UXcrew

After user research, we all have to face large volumes of raw research data. How to turn those data into useful insights and gain deeper understanding of your audience always a topic for discussion. “One of the key objectives of user research is to identify themes or threads that are common across participants.” Steve Baty has listed ten patterns used in UX research for demonstrating a recurring theme, with data or objects appearing in a predictable manner.

• trends—A trend is the gradual, general progression of data up or down.
• repetitions—A repetition is a series of values that repeat themselves.
• cycles—A cycle is a regularly recurring series of data.
• feedback systems—A feedback system is a cycle that gets progressively bigger or smaller because of some influence.
• clusters—A cluster is a concentration of data or objects in one small area.
• gaps—A gap is an area in which there is an absence of data.
• pathways—A pathway is a sequential pattern of data.
• exponential growth—In exponential growth, there is a rapidly increasing rate of growth.
• diminishing returns—When there are diminishing returns, there is a gradually decreasing rate of growth.
• long tails—The Long Tail is a pattern that rises steeply at the start, falls sharply, then levels off over a large range of low values.

Read full article

Even we already know those patterns, to uncover them from research data still a daunting task. The author indicates that forms is a critical toolset for UX designers. There are other tools for illustrating patterns such as sketches, diagrams etc. By using these tools, we could successfully manipulate and visualize data; and identify and interpret patterns.

对“Long Tail” 总是一知半解，好在现在线上有了完整的中文译版。从头到尾的看了一遍后对这个长尾巴有了清晰的认知。

• 长尾（一）
• 长尾（二）
• 长尾（三）
• 长尾（四）
• 长尾（五）

也可以从Joyo上购买完整的“The Long Tail: How Endless Choice Is Creating Unlimited Demand” by Chris Anderson

Even we all have the sense in design, but sometime we just didn’t pay enough attention to these details.

1. Measure
   For a single-column design 65 characters is considered ideal.




2. Leading
   2-5pt larger than the type size




3. Hanging Quotes
   Hanging quotes keeps the left alignment intact and balanced therefore increasing readability.




4. Vertical Rhythm
   continuous rhythm in the vertical space




5. Widows and Orphans




6. Emphasis
   without interrupting the reader




7. Scale
   establishes a typographic hierarchy




8. Clean Rags

Read full article 8 Simple Ways to Improve Typography In Your Designs By Antonio Carusone

After a long research and wait, I finally got the Makina 670. It’s a big camera compare to my other 135 cameras. Heavy, boxy, not ergonomics at all. But deadly attractive.

I started operating this camera without any instructions and previous experience. It took me half an hour to retract back the lens bellows. Next time I shall read the camera manual first. I copied some tricks from kenrockwell.com

How to Open and Close the Camera

To Open:

1.) Press the red button on the front of the camera.
2.) Pull the lens straight out till it clicks.

To Close:

1.) Set the focus knob (the ring around the shutter button on the top right of the camera) to infinity. That’s indicated by the sideways figure “8″ symbol. This make the lens contract just a little bit.
2.) Now press the front button and gently collapse the lens into the camera. It should lock in with a click.

Operation

Just make sure only to set full-stop speeds on the shutter.

Never change shutter speeds too rapidly because all sorts of gizmos inside are moving around as you change the speeds. Avoid really stupid things like only charging the shutter halfway and then adjusting it, but otherwise, it’s like all modern shutters that may be adjusted charged or uncharged.

The aperture is also just like a mechanical view camera shutter: the diaphragm adjusts anytime you twiddle the ring. You also may set any intermediate (half, third, quarter, sixth, etc.) stop you like, unlike with the shutter.

Read full content about Makina camera

I quickly finished a test roll. The result was excellent. The color, bokeh are nice. However, 9 out of 10 photos were not focused correctly. Not sure what the issue is. I will take it to the camera store next day to have someone check it for me.