• Jay Liu

Articles

A collection of personal thoughts about user experience research and interaction design.

Iteration 4
Folio Forge

September 10, 2022

This iteration was designed primarily in response to user feedback from about 30 participants.

Blessings and Curses

October 02, 2021

A reflection on my own experience transitioning from software development to illustrate how our backgrounds help or harm our designs.

Iteration 3
Folio Forge

July 16, 2021

A major iteration, including the first high-fidelity iteration and the debut implementation into code! The application assumed the new Folio Forge branding, colors, typography, and other visual design.

Developer Guidance
Visual Essay

July 03, 2021

This explains the modules and styles used in the Visual Essay template.

Engineering a Notebook Builder
Folio Forge

July 03, 2021

The gory details of the making of Folio Forge.

User Journey
Folio Forge

July 03, 2021

The journey of someone making their own notebook

Color Palette Revamp
Visual Essay

July 01, 2021

I discuss the Jobs-to-Be-Done approach I took to convert a site chock full of ad-hoc color usage to a more systematic color palette.

Design Principles
Folio Forge

June 29, 2021

A deeper dive into the design principles derived from the latest aggregation of user research.

Iteration 1
Folio Forge

June 04, 2021

First mid-fidelity iteration exploring layout, providing easy access to controls, and helping the user monitor the result of adjusting the controls.

Iteration 2
Folio Forge

June 04, 2021

Introduce galleries as a way for users to choose what they want more intuitively.

Visual Essay Test Page
Visual Essay

March 26, 2021

A description of the article would go here. Yes, this is filler text, and you'll see much more in this test page.

Ideation Workshop

January 17, 2021

I combine divergent and convergent ideation techniques in this 60-minute workshop, where participants generate, vet, and refine multiple solutions toward a common challenge. Printable and digital participant forms are included.

The Case for Expressive Input

September 11, 2020

When the standard HTML5 form input controls are not suitable and the case for the creation of “expressive” input controls.

Svelte Review

July 04, 2020

My review of the framework after an intense, two-week deep-dive, implementing my first project.

Extreme Art

May 20, 2020

To create something unique, consider the processes, techniques, and tools you use.

Experiments in Notebook Building
Folio Forge

May 14, 2020

I push the limits of my printer to create a hand-bound, 236-page, 8.5″ × 7″ sketchbook on 105 gsm paper, complete with page numbers and a dot-grid pattern for sketching.

A Notebook Builder
Folio Forge

October 02, 2019

Initial thoughts regarding a web application that helps people customize and print out notebook filler paper at home.

The Temperament of User Research Participants

January 30, 2019

Match user research activities to your subjects’ temperament and be aware of how their temperament compares with your own.

Habits of Highly Effective Interaction Designers

September 20, 2018

Of all my thoughts on how to design interactions, here are the ones that have resurfaced most persistently.

BlitzRead

September 15, 2015

An exercise for rapidly engaging and absorbing books