I recently stumbled upon a nice article in Businessweek titled “Ben Terrett on Making the U.K.’s One-Stop Government Website Cool”. This article hits on a few key design issues in the context of a compelling story.

First of all, I’m so thrilled to read how the UK government acknowledged that there was a problem and that it needed to change. Accepting there’s a problem, and on top of that gaining agreement across government was an enormous step in its own right! Even the government realizes nowadays how important it is to think about what their users’ want instead of focusing on the government’s own needs and how they [the government] think it should work. Adoption of an UX mindset of “one site and one user experience” was the first step towards success. Let’s not kid ourselves – folding 1700 websites into 300 on the same platform is a massive undertaking, government or not!

The fact is that we truly are shifting rapidly in this age of constant evolution. I have seen so many organizations struggle with the need to transform themselves digitally. They are just stuck so deep in their own convoluted processes, procurement cycles, and politics. Unfortunately (or fortunately) they seriously need to start rethinking their organization if they want to survive.

I’ve seen people make mistakes by thinking responsive design equals a smart looking website. However, as the Businessweek article clearly demonstrated, it’s not just a design (look-&-feel) project; it’s much more about providing services to end users i.e. being user-focused. It is about applying design to make the user’s life simpler. Focusing on user needs, figuring out what the user is trying to do is vital – make it, test it, apply it, relentlessly. Isn’t this something that all C-level executives should not only read but act on?

Stating the obvious. It’s so natural for me as a designer. If I can’t draw, I can’t design. No-brainer if you are like me who love to design.

The question I got asked in my recent meeting. I thought to quickly summarize why I think it is one of the several essential step. Even though you might have heard before any of this objections such as ‘a tight timeline’, ‘need results quickly’, or ‘cannot show hand-drawn/messy sketches to stakeholders’.

• Sketching is quick to iterate concepts
Grab a paper, a pen and boom! Keep your creative juice flowing on the paper. Don’t like it, toss it and start a new one. No need to spend hours creating design experience or interactions using countless design and prototyping tools available in the market.

• Sketching saves lot of time.
In every way – designers, tight timelines, project budget, etc.

• Sketching enables us to explore design problem space and define solution at the same time.
In natural way, I can communicate my design thoughts and get quick feedback early in the process, in natural way. We all understand the space constrains mobile devices have.

• Sketching is cheap.
Countless design and prototyping tools comes with a cost.

I would keep few thing in mind:
Don’t confuse sketching with UI design. Your sketches don’t have to look good. In this phase, you’re not working on your brand, but you are conveying your interaction design ideas. Avoid temptation of going in details otherwise there’s high probability of getting feedback on look-&-feel instead.

Stop at good enough. Your sketches need to get your ideas across. Don’t get lost in (unimportant) details.

Be lazy. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Search for a printable sketching templates online that guide your sketching – whether it’s mobile, tablet or web.

Now, you know why I recommend sketching. Hopefully in your next meeting, you will not ask this question to designer. Happy Sketching!

We have been hearing about ‘Clouds’ but have you ever heard about the ‘Creative Clouds’? Well, then you probably might be wondering what this means. In other words, the Creative Cloud is a membership Service introduced by Adobe systems, a multinational well-known software company who focuses upon creation of multimedia and creative software products. A digital Creative Cloud Service is the digital hub that lets you download and allow you to install any Adobe Creative suite 6 applications on your desktop. This means, the actual software is not hosted on the Cloud out there but you can download any Adobe softwares on your desktop from the Cloud. One can access, share, publish their work; collaborate and sink the original files from almost any digital devices such as desktop, ipad, mobile, etc.

I really got excited when I heard first time that Adobe is working on the beta version of Creative Cloud back in end of 2011. I heard about having the limited functionality but now with the full launch of Creative Cloud, Adobe is unveiling much bigger offerings to all of the CS6 desktop applications, along with the analytics, and TypeKit fonts.

Yet everything has its own pros and cons, this type of cloud service also has them. Read below my observations:

The Adobe Creative Cloud subscription allows users to use any of Adobe Creative Suite 6 app for a monthly rate of $49.99/month with a one year commitment (The introductory special offer as of today is $29.99/month) or month-to-month for $74.99. Also, if you are a student or need Creative team rates, Adobe is offering separate rates. I am interested in the Creative team rates as I manage the Creative team, which is $69.99/month on an annual contract. Now let’s do the math. Currently my team has been using Adobe 5.5 suite since it came out. We bought the old version of Adobe creative apps one time and upgraded the newer version twice within 6 years. As a result, we end up paying around $2000 for entire purchase and software upgrade. Now let’s compare with the Cloud Service. If I sign-up for a monthly service, this will cost me around $840/year. Then this will be a really expensive solution.

In addition, say if you decide to discontinue the Cloud Service and go back to old ways of owning/purchasing Adobe apps, then Adobe lets you download that current version free of charge, only for once. However the catch is, such downloads does not have any warranty or support or any kinds of updates will be provided. In my opinion I feel stuck here. This means that I will be forced to use that same version; I can’t update it to the next version. If I decide to purchase Adobe apps in future, then either I have to buy new apps (obviously it is an expensive solution) or start the cloud service again.
In this case, I would stick with the retail version; buy the traditional CD over using Cloud Service.

This subscription is great if you:
• Want to use all current features and updates as soon as it’s available. You don’t have to wait for the next release or until you buy the next version. Honestly, this is really exciting and powering.
• Want to use this service for a short run. If you wish to use the Creative app for a limited time or want to learn any Creative app or you are a student, then this will be a perfect solution for you. But it will cost you a lot if you are using this in a long run.
• Want to look cool in the crowd that you are using current technology.

If you ask me to sum it up, what I recommend? The answer would vary depending upon your individual goals or what you are trying to accomplish. Absolutely it will be a best deal if you want to use the service short-term. If you are one of them who do not want to spend lot of money up-front, if you just want to get acquainted with newer version, student, etc. On the other hand, if you are a creative professional or in any profession where you use Adobe apps every day, then it might be better off buying the DVD and own the apps. This is a matter of personal preference as buy a car or rent a car.

I would like to hear your thoughts as well. What would you prefer – lease a car or buy a car? Oops…Adobe Cloud Service vs. purchase Adobe Creative Suite?

I have just read an article on Computerworld that Facebook lost more than 5% of its users in the U.S. last month. Is it a signal an underlying shift in social media?

Personally, let me tell you what I think is happening:

Social media will never die out. Until recently, Facebook was the main performer in town. The only shift we are noticing because now a days, there are other players in the market. Now the social media on the whole became so popular, we will see many other players in the market in future as well. Do not get shocked if you hear news next month that Facebook has lost more than 5% of its users in the U.S market. Certainly social media on the whole is here to stay.

Let me give you a perfect example, the concept is best conveyed in what have happened with news paper industry. News papers industry has died badly, not because people have lost interest reading news but lately, they shift online. The readers actually are reading more news on various news channels than previously.

Just understand the natural behavior of the users; they will be always on the lookout for other exciting new technologies or trends, in this case another social networking service.

Yesterday I read this motivating book called ‘Whatever you think, think the opposite’ by Paul Arden. This book has cleverly put everything together – encouraging quotes, catchy graphics, innovative photography, and eye catching typography. Paul Arden combined brilliant visuals with his concise writing and conveyed the message very beautifully. Author’s writing is very sharp, succinct, brisk, and original.

Initially when I grabbed this book from the shelf, I thought it might be about how to think in a different way; from different perspective. I have finished this pocket size book in one sitting but personally I felt that It is more about his own experience, own stories, and dreadful thinking at some point but ultimately I have observed honesty in his writing. Overall approach of this book is doing things differently without being uneasy.

Few things stayed with me – Great people have great egos and that’s the reason makes them great – says Paul. It is nothing bad to have ego; think that you are better than others; all great people have it then why can’t you? Another was to ask for a slap in the face instead of pat in a back, if you think you did something wrong – an outstanding photograph with this quote. Also, ‘people steal your ideas’ quote with the torn paper graphic is brilliant. As if like someone is torning a paper from a book to steal that idea.

Some people have ability to write in such a way that made you think and you start tracking your life, even if it just for 5 minutes. You feel inspired to think deeper. This book is a perfect example of this gist. Sometimes we need that little push; referring to such quotes gives you that push you needed in your life to keep going and bring out best in you.

Generally speaking – This book is worth a quick read!

Talking about weather – is it really a conversation starter or just a common courtesy? Initially I believed that it is dull; boring topic you talk about. It shows that you don’t have anything to converse so you talk about weather!

Say if you out on a date and if you talk about weather than it is time to move on as you don’t have anything common to chat further or may be bored from each other or its time to move on – may be.

But now that I see it differently, I am fine with breaking the ice with open ended weather question such as ‘We couldn’t ask for a nicer day, could we?’ At least it is decent question; a polite conversation starter. It gives a shy person the opportunity to easily break the ice and start a conversation. Next time someone mentions weather, smile and know they are showing you respect, and then politely change the topic to something you find more interesting.

So… what topic do you use to start conversation – weather, sports, pet or kid?