Whit Hour is back! Week 9

After an eight-month hiatus due to a lack of decent live broadcast platforms, Whit Hour is BACK and now hosted by Justin.tv.

Whit Hour is my weekly video-based “office hour” in which I answer any and all questions about user experience, consulting, and whatever else you wanna throw at me.

Tune in every Monday night from 10-11pm Eastern Time at http://www.justin.tv/whitneyhess.

Whit Hour – Week 9

June 28, 2010, from 10-11pm ET

Watch live video from Whit Hour on Justin.tv

(I get going around 1:30)

This Week’s Beer

None! I drank too much this weekend so I’m taking the week off.

QUESTIONS ASKED AND (HOPEFULLY) ANSWERED

1. How do I become a ux designer? what book to read first?
2. How do you like your new place?!
3. I’m a new UXD at a software company; how should I approach giving feedback to my product manager?
4. Have you ever see anything too complex to allow for a good user experience?
5. Do you personally pitch for many projects or are you just headhunted now days?
6. I’m new to the field and the ux group is new to my digital pr agency, what can I say to people on the team who don’t understand the value of ia and ux?
7. What kind of beer are you having tonight?
8. How deep is your knowledge of web programming languages and development skills, e.g., html, css, javascript, php, or whatever else?
9. How did you break into speaking @ conferences in the beginning/get over that initial hurdle?
10. Have you experienced “burnout” and what have you done about it?
11. Are you hiring a P.A. / intern for the summer?
12. What are some sites you think are doing UX ‘well’ out there right now?
13. Do you do a lot of sketching in your projects? Either by yourself, with a team or with a client.
14. Do you prefer working on agile projects or waterwall style projects, and if so any special reason?
15. For a mid-level UX designer, If you had to pick between working in a design agency (RGA, Huge, Frog), and an established tech company (Google, Yahoo, Microsoft) or a startup, which one would you pick and why?
16. Seems that UX is the top of the pyramid in terms of who should sign off on things: graphics, layout, db ia, type, etc… Must be difficult to convince all the various other parties working that all should answer to one.
17. I’m sure a blog post is coming but could your speak briefly about your experience at Foo Camp?

Questions I missed

Will be answered at the beginning of next week’s Whit Hour!

1. What’s a project you’ve done recently that was challenging for you and what did you come up with to solve the problem?
2. Is Foo Camp only for web dev?
3. In your experience, is UX more important than UI?
4. I’ve been trying to include my iPad in my everyday work as an IxD. How have you been using yours the most?
5. New to UX here.. Would you say most web businesses have developers, designers, and project managers? How do you describe to that team how ux designers fit into that structure?
6. How often do you continue your relationships so you can continue with an iterative process?
7. Can you share some thoughts about designing Apps / sites focusing the mobile market (IOS, Android devices, etc…)?

Full Text Chat

» whitneyhess says, Thanks for joining Whit Hour! Ask a question by typing it into the chat. I’ll try my best to answer everything this hour. Ask me anything!
Justinfan50454123: q: how do I become a ux designer? what book to read first
Mkivikoski: Whats your favorite color?
Justinfan261997308: how do you like your new place?!
Broadcaster Whitneyhess: https://whitneyhess.com/blog/2009/06/30/so-you-wanna-be-a-user-experience-designer-step-1-resources/
Justinfan50454123: u should post in your blog how and where to become a ux designer??
Cbachelder: that’s an awesome post series, btw
Broadcaster Whitneyhess: The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
Justinfan50454123: thx. i m a graphic designer. no ux and ui experience. I want to go into ux career.
» i am cutting and pasting your tips
» i will start reading pNp
Cbachelder: Q: I’m a new UXD at a software company; how should I approach giving feedback to my product manager?
Novaurora: I like Designing the Obvious by Robert Hoekman, Jr. – Whit?
Antonio_malta_campos: hi Whitney Im Antonio from Sao Paulo Brasil
Justinfan50454123: thx, guys, keep posting books to read or tips.. thx
Justinfan33712121: haha nice! congrats
Whaleen: Have you ever see anything too complex to allow for a good user experience?
Falicon: what’s a project you’ve done recently that was challenging for you and what did you come up with to solve the problem?
Justinfan50454123: what is the job different between Ux and UI
» yes i see it. thx
Cbachelder: I have 10 yrs exp in web UXD, now working on desktop software for screen capture. I work with a product manager and lead dev for road mapping.
Justinfan50454123: do i need to know web programming in order to become a ux designer
Cbachelder: We have an independent user research team
Justinfan50454123: “So you wanna be a user experience designer” is so helpful. Hope u keep posting this topic. I will keep coming to your blog for info. thx
Mkivikoski: Oh, best question here – what kind of beer are you having tonight?
Davidjgc: Hi Withney.. just saying hello and congratz for open this hour for us! Saludos mexicanos
Justinfan135641936: Hey, this is Sandra from House Party UX team! I’d like to echo Justinfan’s question – how deep is your knowledge of web programming languages and development skills, e.g., html, css, javascript, php, or whatever else. How much time do you spend updat…
Justinfan11534849: I’m new to the field and the ux group is new to my digital pr agency, what can I say to people on the team who don’t understand the value of ia and ux?
Justinfan209957784: do you personally pitch for many projects or are you just headhunted now days?
Justinfan50454123: r u hiring interm for ux
» tell u about the foocamp
» tell us about the foo camp.
Mkivikoski: hahahah, well played. Those sound delicious. Now back to UX.
Paguilar: Design OfEveryday Things vs Emotional Design?
Justinfan848563997: where’s UX heading? How can you future proof your site?
Justinfan390772010: i used to work at house party ^_^
Syktek: i’m having a house party
Novaurora: LOL
Justinfan50454123: no wonder. u r a cs programmer. of course it helps
Paguilar: is there a chat character limit for everyone?
Justinfan41982464: Yo
Dafark8: Hey Whit, as an aside we need to catch up again, maybe WhartonConf? On that topic – how did you break into speaking @ conferences in the beginning/get over that initial hurdle?
Justinfan919619944: Hi, Whitney! I already had the pleasure to see one of your presentations about UX. Can you share some thoughts about designing Apps / sites focusing the mobile market (IOS, Android devices, etc…)
Nickymoore: Where is ux heading, how can you future proof your site?
Livlab: Yo
Broadcaster Whitneyhess: http://www.slideshare.net/whitneyhess/10-most-common-misconceptions-about-user-experience-design
Justinfan11534849: Great – thank you!
Walidtl: hyyy
Livlab: Nice to see you doing this again. Keep it up Whit!
Justinfan209957784: that was my next question – how often do you continue your relationships so you can continue with an iterative process
Justinfan50454123: r u hiring P.A. / intern for the summer
Falicon: what are some sites you think are doing UX ‘well’ out there right now?
Antonio_malta_campos: how do you compare iPhone and Android phones; Antonio from Sao Paulo
Justinfan50454123: UIE UX Podcast http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/topics/podcasts/
» good question.. ha ha
Mkivikoski: Do you do a lot of sketching in your projects? Either by yourself, with a team or with a client.
Justinfan50454123: good advices on twitter… thx
Justinfan11534849: Thanks for the info – I think the biggest issue for me is that each department on my team expects a different thing from our team and some producers think that we can do what we need to do in a few hours, at any point in the process of a project.
Nickymoore: How can you future proof your site? Is that even possible?
Whaleen: Seems that UX is the top of the pyramid in terms of who should sign off on things: graphics, layout, db ia, type, etc… Must be difficult to convince all the various other parties working that all should answer to one. There must be other heads of t…
Justinfan358979585: For a mid-level UX designer, If you had to pick between working in a design agency (RGA, Huge, Frog), and an established tech company (Google, Yahoo, Microsoft) or a startup, which one would you pick and why?
Livlab: @whitneyhess hahaha. I’ve done that but I don’t feel like I can do that anymore. Much prefer preparing these days.
Steveontheline: do you prefer working on agile projects or waterwall style projects, and if so any special reason?
Justinfan50454123: whit, thx for the insight
Livlab: You don’t really have to embrace it full on. Someone part time to take on specific tasks might help ease into this idea
Justinfan50454123: ok. i will send my resume to you
Justinfan43254609: New to UX here.. Would you say most web businesses have developers, designers, and project managers? How do you describe to that team how ux designers fit into that structure?
Lwcavallucci: Have you experienced “burnout” and what have you done about it?
Nickymoore: Future proofing – more so in terms of user experience. What do people want from their sites that they aren’t getting now?
Justinfan389886296: I’m sure a blog post is coming but could your speak briefly about your experience at Foo Camp?
Maggiesayswhat: Thanks, Whitney. Enjoying your talk this evening.
Paguilar: Yes! Agency work is crazy but grrreat experience for all the points Whitney mentioned
Justinfan50454123: talk about foo camp. what is foo camp
Livlab: Iterating what someone said above, I’d love to hear about Foocamp.
Mkivikoski: Hey lwcavallucci – how are things?
Lwcavallucci: That’s great advice Whitney!
Ixdiego: Hey Whit ^_^ –I’ve been trying to include my iPad in my everyday work as an IxD. How have you been using yours the most?
Lwcavallucci: Hey Mkivikoski!
Ixdiego: Hey Lori
Lwcavallucci: Hey Ixdiego
Justinfan50454123: is foo camp only for web dev?
Livlab: Hey Diego! I definitely embraced it as quick note-taking and rough sketching tool. Using Penultimate for that.
Ixdiego: Hey Liv –I’ve been using Penultimate for writing (only) Adobe ideas for quick sketching and Sketchypad for Wireframing. I love them all.
Nickymoore: Thank you Whit
Maggiesayswhat: Thank you, Whitney.
Livlab: Haven’t tried Sketchypad Diego, will try. Thanks.
Justinfan627782896: thanks for the session – helpful will be back next week
Mkivikoski: Thanks Whitney!
Justinfan135641936: Thanks Whitney!
Livlab: Excellent seeing you Whitney! Nice to see Whit hour back. Cheers!
Paguilar: Thanks Whitney – great stuff!
Ontheprow: thanks whitney!
Ixdiego: Gracias Whit
Cbachelder: Thanks!
Justinfan389886296: Thanks Whitney!
Justinfan50454123: u r the best
Lwcavallucci: So glad that Whit hour is back!
Justinfan666321187: thank you, whitney
Justinfan50454123: We love you
Antonio_malta_campos: thanks whitney!
Justinfan351735830: in your experience, is UX more important than UI?
Justinfan351735830: UX vs. UI — whats more important?
Antonio_malta_campos: great show
Lauren: I’m going to have to think up some questions I’d like to ask (I’m terrible at thinking up Q’s on the fly)… just wanted to say thanks for the opp. to hear you share your exp. & opinions!
Justinfan11534849: In your opinion, what is the best way to quickly show my team my value as a new ux designer?
Paguilar: For future reference: The character limit was because the “post message to twitter” checkbox was checked. The checkbox is hidden in the top tab of the chat column. Uncheck it and you have unhindered chats!
Paguilar: Thanks again! Cheers

JOIN ME NEXT WEEK

Monday, July 5, 10-11pm Eastern Time at http://www.justin.tv/whitneyhess, and bring your questions!

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