Userfocus Usability Newsletter, October 2012

Welcome to the October edition of the Userfocus usability newsletter.

Message from the Editor

This month's article compares and contrasts two different classes of usability test. If you've ever been unsure about whether you should test 5 or 50 participants, ask participants to think aloud or just leave them to it, or analyse the data qualitatively or quantitatively then this article is for you.

We also have a third volume in the 'Bright Ideas' eBook series. As always, it's a free download. I hope you find it useful.

David Travis

Feature article: 2 kinds of usability test

There are two different types of usability test and each has different aims. Which test you choose will have implications for the number of participants you test, the methodology you use and the way you log, analyse and present the data. Read the article in full: 2 kinds of usability test.

Free eBook: Bright Ideas for User Experience Managers

Another gift for newsletter subscribers! If you're a user experience manager (or just like to take a strategic view), start here. This eBook contains 78 pages of real-world help on user experience strategy, in handy portable form. Find out more: Bright Ideas for User Experience Managers.

What we’re reading

Some interesting usability-related articles that got our attention over the last month:

Like these? Want more? Follow us on Twitter.

Upcoming conferences

If you're thinking of attending one or both of these conferences in November, use the promotion code "userfocus" to get a discount.

  • MobX Conference - Mobile Experience Design & Usability. Nov 15-17 2012: Europe's premier annual conference for Mobile User Experience, small screen Interaction Design and usable interfaces on smart devices. The promotion code "userfocus" will get you a '100.00 discount per ticket.
  • MEDlove - The UX and Healthcare Summit. Nov 22-23 2012: A brand new annual conference for User Experience, Service Design and designing the Health Experience. MEDlove is for all you creative minds out there who deal with Usability, Service Design or innovation in the context of eHealth and Healthcare. The promotion code "userfocus" will get you a 30% discount per ticket.

Usability Training: Now Booking

We still have a few places left on these courses but they're going fast…

Web Usability: An Introduction to User Experience, Oct 22-23 London.

A fast-paced, hands-on 2-day immersion seminar that shows how the various user experience tools and techniques fit into real-world design and development processes. More information about this training course: Web Usability: An Introduction to User Experience

Axure Essentials, Nov 26, London.

Learn how to use Axure to build wireframes and generate HTML prototypes. More information about this training course: Axure Essentials.

Advanced Prototyping with Axure, Nov 27, London.

Learn how to prototype rich internet applications (RIAs) and use the advanced features of Axure RP Pro. More information about this training course: Advanced Prototyping with Axure.

Prototyping mobile interfaces with Axure, Nov 28, London.

Learn how to prototype mobile applications with Axure RP Pro. More information about this training course: Prototyping mobile interfaces with Axure.

The Lean UX Starter Kit, Dec 17, London.

For people in development teams who want to create user-centred products and services, this brand new 1-day workshop shows you how to reduce design risks and and create products that users will love. More information about this training course: The Lean UX Starter Kit.

User Experience quotation of the month

“To complicate is simple, to simplify is complicated. In order to complicate, you just need to add something, whatever you wish: colours, shapes, actions, decorations, characters, environments full of odds and ends. Everybody is able to complicate. Only a few can simplify.” — Bruno Munari.

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