Are you listening to what they are saying? Do you give them a voice in your products direction? Do they get to see what is coming down the pipe? I hope you are able to say yes. I think that there is a very valuable resource within user groups. Listen to what they are saying. Not only do we tell them what is coming down the pipe we literally put the red pen in their hand to give us feedback so that we can build a better experience.

We are using ConceptShare to innovate ConceptShare. Enter ConceptLabs, the home of innovation at Conceptshare where we have opened the doors to our customers to innovate the product on an ongoing basis. This isn’t a space where we put our vetted ideas up for the ceremonial rubber stamp by the users …. this is where Bernie, Chris and I go to look a the latest screens for any of the upcoming additions that we are making on a regular basis. We look at it this way …who knows knows more about what ConceptShare should do then our users? Who better to give us feedback on the next iteration or the next really cool tool …. I can’t think of a better group to be asking then the people who are using the product every day.

I am sure there are a few people who would cringe at the idea of opening the doors to clients so early in the process. But we see it as being the best way to get the real ideas talked about before we implement them. It really echoes the way that we developed ConceptShare; we were on version six of the interface design before Chris ever started coding.
So how can your company take advantage of this? Create a workspace that is dedicated to client feedback. Invite your “Rock Star” users. Show them what you are thinking of doing. This is a different approach but it works. Our users are more involved, they see our progression and they genuinely want to be involved in it. So innovate with your users ….they will appreciate it.

If you are using ConceptShare to innovate your site or product please let us know we will be profiling power users in the coming months, we are always interested to hear how you are using ConceptShare.

Cheers

Scott

PS:if you are interested in joining the ConceptShare Labs …..let us know via email to feedback (at) conceptshare (dot) com

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to our web feed!

Posted in ConceptShare, Innovation, Product Design ~ 2 Comments
Written by Scott

(Bernie Aho, Leo Laporte and Scott Brooks on the set of Call for Help)

We just wrapped up filming a segment on “Call for Help”, a show that airs on G4 TechTV in Canada featuring Leo Laporte. Its a great show that features tips and tricks for PC and MAC as well as demos on all things tech. Our segment was short but it was alot of fun and Leo is a great guy. We’ve always been a big fan of the show and have met former co-host Amber MacArthur on several occasions and were sorry to see that she is now with CITYTV. She is an usability expert on top of everything and seemed to really get what ConceptShare was all about. Ultra-hot Cali Lewis from GeekBrief TV seems to be the new guest co-host and does a fantastic job. They only had room for one of us to demo so I(Bernie) drew the short straw. It would have been nice to have all the founders on (Scott and Chris) as we normally act as one anyway, but it was all good. Not sure when the episode will air but probably in January.

 Bernie

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to our web feed!

Posted in ConceptShare, PR ~ 2 Comments
Written by Bernie

As our idea for visual conversations continues to spread I have the opportunity to meet and talk to some great people. It has been very interesting to say the least. Many of them come from industries that we never expected to connect with. Most of are core users see ConceptShare as a way to streamline the design and innovation process. To  some the image is all important, discovery and discussion have to happen around an image.

One of the coolest people that I have had the opportunity to talk with is Felice Frankel, admittedly I didn’t know about her work before we started talking. I am not even sure where to start to describe Felice’s achievements. I leave that to her site and a search on google, there is a plethora of great reading about her work. Felice is a leader in the use of image to promote discussion of science using images.

“The Image and Meaning (IM) events, part of Harvard University’s Initiative in Innovative Computing (IIC), began in 2001 by Felice Frankel in MIT’s Envisioning Science Project. Felice Our purpose is to help scientists, writers and visual communicators develop and share improved methods of communicating scientific concepts and technical information through images and visual representations. The goal is to enhance the level of discourse within the scientific community, among teachers and students, and those who communicate with the public.” There is a great movie on the site that I think is tremendous …it is a montage of great shots from their workshops.

I am most taken by Felice’s ability to capture incredibly stunning images. These images are much more then just pretty pictures. They provide a discussion point. So what is this image? If you are like me this image creates questions and a natural sense of wonder. How much better is an image vs text? In this case is worth 10,000 words. How much conversation can happen over this image?

Photo Credit MAGNETIC A 3-cm drop of ferrofluid, a suspension of magnetite in oil, placed on a glass slide. Under the slide is a yellow Post-it and seven circular magnets.
© FELICE FRANKEL, FROM “ENVISIONING SCIENCE”

“This compound is the basis for one of the most astounding demonstrations I have seen in science: the response of a ferrofluid to a strong magnet. A common ferrofluid comprises nanoscale particles of magnetite suspended in a liquid. When a magnet is brought up to a black quiescent puddle of ferrofluid, the liquid suddenly seems to come to life: The placid surface of the puddle erupts into spikes as suspended nanoscale particles of magnetite relocate themselves in the magnetic field and drag the liquid along for the ride. Ferrofluids are used to dampen unwanted resonances in loudspeakers and to create seals for high-speed computer disc drives. There is even experimental work in which drugs are combined with ferrofluids so that their physiological location can be controlled with magnets.” Arthur B. Ellis

I wouldn’t even know where to start talking about the above paragraph, does nothing to help me understand what is happening in this experiment. I am really interested to hear about how our readers use images to communicate meaning. So much more effective in sharing information, there is very little left up to the personal interpretation of words or linguistic differences. Show me a picture …
I am also very glad to know that Felice is a Mac User, curious as to how she captures such brilliant images? Check out her profile page on apple, it has her complete setup. From the sounds of it …she has a really pro set up.

I have been looking for her book “Envisioning Science : The Design and Craft of the Science Image” Once I have had a chance to get down and check out her book i will be sure give it a read and let you know.

Cheers

Scott

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to our web feed!

Posted in Innovation, Technology ~ No Comments
Written by Scott

ConceptShare has launched with enough usable value that will help out a lot of firms, software companies, designers and creative people, theres more to come but it solves a real problem now. Our crazy account creations and early sales figures have shown this but there is something thats brewing in the background.

Now that the platform is there and circulating around and people are seeing how it can help. All the pieces are there for our expert model. What is our expert model? Well..we think there are a lot of talented people out there who have a lot of skills that can contribute to any visual project. We envision a community of these people that would open themselves available to be tapped for what’s inside their heads. You don’t need them to do the work. Just give their experience, feedback and wisdom to your project. For some people they only need 10 minutes in front of a design to say “change that, wrong color, move this down below” etc. etc. ..We believe the expert directory will contain usability people, designers, business people, ad execs…you name it.
How does it work. From a users perspective we will have soon a direct expert registration in which you will not need a ConceptShare account to list yourself. You can upload a bit of your portfolio some information, links etc.. Natural fits are people with experience or education in design, usability and human factors, color, photography, advertising etc. but anyone is useful..Tag yourself with your hobbies..Who knows, PING golf may want to select a bunch of golfers to discuss new ads, or equipment.

The account holder who needs expert help can browse the directory and invite people based on their skills, demographics or reputation. Not everyone has a UI guy on staff, or a logo guy. So why not ask an expert?
Compensation: We are still working all this out..for now its just fun to help others with design and its not a lot of work to give feedback. We figure reputation points and rating is a good way to start. We want people with good reputation and those that create alot of value for others to be compensated in some way. But its not labour work. its mind work so what would people pay for recognized experts. I assume people that have proven themselves invaluable to ConceptShare users would create their own celebrity in our directory and could set their own prices.
Let’s Survey!!

How much would you pay for one feedback session with:

• Jason Fried on your new web app interface
• Seth Goodin on an AD campaign
• Guy Kawasaki on anything
• Tom Kelly (IDEO) on anything
• Tom Peters on anything
• Famous Photographer or Photoshop re-Toucher
• Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots on your football offensive plays that you uploaded field diagrams and have drawn arrows showing movement and routes.

Bernie

*** Update***

We do not actually have these people in our expert directory this is a hypothetical question. Please do not email these people inviting them into your space.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to our web feed!

Posted in GUI, Ideas, Innovation ~ 6 Comments
Written by Bernie

Ok, ConceptShare has launched now, so there’s no more excuses to send designs by email anymore right?. (Free to try)

I have learned alot watching people using ConceptShare what I found most intriguing is that the design is now being used to initiate conversations. People now are just getting an invitation with a link to a workspace with a bunch of visuals and then they just start talking. - no verbal cues - no phone calls - Its an interesting thing to watch. If you show any one that walks by a few logos and ask what do they think, you will get an answer. For some reason people feel very comfortable giving opinions on visuals rather then obligatory politics or world issues. Visual feedback is usually easy for people because it is in their gut, it’s personal, yet they know they won’t be judged by it. And it’s faster for them to point out what they don’t like about something rather than write a story about it.

A lot of people from an outside perspective that hear about ConceptShare in passing like to say, “It’s neat but not sure I would use something like that, I’m not a designer…”. Trust me I have invited alot of these people into a ConceptShare workspace, and they have ALOT to say once they are in there. Almost anyone can make comments about usability of both interfaces and objects. Comments about color choices, ease-of-use, hard to read text, wrong language. You don’t have to be a designer to play, just a human. Sure, designer to designer feedback is always good but remember wisdom of crowds?.With email alone people are reluctant to share early designs or concepts. I say screw that. Put stuff up early and often. Scan sketches and post them. Do anything… just start a conversation. You would be amazed and how fast and how far you can take simple ideas when you have the frequent evolving feedback of others.

Have fun,

Bernie

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to our web feed!

Posted in Ideas, Innovation, Product Design, Usability ~ No Comments
Written by Bernie