Analytical alternatives, the sound of software, behavior design

One of the nice consequences of ecommerce’s current state is that I’m getting back into software a bit. As of this writing, I’ve kicked off with two studio projects, helping software businesses increase their revenue using design.

We have little to report now, but it feels great to be back in a space where we are structurally nourished. More soon.

This week, for paid members

• This week’s paid lesson is about finding alternatives to a recently-sunsetted analytics tool. Since its replacement is effectively a front-end to an advertising network and not a legitimate analytical platform, what comes next?
• Our design of the week shows the funniest content blocker flub we’ve ever seen.
• And our fortnightly teardown is for office furniture brand Branch. What makes them different from other businesses in this space?

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Links

• How software sounds. Excellent summary, and something we frequently forget. Stores usually shouldn’t use sound, but if you find reasons to go very over the top with your design, it might be appropriate.
• Little widgets.
• How to cascade.
• A responsive image primer.
• How to design to encourage behavior change. Again less appropriate for stores, but it’s always nice to know where some persuasive techniques come from. This was the subject of my SxSW 2011 talk, and it feels like an evergreen topic.