Kay is Optimal Workshop's resident storyteller and Editor of CRUX. A creative strategist at heart, if she's not busy whipping up some fresh content you'll find her searching far and wide for the next big idea.
Want to make your investment in UX research go further? If you’re feeling the heat from shrinking resources or budgets but know the value of UX research, sharing the ‘research love’ might be a good approach. Bring your stakeholders into the research fold by involving them in all or part of the process. Don’t just... View Article
Thinking about putting that big UX research project on hold for now as part of cost cutting? Unsure how to respond to questions around the value of UX research in light of concerns raised by your organization around spending? In tough economic times it’s tempting to adopt a double down mentality and view UX research... View Article
There are over 5000 certified B Corporations around the world, including new recruit, New Zealand based SaaS company, Optimal Workshop. The ‘B’ in B Corp actually stands for ‘beneficial’, to reflect the founding vision behind the movement: ‘make business a force for good’. B Corp seeks to help companies balance purpose and profit, while... View Article
According to Abby Covert, author, teacher and community leader in the field of information architecture (IA) : ‘IA is the way we arrange pieces of content to make sense when experienced as a whole. By this definition: there is information architecture in everything. Mindblown?’ 😮 (That’s a resounding yes from an IA rookie like me.)... View Article
James Erwin fell into the world of information architecture (IA) by accident earlier in his design career and it’s fuelled his curiosity ever since. We talk to him about his design journey, his obsession with understanding where IA and UX meet, and his approach to product design at Optimal Workshop. You go by the title... View Article
Making a difference through UX was a shared passion among an impressive line-up of 7 researchers, strategists, and designers from the global UX community at this year’s 100% virtual 3-day UX New Zealand conference. We introduce them, highlight what they had to say, and share their full video presentations. 1. From bombs to bots: the... View Article
In the crowded and complex world we live in, great user experiences can make all the difference to the way we navigate day-to-day life. CRUX#5 reveals the many faces of information architecture at work and its positive impact in the fields of business, entertainment, education, and more. Our enthusiastic and knowledgeable contributors generously paint a... View Article
An impressive line-up of researchers, strategists, and designers from the global UX community shared their ideas, experiences, insights, and approaches to effective ways of working at this year’s 100% virtual 3-day UX New Zealand conference. We introduce 7 speakers, highlight what they had to say, and share their full video presentations. 1. How to design... View Article
Information architecture (IA) is everywhere. Like the best websites and apps in the digital world, information architecture also brings clarity and understanding to the real world. It helps us navigate complexity and clutter, enables us to get things done more easily even with enjoyment, and reduces our cognitive load as we go about our lives. As... View Article
Some of the team at Optimal Workshop HQ, Wellington, NZ