Research Articles:

(published on a regular basis in UIEtips)

Deriving Design Strategy from Market Maturity, Part 1

By Jared M. Spool

Originally published: Jun 18, 2009

In part 1 of a 2 part article, Jared M. Spool explains the first two stages of the Market Maturity Model and shares how to identify which stage where team is in.

Components, Patterns, and Frameworks! Oh My!

Great Designs Should Be Experienced and Not Seen

Research Reports:

The Field Study Handbook

A Common Sense Approach for Discovering User Needs

By Kate Gomoll, Ellen Story Church, and Eric Bond

Do you really know who your users are and what they want? Are you unsure whether or not you are getting the most out of your user research? Is your product really as powerful, intuitive, and easy-to-use as you think it is? By going into the field, observing and interviewing users in their own environments, you can gain an incredibly rich understanding of what users really need.To help design teams best understand their users’ goals, attitudes, and workplaces, Kate Gomoll, Ellen Story Church, and Eric Bond have written an all-inclusive 117-page report filled to the brim with their collective knowledge of field studies.

Recruiting Without Fear

How to Find First-Rate Participants for Design Studies

By Will Schroeder, David Brittan, and Jared M. Spool

A productive usability test, field study, or focus group starts with having the right people in the room. This comprehensive report describes UIE's methods for getting the ideal participant to your session, to get you started on learning what it takes to create a quality design. You'll learn our proven methods, complete with checklists, calendars, and all the materials you need to recruit top-notch participants.

Designing for the Scent of Information

The Essentials Every Designer Needs to Know About How Users Navigate Through Large Web Sites

By Jared M. Spool, Christine Perfetti, and David Brittan

Clearly, one of the most proven, time-tested approaches to designing web sites, the Scent of Information is fundamental to understanding how to make your site truly effective for your users. For the first time in print, our research team tells you everything you need to know about the design secrets behind today’s most successful web sites.

View All Reports

Web Site Usability: A Designer's Guide

Our groundbreaking book that dispelled commonly-held beliefs about how people really use the web.