Mix10, Microsoft’s conference for web developers and designers, wrapped up on Wednesday. While there is plenty to talk about post-conference (see developers’ comments on technology reporter Sharon Chan’s Microsoft Pri0 blog), the Windows 7 Phone Series seems to top the list.

A post on Developer World gives some background on Microsoft’s mobile platform:

“Windows Phone 7 Series leverages Silverlight and the XNA gaming platform for application development. Visual Studio and Microsoft Expression Blend are positioned, respectively, as development and design tools for the phone OS, which features graphical capabilities akin to the Apple iPhone.”

As reported on Developer World, “The company Monday also said developers will be able to bring applications and games to market via Windows Phone Marketplace.”

In fact, application developers can get started immediately with the free tools available at developer.windowsphone.com.

While that’s good news for developers, one of the more contentious notes to come out of Mix is that Windows Phone 7 won’t support full multitasking for third party apps. Instead, Microsoft will support a push notification system similar to Apple’s. John Herrman’s post on Gizmodo, In Defense of No Multitasking: Microsoft Edition, comments that “given Windows Mobile’s multitasking past,” the lack of multitasking “took people off guard.”

Another hotly challenged item is the lack of a copy and paste feature for the launch of Windows Phone 7, though the capability may appear in later iterations of the phone. 

See more of the highlights of Windows Phone 7 as covered at Mix10 on Gizmodo’s post, Windows Phone 7 Apps: Everything You Need to Know. Herrman covers new features, Silverlight, the Zune client, the marketplace, multitasking, first apps and more.

What are the most exciting developments or the biggest oversights in your opinion? What are your thoughts on the Windows Phone 7 Series?

Missing out on all the fun at Mix10 in Vegas? The Seattle Times published this rundown of the first day’s events. Technology reporter Sharon Chan shares info from the conference, including the latest on Windows mobile development, Silverlight, mobile apps and new devices.

My friends all seem to think freelancers have it easy. Now, let’s get this straight: freelancing is no walk in the park. Not only do you have to be an expert in your field, you also need a serious helping of dedication and at least a few sides of panache.

But with that said, there are plenty of benefits that make the demands of freelancing worthwhile. For me, avoiding a “case of the Mondays” (a la Office Space) is one of them. And on this Monday afternoon, I invite you to revel in the joys of freelancing too. Whether you’re thinking about transitioning to a freelance role or you’re already there, here are just a few reasons to love life as a freelancer. . .

• Flexibility—work on a handful of different projects to stay fresh and feel challenged.
• The ability to work from wherever you feel inspired, whether it’s your dining room table, a coffee shop or a cabana.
• The ability to honor your body’s schedule and natural rhythms. Can’t be creative-on-demand at 8:00 am? Work late and sleep in. Need an afternoon siesta? Get up early then take the afternoon for yourself.
• The opportunity to learn from lots of different people. The variety of freelancing puts you in touch with a whole new network of professionals and interesting people.
• The ability to walk away. Freelancing allows you to focus on your niche, create an outstanding end-product, and then move on to the next exciting thing on your list.
• Time to balance work with your other passions. Dying to learn letterpress in your spare time? Longing to upgrade your Photoshop skills? Freelancing provides the flexibility in your schedule to make time for learning and doing the things that you’re interested in (and will ultimately benefit your career).
• Potential—there is no glass ceiling as a freelancer. No imposed limits. You control your personal and professional growth.
• Fulfillment—freelancing enables you to spend far more time actually doing what you love. Everyday.

Of course the list could go on, but we’ll leave the rest up to you. What do you love most about being a freelancer?

In the Information Age—with the internet at our fingertips and augmented reality no longer a topic for science fiction—knowledge is more accessible than ever before. Technology acts as a portal and distributor of knowledge and, in many ways, levels the playing field.

So, if knowledge doesn’t offer the edge it used to, what does? According to Tom Monahan, former ad agency bigwig and a creative powerhouse, it’s imagination that holds the differentiating power knowledge used to. 

When interviewed by HOWdesign.com back in 2008, Monahan commented that though we’ve come up with technology that “can do linear thought and come up with a conclusion,” that technology still “can’t use its imagination.”

How’s that for job security for creative professionals?

Imagination and innovation go hand in hand. In a previous post, we talked about methods for generating ideas and making innovation an action—becoming innovative in thought itself. So what if we flip the coin and look at innovation not from the individual’s perspective, but from an organizational point of view? What can organizations do to create an environment that nurtures and incubates innovative ideas?

Diego Rodriguez wrote an interesting article on businessweek.com, Happiness and the Art of Innovation, addressing how companies can support innovative thought. The gist: “help happiness bloom, and innovative behavior will follow.” Happy employees are more imaginative, more creative and more motivated.

Rodriguez goes on to talk about both personal happiness and achieving a state of mind referred to as “flow.” Summing up Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of flow, Rodriguez says, “Flow occurs when the complexity of the thing you’re doing just outstrips your ability to get it done. In other words, it’s challenging, but not overwhelmingly so.”

As the article goes on to explain, happy people who are “in a state of flow” are more likely to innovate. Just as fearful employees are less likely to share ideas, bored employees are less likely to come up with new earth-shattering ones.

Read the full article here to learn more about the concepts of happiness and flow in relation to innovation and imagination. Then, see what you can do!  

We’ve all been there. Suddenly a project feels just like the last. It’s the same IA, the same design, the same headline, the same creative brief, all over again. And while you’re confronting that monster of monotony, the word innovation rings in your ears (mocking you, maybe just a little).

So what do you do when you feel like you’re banging your head against the wall? It’s easy to throw around that million dollar word—innovation—in meetings and goal statements, but how can you make it not a noun or an adjective, but a verb. How do you put innovation into action?

Here are some tips and tactics for moving past the burnout phase (you know, when you want to just stick your head in the sand) to look at a problem or project with fresh eyes.

1. Rephrase the question or problem you’re trying to solve. Better yet, write down a whole series of questions (aim for 10) relating to the problem/project.
2. Think in terms of action. Make a list of verbs describing what you want your product/design/copy/etc. to do (or incite other people to do).
3. Walk away (literally). Take a break and do something physical, even if it’s just a walk around the block. Let your subconscious do the heavy lifting for a little while.
4. Keep an inspiration folder that you can turn to when you’re stuck on a problem. Stash magazine pages, images, designs, layouts, ticket stubs, text and anything else you find interesting or inspiring in the folder.
5. Form a focus group to discuss the project.
6. Look at the problem from a different vantage point. How might the point of view of an ant on the ground or an alien from outer space provide some new insight?
7. Reconsider the methodology. Ask yourself, “How would _____ think about this?” For example, how would a scientist, a painter or the President approach the problem? 
8. Free write—grab a piece of paper, a pen and a clock and find a quiet space. For 10 to 15 minutes, free write on the subject at hand. Don’t cross out words or edit as you go. And above all, don’t judge your ideas. Just aim to keep your pen moving the entire time.
9. Change your self-talk or inner dialogue. Beating yourself up or constantly mulling over how impossible a task is won’t help. Instead, engage in a positive inner dialogue. Be confident that you will create an effective solution for the task at hand.
10. Find novelty—change your environment by heading to a new locale or listening to different music. See what kind of new associations or perceptions arise from the change.  

So, what works for you? What strategies do you use to move from stagnation to innovation? We’d love to hear your ideas!

As a web designer, are you a strict adherent to the school of “above the fold,” or more of a rebel (with a cause)? What about your clients? What side of the fold do they stand on?

Signal vs. Noise (the blog from 37signals), posted this great image and conversation starter from Paddy Donnelly, a user experience designer, information architect and blogger:

What’s your take? Is the ‘above the fold’ rule still one to live by, or is this one rule that’s made to be broken?

Let’s take a quick (completely unscientific) poll here.

How many of you carry a sketchbook around with you?

Now, how many of you have traded in your old Moleskine or scrap paper for a digital sketching tool (or you’re holding your breath until there’s a tried and true stylus for the iPad)?

Whatever mode or mechanism you choose, what’s the role of sketching as part of the creative process, and how is technology supporting—or maybe even changing—that process?

Most designers and visual artists rely on sketching for a number of reasons. In her post Prisoners of Logic on Design Observer, Jessica Helfand talks about sketching as “a clearinghouse of subconscious thought,” a way to (ideally) move past logic and experiment with freedom of form. On another note, visual and web designers may use live sketching in meetings to make the discovery process more engaging, dynamic and collaborative. Sketching is also an integral step in designing user interfaces and experiences (and we’ve talked before about the pros and cons of computer-based sketchy wireframes).

And, of course, since designers of all types are pre-programmed to show, not tell, sketching is simply part of the thought process.

With that said, we’re interested in knowing what you find more useful—old school pen and paper (like Jason Robb on UX Booth supports in this blog post) or digital tools like Cintiq or Brushes on the iPhone? (And while you’re contemplating that question, check out this time-elapsed video showing how Jorge Colombo drew The New Yorker’s June 2009 cover by virtually finger painting using Brushes. . . it’s pretty sweet.)

So the question remains: does the convenience of a multitasking tool like a phone, digital display or software win out? Or do you relish the tangible nature of hand grasping pen? Whichever you prefer, the only non-argument seems to be that sketching remains a prevalent and important part of design in all forms, whether as a problem-solving approach or simply a means of finding inspiration—and maybe even sheer enjoyment. 

Image: Jorge Colombo’s June 2009 cover for The New Yorker was created using Brushes on the iPhone.

Designers and developers will be falling in love all over again (with the web, that is) at Mix10. The year’s biggest designer/developer love fest is right around the corner—March 15th to 17th in Las Vegas—and the action-packed lineup is one you won’t want to miss.

To put it in their own words, Mix is all about “exploring the art and science of creating great user experiences” while also investigating the interplay between design and technology. Seeing as we at FILTER are rather smitten with the convergence of design and technology ourselves, we couldn’t have said it better.

Over 3 days, Mix10 will offer a glimpse into the next generation of ecommerce, technology, mobile, design and more. (Can you feel the butterflies already?!)

Curious about who else will be there? Mix draws a sharp crowd of designers, developers, strategists, information architects, visual designers, UX professionals and digital marketers (plus other web-savvy professionals). Whether you’re a designer, developer or a hybrid devigner, you’ll no doubt feel the love at Mix10.

(Planning to attend? Share your comments, experiences or thoughts about Mix here on our blog!)
  

In response to the crisis in Haiti, FILTER launched a donation drive last week, matching contributions from employees and staff 1:1. In total, over $20,000 was raised and donated to the American Red Cross for their Haiti relief operation.

Thank you to all who generously donated, and our thoughts go out to those affected by the earthquake in Haiti.

Design truly can make a difference.

Human-centered design confronts a range of social problems, from distributing clean drinking water to developing new medical technology. And as aid and supplies continue to be mobilized to relieve earthquake-stricken Haiti, I’m reminded of design’s potential and the many, many ways design can make a difference.

In light of Haiti’s recent tragedy, an article by Ernest Beck on designobserver.com, State of Shelter, examines one of the many prongs on the wheel of human-centered design: temporary housing. Beck shows a number of conceptual developments and prototypes for emergency shelters intended to replace the old tents and tarps often used in the wake of a natural disaster.

Although the examples shown in this article (I’m sure many, many more exist, including a few here) have great potential for providing emergency shelter, none have been implemented on a large scale. Whether due to issues with production, distribution, affordability or simply timing, these ideas are still just that.

Reading Beck’s article—which again, points to a small piece of a rather large picture—I was both filled with optimism at the positive social impact design can have and confronted with questions about the implementation of new solutions (and how many more disasters may occur between now and then).

Obviously these issues are far too large to be dealt with in a single blog post, but the article did prompt me to dig a little deeper into human-centered design, not only in the context of emergency relief and disaster preparedness, but generally as well.

This is barely skimming the surface, but if you’re looking to stimulate more thoughts and ideas on making a difference through design, here are a few organizations and resources to get you started. Please feel free to comment and add to this list of links—it’s by no means all inclusive!

Design for the Other 90%
Through partnerships both local and global, individuals and organizations are finding unique ways to address the basic challenges of survival and progress faced by the world’s poor and marginalized.

Design that Matters
Design that Matters (DtM), a 501c3 nonprofit based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, creates new products that allow social enterprises in developing countries to offer improved services and scale more quickly.

Institute for Human Centered Design [Adaptive Environments]
The Institute for Human Centered Design (IHCD). . . is an international non-governmental educational organization (NGO) committed to advancing the role of design in expanding opportunity and enhancing experience for people of all ages and abilities through excellence in design.

Design Corps
Creating positive change in communities, through design.

GOOD
GOOD is a collaboration of individuals, businesses, and nonprofits pushing the world forward.

Article: Greater Good
Adam Mack and Aaron Sklar of IDEO discuss the three tools that will make the strongest contribution when designing for social impact.

Resource: Human Centered Design Toolkit
For years, organizations have used Human-Centered Design (HCD) to arrive at innovative business solutions. In collaboration with the Gates Foundation and non-profit groups IDE, ICRW, and Heifer International, IDEO has specially adapted this process for NGOs and social enterprises that work with impoverished communities around the world. The resulting HCD Toolkit helps organizations understand people’s needs in new ways, find innovative solutions to meet these needs, and deliver solutions with financial sustainability in mind.


Book: Designing for the Greater Good: The Best in Cause-Related Marketing and Nonprofit Design
This first-ever book of its kind, Designing for the Greater Good, features hundreds of illustrated examples of the best nonprofit and cause-related design worldwide, plus 24 inspiring case studies and insights into great nonprofit branding campaigns.