This blog is where I share what I’m passionate about and what’s currently got my attention in the realm of User Experience (UX), User Centred Design (UCD), Information Architecture (IA), Interaction Design (IxD), and Usability.

I’m particularly interested in where these things intersect with Social Design and have a great interest in how social environments online shape us and how we shape them, and how we as designers should be getting involved in improving our social experience online.

My name is Leisa Reichelt. I do freelance contextual research and user centred design. I’m based in London but have quite a bit of experience working remotely.

What does this mean? Well, it means that I am interested in creating experiences online that are both pleasurable and effective. I take a User Centred approach to Design. This is an approach that can be applied in virtually any environment you can think of - from a retail space, to a phone call, to a website.

I use techniques like ethnography, depth interviewing, shadowing, day-in-the-life-ing, diary studying, concept mapping, and other fun stuff to work out who your audience is, what they do, what they want, and what you can do for them.

I then use skills in Information Architecture, Interaction Design, and my good understanding of what makes interfaces Usable to help define the requirements for a project, understand (and often define) the content and functionality involved, and design a structure (or architecture) and interface.

I’ve been doing this kind of work for more than 10yrs, under various guises both in Australia and the UK.

If you’re interested in working with me, then please don’t hesitate to contact me on the email address below.

Is this your first visit to my blog? Well then, let me point you in the direction of some of my most popular/favourite posts so far. Here’s a selection:

• Ambient Intimacy
• Chatting with Bill Moggridge - Part One | Part Two | Part Three
• Pair Design Pays Dividends
• Less is not enough
• The six species of Information Architect
• There are three kinds of bloggers
• Boxes and Arrows (Ten ways that packing up a house is liked Information Architecture)
• Women of 2.0 (Get up, Stand up)
• Design is a good idea (on ugliness, with some thoughts on the DesignGuys Craiglist ‘realignment’)
• User Experience and Cognitive Pleasures
• Pattern Driven Usability (Opportunities and Challenges)
• Storytelling Requirements (and why most focus groups are a waste of time)

Blogging is about the conversation, so don’t be shy. Please drop me a comment at the end of a post or send me an email and say hi!

cheers.

Leisa

leisa.reichelt at gmail.com