Yesterday (13th Nov. 2008), a small group of web professionals in Panama get together to celebrate the World Usability Day, it was the first time we celebrate this day in Panama, it was a very informal and fun meeting.  We met in Universidad de Cartago and we spoke about User Centered Design, we show some [...]

Wikipedia said micro-blogging is a form of blogging that allows users to write brief text updates (usually 140 characters) and publish them, either to be viewed by anyone or by a restricted group which can be chosen by the user. These messages can be submitted by a variety of means, including text messaging, instant messaging, email, MP3 or the web.

The interesting thing about micro-blogging is the addiction that generates in persons who adopt it, they have access no matter where they are, it’s quick and instantly.

In the last two months, I have been designing some documents and wireframes for a couple of projects and every time I’m going to begin a project I have to take some time to explain our clients what’s the hell are information architecture, concepts models and wireframes. Still here there is the belief that a website is just a nice graphic design, some flash and blink, and some of them think information architecture is just a sitemap… so at the beginning I think, this is going to be a challenge. 
I really think our work besides makes websites, is about continuous education with our clients and also our team. User experience and IA are words that clients are beginning to assimilate here in Panama, what I hear the most from my clients is: I want a “user friendly” website.

Yes. I know but to make a “user friendly” we can’t go directly to the visual design. Having a “user friendly website” implies define the project, understand the client’s business model, ask the right questions, understand the audience, know the overall goals of the website.