Design Critiques

What makes some designs good and others bad? Why do some designs work while others don’t? Posts in this category offer thoughtful design critiques of modern digital interfaces, with commentary inspired by Don Norman’s “The Design of Everyday Things.”

Landing page of the New York Public Library website, desktop version

Design Critique: New York Public Library Website (Desktop)

nypl.org is the official website of the New York public library system where users may access library resources, get information on the library, and learn about upcoming events, among other things. For this article, I will be focusing on the process of placing a hold on a book for pickup at a local branch and …

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Design Critique: ClassUp (iOS App)

ClassUp is a scheduling application that helps students to organize their courses, manage activities, and communicate with classmates. ClassUp assists students in creating and designing a clear schedule with more freedom, making it a powerful tool for students to have personalized and aesthetic class schedules.

Design Critique: Medito Meditation App (Android App)

Medito is a simple and free-to-use meditation app available on iOS and Android. It was developed by the Medito Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving mental wellbeing through the cultivation of mindfulness and meditative practices. The app includes features such as audio for guided meditation sessions, a meditation timer, and content for improving sleep. …

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Assistive Technology: Large Print Books

Description:
I’m sure most of us have seen large print books throughout our life or requested the large print version by accident, but in case you haven’t, they are books with larger print than the average book. Based on the Library of Congress, “large-print materials are most commonly available in 16- to 18-point type” (https://www.loc.gov/nls/resources/general-resources-on-disabilities/large-print-materials/). Large print books are typically only available in paperback and can cost more than the “normal” 10-12 point font version of the book.

Assistive Technology: Audiobooks

Audiobooks are voice recordings of books that people can listen to instead of reading a traditional book. Listening to audiobooks can help readers of all ages, people who may be visually-impaired, and people with reading disabilities, such as ADHD or dyslexia, consume and enjoy literature.

Assistive Technology: Liftware Steady

Liftware Steady is an electronic stabilizing handle with a selection of attachments that include a soup spoon, everyday spoon, fork, and spork. Liftware Steady is designed to help people suffering from hand tremors, which may be related to Parkinson’s disease or essential tremor, eat more easily. The stabilizing handle contains sensors that detect hand motion and a small onboard computer that distinguishes unwanted tremor from the intended movement of the hand. To stabilize the utensil, the computer directs two motors in the handle to move the utensil attachment in the opposite direction of any detected tremor.