going on in lovely San Francisco and some things I have learned while living here so far.

I have been here over 6 months now and I feel like I just moved here. The city is beautiful, the people are pleasant and the food is incredible. I love that I can walk out of my apartment and go to several little restaurants on my street. Finding dive coffee shops is one of my favorite things to do and making friends with the local owners is also a nice plus. The design community is awesome and I have wonderful friends here that I know I will have for a life time.

I recently took a position at TinyCo as a UI game artist! I never thought that this time last year I would be working at my dream job. Literally. I couldn’t be happier and the opportunities are incredible. 

I also got an iPad, today. Finally! I have been in engrossed in it since I opened the box. I am not quite sure how I functioned without it. I cannot wait to get the Bamboo stylus for it so I’ll be able to draw and create wireframes! 

Valley Lessons
Living in the valley has already taught me many lessons and opened my eyes to the power of networking. The valley is small, and I feel that for every 3rd person I meet, they know someone that I know. It’s pretty tight, and reputation means everything. 

If you live in the valley you had better have two things to grow in networking:

1. Personal website
2. Twitter 

I’ve gone from asking “Do you have twitter?” to “What is your twitter handle?”. I feel like I should just go to meetups with a T-Shirt that just says “@HillaryHopper”! 

Going to meetups is pretty awesome because you can network with people in person. Get a feel for how they truly are and not just one side of them that you see on Twitter or Facebook. The internet can only take you so deep, but meeting in person can give you the opportunity to make your connections stronger. 

If you want to grow in your industry, whatever it may be. You need to go where the industry is. You’re not just going to wake up one day and see the industry outside your window with a rainbow floating over it. Sometimes you just have to make up your mind and go after it. It’s risky, scary and quite possibly stupid to everyone else. But I know that I would have rather have tried and failed then lived my life with regret because I was afraid of failing. 

We always downplay ourselves as human beings, putting dreams and goals on pedestals. When honestly, we should tell ourselves that they are attainable.  I believe that if someone truly wants something, they can achieve it. We are incredible beings with brilliant minds, it just takes work sometimes to grow into your fullest potential. 

So on that note. Go start networking and perusing your dreams like crazy! Because really, you have nothing to loose and a bucket full of dreams to gain.