Creating is something I have been doing since I was old enough to hold a crayon. Now that I work creating designs for online experiences I can see how my love of technology and design have merged over the years.
Without design we would all be lost. Our experience of our favorite brands would be diminished. We would not have that escape from reality or hit of dopamine we get when something feels pleasurable.
Being creative makes me get up in the morning and turn on my computer. Even on days I have writers block or whatever block it is. But I know once I get started the ideas will flow.
I design there for I am.
What about you? What makes you get up in the morning…
The “Think Big Revolution” is all about thinking bigger about who you are and what you have to offer the world. Michael Port is the author of “The Think Big Manifesto” and a well known small business coach and speaker.
I took Michael Port’s 15 week small business coaching class in 2006. I was just starting out in the freelance world having done a few small gig here and there along with teaching. I had no idea who Michael was before I signed up for his course at the Learning Annex. It was the best hour of advice on small business I’d heard in ions. I signed up for his 15 week class that night.
One of the most important things I learned from Michael’s course it to be true to yourself and the path to your success will unfold. That doesn’t mean you don’t have to DO the work. You do.
When starting something entirely new. Remember all new ideas are subject to ridicule. Do it anyway. You will learn something either way. Being afraid of failure or success just keeps you in a rut. Who needs that!
Most people who are afraid…are usually afraid of what other people will think. What other people think is none of your business.
Throughout history, small thoughts have stood in opposition to big thoughts. The church reviled Galileo. The world is flat right? Darwin was disbelieved in his time. We couldn’t be descended from apes, could we?
– The Think Big Revolution by Michael Port with Mina Samuels
So what is thinking big all about?
Thinking big is means transcending our small thoughts. I’m not smart enough; I can’t risk my secure job on some flimflam dream; my parents [spouse, children, friends] won’t approve; people will think I’m crazy; nobody will like me anymore; I don’t have the time; I don’t have the energy; I can’t make a difference, I’m only one person; I don’t …; I can’t …;
– The Think Big Revolution by Michael Port with Mina Samuels
Create your own revolution or join Michael’s but either way rock it out. Your best life is waiting…
Follow Michael on Twitter - @michaelport.
The older population is on the threshold of a boom. According to U.S. Census Bureau projections, a substantial increase in the number of older people will occur during the 2010 to 2030 period, after the first Baby Boomers turn 65 in 2011. The older population in 2030 is projected to be twice as large as in 2000, growing from 35 million to 72 million and representing
nearly 20 percent of the total U.S. population at the latter date. – “65+ in the United States: 2005″ by the United States Census Bureau
© iStockphoto.com/laflor
In his 2002 article Jakob Nielsen’s Usability for Seniors said that seniors were the fastest growing segment of users of web users. As the above quote illustrates seniors are the fastest growing segment of the population. Even though the study by Nielsen was conducted in 2002 many of the same usability issues are common on sites.
I don’t think the issue of designing for an older generations is addressed enough. We are all going to age eventually. We will need reading glasses. We will lose our hearing. And to top it all off we might have cognitive issues as well. Maybe that’s why…people don’t want to think about it…sounds kind of depressing but only depending on how you frame it!
One point that I find interesting in Nielsen’s article is when he states that
Websites tend to be produced by young designers, who often assume that all users have perfect vision and motor control, and know everything about the Web. These assumptions rarely hold, even when the users are not seniors.
Young designers aren’t the only ones that make assumptions though but having taught younger designers I know how true his statement can be. I also have found that a lot of assumptions are made about what seniors are interested in doing with technology. The new population of seniors grew up with all the new gadgets and some aren’t afraid of technology. I don’t think all the rules that apply to how we develop strategy for the new crop of seniors…hmm..I don’t even like using that word. I just realized my dad is already considered a senior citizen!
A few issues that should be addressed when designing for seniors are
- Reduced visibility – therefore they need to be able to adjust the font size
- Hearing loss – if your site relies on sound or video make sure it can be close captioned
- Loss of fine motor skills
- Memory and learning impairment
Flickr Photos
