[IxDA Discuss] How to hire a good IxD (RE: Eye tracking, how valuable is it?)

[Robert Reimann]

I second that!

My additional two cents:

As far as using portfolios to ascertain designer skill, I agree that
candidates should formally present their work. The difficulty is that
it is sometimes hard to tell what part of the work is actually theirs,
and also what the designer might have been capable of, were there
less constraints on time, budget, technology, etc.  While it's
important to see how a designer navigates such constraints (since
they are a fact of life as an IxD), it's nice to see what they, by
themselves, without usability feedback, etc. are truly capable of.

That's why I also favor the kind of design tests that Cooper has used
for years (that shouldn't come as a big surprise). It allows you to
see a designer's creative process at work, and also allows you to
compare one candidate's approach with another's.  I find it to be
an extremely helpful way of getting a feel for how a design candidate
works and thinks.

Robert.

---
Robert Reimann
President, IxDA

Manager, User Experience
Bose Corporation
Framingham, MA


On 7/7/06, Todd Warfel <lists at toddwarfel.com> wrote:
>
> [Please voluntarily trim replies to include only relevant quoted
> material.]
>
> This was awesome.
>
> On Jul 7, 2006, at 11:59 AM, David (Heller) Malouf wrote:
>
> > 100 resumes
> >       80%-90% don't make cut - stereotypes on purpose (asbestos is on,
> so
> > flame away)
> >               visual designer - too aesthetic
> >               usability expert - don't know how to speak in terms of
> > design, or create
> >               HCI person - too cognitive, and don't understand
> aesthetics
> >               Information architect - don't understand how to interact
> > over time
> >               multimedia designer - great for games and animation, but
> not
> > for software
> >               web designer - developer in designer's clothing
> >
> >       20-10% get to interview
> >               19-9% not good
> >                       IA in designer's clothing
> >                       Never learned how to present designs
> >                               They can talk a good talk, but can't
> really
> > walk the walk
> >       1% get the job
> >               get it! 1 out of 100 resumes really are a GOOD IxD. Harsh
> > but true.
> >
> > So, it is indeed REALLY hard to find a good IxD, so maybe it is so
> > hard that
> > you might as well just get that eye-tracking done. ;)
>
>
> Cheers!
>
> Todd R. Warfel
> Partner, Design & Usability Specialist
> Messagefirst | designing and usability consulting
> --------------------------------------
> Contact Info
> Voice:    (607) 339-9640
> Email:    todd at messagefirst.com
> AIM:       twarfel at mac.com
> Blog:      http://toddwarfel.com
> --------------------------------------
> In theory, theory and practice are the same.
> In practice, they are not.