With just a few weeks left in the year (and even less productive blogging time), I thought I would put together this brief "best of 2008" on Designing for Humans. If you're new to the blog, this is a good way to catch-up on some of the highlights you may have missed over the past year:
- User Research Technology - Always a core theme on DfH, this year I took a hands-on look at applying many emerging tools to support design research. This included the Livescribe Pulse Pen, Casio's High Speed Camera and the IDEA award winning Size China anthropometric data set. Looking to the future, I unveiled the FieldCREW workstation concept (pictured), and discussed the state of user research technology at the Design Research Conference. Still waiting on the FitBit tracking device (hopefully in the approaching weeks).
- Reading - I recommend the best book on user research, a forthcoming book on product design, design research-related articles in the Harvard Business Review, human factors in mechanical engineering and an international standard on product usability that's not worth the money.
- Awards - I blogged on the unique experience of judging both the IDEA awards and the ID Magazine Annual Design Review in the same year. Also, read about the IDEA award winners in the research category.
- Ergonomics- I put together the FoRCePS guidelines for observing ergonomic problems during contextual observation.
...okay, my link pen ran out.
