August 2021: UXperts round-up

Why startups struggle to get UX right the first time + Data sampling collection types and when to use them + PFR shortlisted for Oppies 2021 + more

People for Research
4 min readSep 1, 2021

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PFR shortlisted for Oppies 2021 in Best Support Services category

The People for Research team are super excited to announce that we have been selected (again!) as a finalist for the Best Support Services award at the MRS Oppies. The 2021 Oppie winners will be announced at 4pm on Thursday 23rd September via an online broadcast.
By Maria Santos at peopleforresearch.co.uk

How Hackney Council built an API platform

From the start, Hackney Council’s Corporate ICT team took an iterative approach to choosing the technology to build the API platform depending on the user and data needs. They looked at each solution’s benefits and drawbacks and changed their approach as necessary.
By Central Digital and Data Office at gov.uk

Why Microsoft centred the start button in Windows 11

Microsoft’s new Windows 11 is fairly similar to its well-received predecessor Windows 10, but it will come with one significant, visible difference: the repositioning of the start button and the menu it opens. The change comes after years of research by a team of about 40 Microsoft designers.
By Katie Deighton at wsj.com (Wall Street Journal)

Securing UX in open banking apps

Open banking has transformed the way organisations and consumers manage their money, as users can now conveniently access their finances from the comfort of their homes.
By Jasen Meece at securityboulevard.com

Designing persuasive banners that don’t ruin your UX

Banners get their roots from advertising. They are inspired by real-life banners and are translated into the world of UX to land users to desired end goals.
By Isha Beniwal at uxdesign.cc

Why startups struggle to get UX right the first time

Behind every great startup, there’s normally a great user experience. Even so, design elements are often overlooked by founders in favour of revenue-makers like sales and business development. That shouldn’t be the case. Today, users want transparency but they also want personalisation, comprehensiveness and simplicity.
By Tina Björk at sifted.eu

Data sampling collection types and when to use them

We’re constantly told to find the right target audience for user research, but with more need for inclusivity and accessibility, the idea of random sampling needs to fit the needs of these groups for better outcomes and accessible product design.
By Jason Stockwell at bootcamp.uxdesign.cc

Six rebel ideas to make sampling an innovation priority

Because sampling is about which people we speak to, we should be making it an innovation priority, not — as sampling risks being — an automated commodity. Time to rebel.
By Jack Miles at research-live.com

Human-centred prototyping starts with respect for human capacities

When working on accessible design projects, people often centre their discussions on defining impairments and how to use technologies and services to bridge the gap between such impaired capacities and “normal” capacities. This is a deficit model of design. Design fixing human failings.
By Alastair Somerville at acuity-design.medium.com

Understanding contrast ratio and accessibility

Contrast is the ratio of the luminance (perceived brightness of a colour) of the brightest to the darkest colour that the system can produce. Contrast is not “real”, it is a perception. Contrast sensitivity refers to the ability to detect subtle differences in shading and patterns. Contrast perception changes throughout our lifetime and can be affected by various health issues or medication.
By Maria Panagiotidi at uxdesign.cc

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People for Research

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