How awesome would it be if you could combine the aesthetic rigor and clarity of fixed-width, grid-based layouts with the device- and screen size independence and user-focused flexibility of fluid layouts? Completely awesome, that’s how awesome. And with a little cunning and a tad of easy math, ALA’s Ethan Marcotte gets it done. We smell a trend in the offing.
The Elements of Social Architecture
While our designs can never control people, they can encourage good behavior and discourage bad. In this excerpt from Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web 2nd Edition, Christina Wodtke tells us how to make products that delight people and change their lives by remembering the social in social architecture.
More from A List Apart
Breaking Out of the Box
What can we do with thirty pixels? Windows Controls Overlay frees us from 40 years of history telling us how apps should look.
How to Sell UX Research with Two Simple Questions
Seriously, do not ever design screens again without first answering these questions: what are the objects and how do they relate?
A Content Model Is Not a Design System
Why do so many content models still look more like design systems rather than reflecting structured data? Mike Wills takes us on a personal journey as he examines his own past experiences and invites us to conceive content models that articulate meaning and group related content together for use on any channel.
Design for Safety, An Excerpt
In this excerpt from Design for Safety, Eva PenzeyMoog discusses concrete ways you can incorporate safety awareness into your design processes.
Sustainable Web Design, An Excerpt
In this excerpt from Sustainable Web Design, Tom Greenwood provides clear guidance on how to track and address the carbon footprint of our websites.
Voice Content and Usability
In this excerpt from Voice Content and Usability, author Preston So talks about the messy, primordial nature of human speech and challenges with programming computers to deal with these complexities.
Designing for the Unexpected
As devices continue to diversify in dizzying ways, how can we make sure our work on the web stays as relevant as ever for the long haul? Cathy Dutton shares how practitioners must perfect designs both for the paradigms of the present and the twists of the future, come what may.
Asynchronous Design Critique: Getting Feedback
Receiving feedback can be a stressful experience: will an open-ended question attract helpful guidance or harsh criticism? Erin “Folletto“ Casali coaches us through a process to ensure that feedback always lands gracefully.
Asynchronous Design Critique: Giving Feedback
You’ve heard the term “constructive criticism” countless times but do you know how to deliver it? Part one of this series from Erin ‘Folletto’ Casali gives you a framework for it! Flex your feedback muscles and practice these skills to empower and inspire others without deflating or confusing them.
That’s Not My Burnout
If, like many folks during the pandemic, you’ve begun confusing burnout for achievement, Donna Bungard will show you how to recognize that you’re low on fuel and give you a map of rest stops where you can refill your tank.
Beware the Cut ‘n’ Paste Persona
Emanuela Cozzi and Lennart Overkamp show us a new take on user personas that can prove to be more effective and meaningful.
Immersive Content Strategy
Immersive experiences are so hot right now, but your content may not be quite ready. Recasting your fixed web content in more immersive ways will allow you to create exciting new experiences and prepare your site for an unpredictable future.
