The Ugly Cookie

Corona Commerical

theuglycookie — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:50:38 +0000

Clever ways to introduce advertising to our users

theuglycookie — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:21:40 +0000

We have not seen any real out of the box thinking on this subject. I will continually update this post with relevant links that may spur some innovation on this front.

Page Peel Concept (Thanks Pushkar)

Rethinking the Path As We Know It

theuglycookie — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:37:33 +0000

The time has finally come! WE need to rethink the path as we know it today. Users are more sophisticated … and so it the technology. In this post you’ll see some examples of ways we can turn the concept of the path upside down … or perhaps right to left.

Real examples

http://www.arcinspirations.com/kobe/

http://www.taptaptap.com/#

http://labs.paulicio.us/viewport/#4

http://carrotcreative.com/ click on nav

http://madebygiant.com/ click button lower right

http://www.blackestate.co.nz/ vertical flow?

http://creamscoop.com/work/ (see bottom)

Technical Resources and Articles

jQuery Coda Slider

Perspective Tabs

Tab Accordion

jQuery Nested Tab Set with Demo

Wizard design pattern

Good Article with a lot of links to resources

PCHLotto Design Notes

theuglycookie — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:41:27 +0000

Here some guiding thoughts as we enter the design phase of the new PCHLotto — slated to debut in June -09.

Complete ‘above the fold’ experience

Complete experience should take place without the need to scroll. Number selection, registration, ‘in-card’ messaging, progress feedback, ad serving … and ultimately partner co-reg and e commerce … all above the fold
Can this complete experience be within the card?

Portability by extracting game play, path

Game experience in Light Box?
By extracting the experience and putting it in a light box, will this give us the ability to use PCHLotto within other properties more easily?

Path Configuration

Easily use a single card with no offers, but maybe optin box?

Clear User Feedback and Direction

Clearly let the user know where they are, what they should do, how much further they have to go and what the benefit of ‘sticking with it’ will be.

Authenticity
• We spoke a lot yesterday regarding design but I forgot to mention the importance of authenticity. The pchlotto experience should always communicate a certain officialness. The user should feel that their lotto card or gameplay is being “handled” with care, being processed by officials, is secure, etc. – balancing entertainment with — when the time comes — the serious business of winning. Loyal state lottery players take it seriously and expect the state lottery officials to do the same. We should capture that.

PCH Lotto Design Inspiration

theuglycookie — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:50:12 +0000

A bunch of links in no particular order

Big Type

http://theautumnfilm.com/red-white-sale/us.html

Above Fold Experience

http://www.arcinspirations.com/kobe/

http://www.taptaptap.com/#

http://labs.paulicio.us/viewport/#4

http://carrotcreative.com/ click on nav

http://madebygiant.com/ click button lower right

http://www.blackestate.co.nz/ vertical flow?

http://creamscoop.com/work/ (see bottom)

Light Box Experience

http://typedeskref.com/

http://www.realmacsoftware.com/rapidweaver/overview/

http://listen.grooveshark.com/ (click Signup – Light box with ad unit)

http://digg.com/ (click LOGIN)

Ad units

http://listen.grooveshark.com/

Cool Flow

http://www.teamviget.com/

Login

http://unblab.com/login also a cool box design … card design inspiration?

Simple Design

http://www.mailchimp.com/power_features/

http://www.versionsapp.com/

White Space

http://www.versionsapp.com/

http://www.checkoutapp.com/features/#sales

http://www.storenvy.com/ Bright and White

Nice use of background Images texture and tactile graphics

http://www.ilovecolors.com.ar/

http://www.komodomedia.com/

http://www.respiromedia.com/

http://www.onefastbuffalo.com/Page.aspx?i=31&d=THE_WAY also note lower left tabs

http://revyver.com/

http://jobs.webdesignerwall.com/ Take the ticket analogy to a literal level?

http://www.doejo.com/ generally a nice use of subtle texture

http://www.subdued.net/ (ditto: pencils, cards, etc?)

http://www.cotr.tv/ (ditto: pencils, cards, etc?)

http://www.tnvacation.com/road/

http://www.tnvacation.com/guide/ Both very busy but see some excitement potential here … maybe secondary page (winners, winning numbers, etc) inspiration

http://www.carbonica.org/

http://www.sollievo.org/index.php interesting content background