LET’S BE FWENDS ISSUE #18:

WHAT 2018 WILL BRING TO UX DESIGN

Two astronauts pretending to be floating in space while actually being in a swimming pool. What better metaphor to UX design could there be? Source: NASA

The year is coming to an end …

And lots of people look back and see what 2017 did bring. I’m pretty sure many cyclists are still trying to get their distance count for 2017 up to a round number before the infamous “Your year on Strava” mail hits their inbox.

This is the last issue of_Let’s be Fwends_in 2017, but instead of a recap, I’d like to look ahead. As the whole field of digital product design is still struggling to find its place in the media and technology landscape, 2018 will bring a lot of significant changes to it. In my opinion, eight themes will shape the discussion about UX design, most of them dealing with the responsibilities of designers, and not with actual design. Read more on medium.

Case in point: Facebook

Although quite late to the party, Facebook starts to be quite self-conscious and here is a really long post on that soul-searching. It makes for an interesting read, and I won’t take a side (yet). But if you ever wondered what social media does to you, please read it.

So, how much is your personal data really worth?

When thinking about data, two sayings always come to my mind.

One is from the world of poker: “If you can’t spot the sucker, then you are the sucker.” —Rounders_

The other is from the world of economics: “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch” — Robert Heinlein

Which can be expressed in digital space as:

“If you are not paying for it, you’re not the customer; you’re the product being sold” — attributed to Andrew Lewis

So, how much worth are you, as a product, really? The answer might surprise - and insult - you.

A smart solution to a dumb problem

Design company Semcon showcased their approach to make urban streets safer for cyclists. The concept is technically simple and very cost effective: A bluetooth connector pointed to the back of the car warns the driver of oncoming smartphones - with the rationale behind it that every cyclist has a smartphone with bluetooth enabled in their pocket. Although it might give car drivers a false sense of security, it is an interesting concept, and apparently extremely cheap: Semcon says their Lifesticker be produced for just 2 Euro a piece.

Of course, the dutch have found a low-tech dirt-cheap solution for this problem a long time ago.

The anchor we’re tied to

The virtual could never exist without the physical. Whatever we do online must somehow be enabled in the physical world - something the first online generation called ‘Meat Space’, a necessary nuisance for a virtual existence.

Here’s a nice 360 degree video of that.

Error messages that leave too much to the imagination

Allegedly, these are from a 1970ies word processor, but to me, they look like they come directly from the_haunted-spacestation-hurled-next-to-the-interstellar-gates-of-hell-by-daemon-storms_.

That’s it from this edition of Let’s be Fwends. If you made it down here without having your footnote distribution failed very badly, please high-five yourself, you lucky bastard. 😺