PixelMEDIA Inc.

What gets an information architect or content strategist excited? New audiences! What makes our jobs interesting is having the chance to learn about people, their interests, and their needs. And what make the job rewarding is making it possible for people to achieve those needs.

That’s what makes working on The Friends Project new website so interesting—and rewarding. The Friends Project is a non-profit organization in Portsmouth, NH, that organizes events and activities for people with disabilities. I met its tireless founder and president, Heidi Chase, as well as Nathaniel, a participant, and his parents, in our project kickoff meeting.

Our meeting agenda was basically the same as for a business client. Why not? The same questions and principles apply: Who is the audience? What are they looking for? What do you have to offer? What do you want them to do? We hit the whiteboards and the Friends Project team dug right in. Read More…

Riding the Boston subway recently, I noticed several people crowded around one of the doors in the center of the car despite a clearly worded warning: DO NOT STAND IN FRONT OF DOORS. They stayed at the door during several stops, but did not get off. People getting on and off had to squeeze by them. The train wasn’t especially crowded; there was plenty of space away from the doors. So why were these people huddled in the one spot they were not supposed to be?

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Even after all these years, a handful of reminders help me get off to a good start whenever I sit down to write or edit a web page. It’s not about being creative and using big words, it’s about respecting the time and intelligence of the reader. By the way, most of these apply equally well when writing for print, direct mail, and everyday email.

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Exploring the “what ifs…?” of the user experience is the best way to avoid the “if onlys…” once the project is completed. And working with the client to prepare and approve an experience brief is the best opportunity to ask important questions about the fundamental underpinnings of a project, including audience, message, and purpose.

Here’s a quick look at other people’s briefs. No jokes, please.

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When we receive a Request for Quote/Proposal (RFQ/RFP) from a client, it marks the beginning of the process for us. But it’s the end of what was possibly a long and difficult process for the client. They’re relieved that it’s done; we’re anxious to start asking questions. They want to get going right away; we’re saying, “Not so fast.”

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I admit it: I’m not much for theories and strategies about content. I’m inclined to grab a shovel and start digging in right off the bat. So I’m sometimes tongue-tied when I try to explain what a content strategist actually does.

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A few weeks ago, I posted a question on the whiteboard outside of the Experience Design Cubes:

What’s the difference between ‘information” and “content?”

I wasn’t looking for answers, just ideas and maybe a spirited discussion. Heck, the best I could do was. “I know it when I see it.” Check out some of the responses from the whiteboard.

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