I just came from an engagement where there was some resistance to adopting common templates and structure. We all accept that if there is a common way to do things, we - the constructors of these documents - how does it help the readers?
I came across this great article about Building Trust:
http://www.usability.gov/articles/092009news.html
It is a great way of thinking about how we can sell structure and common practice to those that dont understand why we need it.
To paraphrase, the article says that trust and familiarity are hand in hand. And to build trust, familiarity helps. If we then have structure to any document that we make, we start with a certain familiarity.
Extending this further, we can also say that we need a certain consistency and structure to the diagrams we make. Sure, there are rules to make say a DFD or an ERD, but how about the fonts and colours used? These are the things that a user will notice WELL before they read a text. Keep these consistent as well. Dont choose hot pink because you feel like it on the day...
I would love to hear about any other implications that can be extrapolated from this article.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Common Sense Diagrams
It is a misconception that diagrams in technical or requirement documents need to be purely factual and completely devoid of any emotion. It is essential that they tell a whole narrative, including (s-u-b-t-l-y) a bit of emotion to be completely successful.
I have seen diagrams used as a thinking apparatus. Draw something out so you can think it through, then make it all into words. The existing diagram is then used, with a few minor embelishments, to accompany the step.
This is not best practice.
By all means, use the diagram to think, but realise it is just a step. Throw the diagram away once you are finished with it.
Once you have a narrative in your head of what you want the chapter or section to say, you have to start again.
Look at your section - what are you trying to say? What do you want your audience to feel after reading it? Happy about the wonderous, shiny new software you are building for them? Or to be slightly apprehensive about the challenges that ahead in THAT integrations project? think it through.
Once you have a narrative, you are ready to start.
Start roughly, on a piece of paper. this is absolutely essential. do not start with a mouse.
doodle, and assemble a series of high level diagrams on paper. Asses it critically. Can you create more emotion? can you create more subliminal messaging? (I can feel another blog on this subject)
Then, you can start playing with your software.
This is, after all, common sense. We are visual beings, and certain things have an inexplicable effect on us that is well beyond our understanding. Why should diagrams be devoid of emotion? sure they should contain facts, but dont all good stories?
Remember, you can draw what you cant always write.
I have seen diagrams used as a thinking apparatus. Draw something out so you can think it through, then make it all into words. The existing diagram is then used, with a few minor embelishments, to accompany the step.
This is not best practice.
By all means, use the diagram to think, but realise it is just a step. Throw the diagram away once you are finished with it.
Once you have a narrative in your head of what you want the chapter or section to say, you have to start again.
Look at your section - what are you trying to say? What do you want your audience to feel after reading it? Happy about the wonderous, shiny new software you are building for them? Or to be slightly apprehensive about the challenges that ahead in THAT integrations project? think it through.
Once you have a narrative, you are ready to start.
Start roughly, on a piece of paper. this is absolutely essential. do not start with a mouse.
doodle, and assemble a series of high level diagrams on paper. Asses it critically. Can you create more emotion? can you create more subliminal messaging? (I can feel another blog on this subject)
Then, you can start playing with your software.
This is, after all, common sense. We are visual beings, and certain things have an inexplicable effect on us that is well beyond our understanding. Why should diagrams be devoid of emotion? sure they should contain facts, but dont all good stories?
Remember, you can draw what you cant always write.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
tell me a story....
I am aware that we live in a world full of differences. Race, Religion, Temperaments, Opportunities. All of these seperate us from each other and create this huge dichotomy that we call the world.
But one thing pervades us all - the desire to succeed. One of the things each of us need to succeed are the right tools. My job is to help people make better tools. Yes, I am an IT consultant. Shock horror.
During my many tours of duty, I have come across many many illogical and terrible solutions that are so utterly devoid of any common sense. But smart people pervade these projects. So then, why the complete lack of common sense?
Lets take, for example, usability of screens. It is one of my passions, and also, sadly, one of the last things most organisations consider when designing a system. They talk about user-centric design, construct data models, use cases and all manner of documentation, but often leave out screen designs, layout and usability. In many cases, if they are designed, but there is no story behind them. Where is the narrative people?!?!
So, an explanation. Firstly, I was reading the following:
http://www.erasmatazz.com/library/Mind/Narrative_Thinking.html
And then I read this:
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/telling_stories/narrative_thinking.htm
And now, I am reading this:
http://www.leeroybeach.com/id5.html
All of the above talk about how people percieve, organise and reuse information. The Narrative, as it turns out, is a highly effective and evolved way of communicating ideas and indeed convincing people.
Every process should be a narrative. Take the user through a story. Every screen should be carefully constructed plot point, if you will. Each plot point should in turn have clear details and highlight any important information. The payoff of the story should also be clear to the user. No one does anything without an expectation of a result, so give it to them. Satisfy the user.
No matter how different we are, following a narrative is just common sense.
But one thing pervades us all - the desire to succeed. One of the things each of us need to succeed are the right tools. My job is to help people make better tools. Yes, I am an IT consultant. Shock horror.
During my many tours of duty, I have come across many many illogical and terrible solutions that are so utterly devoid of any common sense. But smart people pervade these projects. So then, why the complete lack of common sense?
Lets take, for example, usability of screens. It is one of my passions, and also, sadly, one of the last things most organisations consider when designing a system. They talk about user-centric design, construct data models, use cases and all manner of documentation, but often leave out screen designs, layout and usability. In many cases, if they are designed, but there is no story behind them. Where is the narrative people?!?!
So, an explanation. Firstly, I was reading the following:
http://www.erasmatazz.com/library/Mind/Narrative_Thinking.html
And then I read this:
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/telling_stories/narrative_thinking.htm
And now, I am reading this:
http://www.leeroybeach.com/id5.html
All of the above talk about how people percieve, organise and reuse information. The Narrative, as it turns out, is a highly effective and evolved way of communicating ideas and indeed convincing people.
Every process should be a narrative. Take the user through a story. Every screen should be carefully constructed plot point, if you will. Each plot point should in turn have clear details and highlight any important information. The payoff of the story should also be clear to the user. No one does anything without an expectation of a result, so give it to them. Satisfy the user.
No matter how different we are, following a narrative is just common sense.
In the beginning
Let there be light.
Let there be man...
Let man have common sense...
Now let him throw it away at the first opportunity s0 that he can cause everyone around him blinding and unending pain.
A lot of things in life strikes me as common sense. Most of the laws that govern us can be explained by common sense. Or that is what I thought. But then what is common sense? Is it just the bleeding obvious? Or is it some serene wisdom that allows you to think outside the little bubble of your own existence? I think the answer is not so simple...
Also, I am tired of people saying "its common SENSE!", as if even a dead monkey would be able to have come to that conclusion. No, I prescribe to that old addage that common sense is not that common at all. I think it is highly subjective, and one that requires definition. Hence this blog.
So, I invite you to join me in my journey into the rare, elusive and bewildering word of Common Sense and how it can be applied in our world.
We will have some tangents, some rants, as well as some insights... but more than anything, there has to be a unifying, underlying rule to unite the chaos that is life. Common Sense.
Let there be man...
Let man have common sense...
Now let him throw it away at the first opportunity s0 that he can cause everyone around him blinding and unending pain.
A lot of things in life strikes me as common sense. Most of the laws that govern us can be explained by common sense. Or that is what I thought. But then what is common sense? Is it just the bleeding obvious? Or is it some serene wisdom that allows you to think outside the little bubble of your own existence? I think the answer is not so simple...
Also, I am tired of people saying "its common SENSE!", as if even a dead monkey would be able to have come to that conclusion. No, I prescribe to that old addage that common sense is not that common at all. I think it is highly subjective, and one that requires definition. Hence this blog.
So, I invite you to join me in my journey into the rare, elusive and bewildering word of Common Sense and how it can be applied in our world.
We will have some tangents, some rants, as well as some insights... but more than anything, there has to be a unifying, underlying rule to unite the chaos that is life. Common Sense.
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