Need for reality

[wittything-blog]

Future of Technology and UX

The future of technology is never completely predictable. While most media is getting smaller and more immersive in terms of content, the future of television is getting bigger. How much bigger? 4K bigger. 3840 pixels × 2160 pixel vs the standard HD which is 1280x720. This is a major upgrade that will ultimately influence the viewing experience, but probably take some time to trickle down to the at home viewer also that is who it is seemingly being marketed towards.

When it comes to user experience the question of how social media and television will progress will be interesting to watch unfold. Currently, there is a struggle on the experience end to incorporate social media and social media polling into broadcasts. While it is being explored on all major networks, I wonder if this is creating a disconnect with viewers or if it is truly enhancing the user experience. Viewers are expected to tune in and simultaneously check their phone or device for updates and to share their real time thoughts with the people in programming. Is this effective media strategy? Will this be alleviated once the television itself becomes more integrated with our devices? I think only time will tell.

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[twoplustwoequalsfour]

Iain McGilchrist: The Divided Brain

[aboutthebrain]

It’s easy to have blind spots when examining our own selves and personalities. After all, it’s incredibly difficult to judge ourselves in an objective manner. But a new study suggests the best way to really get to know ourselves — without help from rose-colored glasses — is through...

[onlinecounsellingcollege]

Emotional intelligence, or EQ, is the ability to identify and manage your emotions in a positive way – and to effectively handle the emotions of others in your life. It consists of four key abilities:

1. The ability to be self-aware– This is being able to identify, understand and handle...

[venuschild]

The first element of emotional intelligence is empathy. The ability to understand what other people are feeling will make you more sensitive and aware and will result in more meaningful relationships.

The second element is the recognition that your actions have consequences. This understanding...

[theemotionmachine]

Usually when we think of “intelligence” we associate it with things like logic, math, and science.

However, according to psychologists such as Daniel Goleman, “emotional intelligence” (EQ) is another aspect of intelligence that is often over-looked.

The basic view of emotional...

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Social Intelligence and EQ

Social Intelligence, like emotional intelligence is about the ability to connect with others. While emotional intelligence explores an inner understanding, social intelligence tends to focus on the outward interaction. Social intelligence can sometimes be thought of as “people skills” however in the wave of social media it is really about much more than that. The ways in which we interact are on a variety of levels. Both social and emotional intelligence go hand in hand but are essentially separate and distinct.

The interactive styles that happen in social settings range from low to high energy. Depending on the person the interaction that happens will inevitably be different and unique. Karl Albrecht, an entrepreneur and lecturer has written theories on this topic. According to Albrecht, measuring SI involves “understanding contexts” and observing behavior.

However, without the development of emotional intelligence, social intelligence understanding can be difficult to measure. How we get along is important but one of the main reasons that the function of getting along meets conflicts is due to the fact that our emotional intelligence is not in tune to our surroundings. Social intelligence strictly focuses on social situations while emotional intelligence can have impact in more abstract ways.

One of the oldest measures of social intelligence was the George Washington Social Intelligence Test.

It was as follows: Judgment in Social Situations; Memory for Names and Faces; Observation of Human Behavior; Recognition of the Mental States Behind Words; Recognition of Mental States from Facial Expression; Social Information; and Sense of Humor:

Courtesy of: http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~kihlstrm/social_intelligence.htm

It is difficult not to pair social intelligence and emotional intelligence with personality traits. Much of what we see is translated into a specific type of behavior. Our implied signals mean a great deal in social interaction. This can be tonal expression, inflections and gestures. Social interaction is developed more based off of what we see and the judgments on that sight and information in front of us. Both social and emotional intelligence involve a bit of acceptance. This acceptance is derived from true understanding and building relationships through experiences and interactions.

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Emotional Intelligence Wellness

One of the benefits of working for a fairly sizable corporation is the ability to make suggestions and have the probability of seeing them adopted or funded on not only a small but also potentially large scale. In having a Health and Wellness Center within our company initiatives involving health and well-being are viewed in favorable terms when it comes to inclusion in the workplace. One of the terms that have been coming up in conversation is the idea of being mindful—mindful in our work and mindful in our awareness of our surroundings and overall picture. This mindfulness paired with Emotional Intelligence creates the ability to adapt to situations and move them towards desired outcomes.

Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence starts with a state of mind and a mindset that is open and clear. Adopting habits like deep breathing and meditation may sound menial but both are actually proving to be quite powerful in terms of emotional management and creative collaboration. Being emotionally charged does not mean being irrational. It means being part of an environment that captures and acknowledges human emotional range. It is about creating a dynamic that is conducive to a happy workplace and a high quality deliverable.

Being reactionary adversely impacts our goals and what we are trying to accomplish. Maintaining a so-called “level head” is key in all areas of business decision-making. Emotional Intelligence is more than just a buzzword. Being able to access emotions can greatly change the mood of an individual or entire room of people and create an environment where the content that is being delivered is well received. Individuals that are emotionally intelligent have a better overall understanding of how to collaborate and how to change pace when a situation moves away from the designed course.

Acknowledging emotions recognizes our connectedness amongst each other. In order to be successful the goal is never to be completely independent or entirely dependent; it involves being interdependent in words and actions. While for many years the worker has been programmed to separate emotions from work, citing the infamous God Father line “it’s not personal; it’s business,” it has been thought that being direct and devoid of emotion creates the best practice for getting the job done. As design too has become more and more intertwined in the workplace it is questionable as to how anyone could omit emotion from a piece that is supposed to invoke it. However, there is still a slight disconnect from being able to talk about emotion and having actual emotions.

While there is no real scenario where you would want to burst into tears, there is a need for being able to harness an emotion and use emotion to convey your messaging in the most impactful way possible. As designers can attest to, being able to reach someone at an emotional level is what creates a lasting impression. Additionally, our current culture is now dealing with never being disconnected. While a home is our sanctuary it is now infiltrated but the demands of work and the need to connect. It is not difficult to see that we rarely shut down and turn off our attached at the hip devices. Well maybe not attached at the hip (that’s pretty uncool) but you catch my drift. Private socialization and conversation have now become common in the workplace and sometimes issue provoking. People check emails, update their Facebooks, send out tweets and live inside of a world that promotes accessibility. This accessibility has also made it easier for employers and marketers to reach individuals around the clock.

In staying connected by device our lives have been disconnected in other ways. Sending an email or a text message is sometimes easier than relaying a message in person or even by telephone. With that there is a loss of genuine connection and genuine emotional interaction. What we say versus how we say it is what differentiates and clarifies our message. We miss out on valuable cues and in some cases waste more time in understanding the back and forth of flat interaction versus dynamic communication.

According to Anne Kreamer author of It’s Always Personal: Emotion in the New Workplace, “Overtly acknowledging how and in what measure anger, anxiety, fear and pleasure and color shape our working lives can help us manage those emotions and use them to our benefit, both at work and at home.”We benefit from being able to express an emotional spectrum and knowing how to process those emotions to navigate and relate to each other in meaningful ways.

[wittything-blog]

IQ EQ MQ BQ

After reading an article on Forbes.com I have started to build a better awareness of all of the properties that make up our overall intellectual scope. Prior to this I had actually never heard of MQ and BQ as terms but after further evaluation these contributing factors certainly play a tremendous role in not only our work but also our lives. The question is how do they rank and where must our emphasis lie? This is not a one size fits all relationship. In any situation all of these factors will play out differently in importance.

The question then becomes when is it most useful to employ these varying components of our persona? Tapping into our IQ certainly makes the most sense for areas that require a great deal of logic and linear thinking. However, IQ only seems to provide one piece of the bigger picture. It may be able to help us control and direct a seemingly straightforward path but how does it connect and stand out? Logic does not always create the trust and belief in knowing that the response will be as it was intended. This is where EQ or Emotional Intelligence plays an important role. Emotional Intelligence involves quite simply understanding emotions and emotional response and regulation. It involves a true awareness of the overall mindset of a situation and implements tactics that will capitalize on the desired outcome to the best of its ability.

Emotional intelligence involves a great deal of inner thought, self awareness and ability to self guide and direct towards the most advantageous state of mind for a given scenario. In regard to this is the subject of MQ or Moral Intelligence. Knowing what side of the moral fence we stand on gives the ability to respond with regard to responsibility and overall integrity of the product. This also leads us towards how far we are willing to “push the envelope.” In terms of design, this can be a dicey topic based on client wants versus designer standing or vice versa. There is always a line and there is always the decision of whether or not it should be crossed in order to create the desired outcome.

Lastly, of the intellectual list is BQ or Body Intelligence. Body Intelligence relates to our physical being. It involves how we maintain our bodies in terms of nutrition and weight and our overall health. Since the way we treat our body greatly impacts the functioning of our mind it is just as if not more important than all of the other intellectual states.

Overall, every one of these contributing factors is beneficial to the overall picture and process of our lives. It is in their congruency that we see them to their full effects. Simply using one over another is not as effective as having an understanding of the entirety of the matter at hand. Being able to tap into these levels of our intellect in problem solving will demonstrate the outcome that is closest linked with success.

Jensen, Keld. "Intelligence Is Overrated: What You Really Need To Succeed." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 12 Apr. 2012. Web. 06 Apr. 2013.

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Designed for interruption

The idea of multitasking is now being challenged by the idea of being constantly distracted. Our attention being split among multiple fields is proving to be an ineffective way to operate. What was once deemed as a key-qualifying trait in interviews and corporate jargon is being turned on its side. While it is valuable to be able to quickly shift from one task to another, it is less than productive to try to complete numerous objectives at the exact same time. In understanding how we operate as humans and how we split our thinking, we can better understand how to design and retain attention in varying scenarios.

While working in television, I have been exposed to the operations that occur within a studio setting. The environment is inevitably fast-paced, hectic and demanding.  However, it works and it has to work because of the fine-tuned workflow and efficiencies that have been implemented. Studios operate with a set of channels. Not television channels, but rather playout channels. One channel may be responsible for handling the scrolling content at the bottom of the screen, another may be playing out graphics in the monitors and still another is managing the graphics on the lower third of the screen. I have a theory that as humans we operate under similar restraints. Our brain houses a set of channels. What we have is what we have and there is no more or no less to utilize in any given scenario. When we are working on a project we are inevitably using one of these channels. Now let’s add in the fact that we must check and respond to email—there’s another channel. Now, have your boss come over and ask you a question. Another channel. Everything that gets added has to occupy a space of the channel or the channel in its entirety. Once those are full we are left moving things into other channels or abandoning tasks. As our channels get more and more bogged down, our actions become compromised.

In our society of constant connection we rarely have only one fixed target in site. We are trying to accomplish many goals and accomplish them as quickly and I’m going to say as beautifully as possible. I don’t think one necessarily thinks about the beauty of the process but by that I mean the efficiency, the cleanliness and the smoothness of action and flow. Even if the work we create only receives one second of airtime it is still a permanent fixture in our digital archives. During an NPR discussion ‘”The Shallows’: This Is Your Brain Online” the book “The Shallows” by Nicholas Carr is discussed in terms of distraction and retention. Carr views the reliance on the Internet as somewhat of a regression in human culture.

This vantage point of our lack of focus comes to light more and more in children and through adulthood. Every child born today is now used to having always lived under the umbrella of technology. The way it will be managed in the future is yet to be known but it will surely reflect upon our relationships with the devices we use.

Carr, Nicholas. "'The Shallows': This Is Your Brain Online." NPR. NPR, 02 June 2010. Web. 05 Apr. 2013.

[wittything-blog]

Good Design is invisible. Are we?

As a designer in the realm of broadcast media and a lifelong learner in the field of graphic design I have been tasked with communicating messages that are clear, impactful and meet the needs of the client. Throughout the realm of design is the quote that “Good Design is Invisible.” Having come to adopt this philosophy of fully integrated design there leaves the question of where the designer fits into the bigger picture. I agree it is the designer's job to more or less fade into the background. However, I'm starting to wonder about the emotional impact on the designer as the invisible component. While good design is invisible–how do we not feel invisible as the designer?

In order to create meaningful work, it is important to be personally invested in it. While I’m not suggesting that we have to live for work, as not all jobs are the dream jobs we want them to be, I am suggesting that we search for those things, which feed our passions and provide us with personal motivation to do better and to be better. Everything we do is a reflection of who we are and design is no different. Our digital culture speaks volumes about the ways in which we communicate, how we receive information and the relationships we cultivate.   

In studying the adoption of emotional intelligence in interactive design there is a great deal to learn about the user. While it is our job to find the motivations of the target market I have begun to think about the lack of writing there is on the psychological components of the designer. What would make us as the design community better? While we are all accustomed to the critiquing of our work there is just as much room for the advancement of a positive designer identity. I encourage all to take a brief moment to tap into their soft side and explore the notion that designers have feelings too.

When we finish a design we give it life and let it go out into the world around us. The design life is something that is difficult to predict the longevity of and because of the nature of our environment we are always looking for the next wave, the next trend and the next product to follow. It is important to know ourselves just as we know our consumers. We also consume and feed our own hunger with new ideas.

Being a designer is a challenging job. It is a field where creativity catches up with the bottom line. With expectations for constant innovation and improvement, many young designers too often get caught up in the spin cycle of creative burnout. Taking the time to step back, look at the bigger picture and assess our goals is crucial.

So how to we keep creating the work that we are proud of along with maintaining the mindset feeling valued in situations where we are the invisible creator?

Here are a few that I find to be key.  

1.     Maintain a positive attitude in yourself and your work.

2.     Feed your passions. If you are not doing what you want now, start doing it on your own.

3.     Read. Read anything and everything. Find connections in places where you thought there were none.

4.     Create a strong social network.

5.     Set short-term and long-term goals.

6.     Accept your present and challenge your future.

7.     Do not submit to failure.

  What else do you find important in navigating through a creative career?

[wittything-blog]

Free Writing - EQ - The Shallows

Understanding the idea and concept of "intellectual ethic –the message that a medium or other tool transmits into the minds and cultures of its users,"[1] gives us insight into how our devices play upon our society. Technology affects our culture in ways that are difficult to imagine at its inception. The initial creators cannot begin to forecast where the technology will take society as a whole.

The mind's way of thinking is ever changing based on our routines and habits. As technology takes on more of a role in our lives it becomes more of who we are and rewires how we receive information. We change technology and we change with technology. This comes with both positive and negative side effects.

Through case studies and user experience research the designer is able to obtain data that will further their understanding of how users respond in this digital age. The gap between technology (the device) and the participant is closing more and more as users are given more levels of control to seek the information and results they desire to achieve in more intuitive ways. Good design is invisible. While many designers have said it over the years, the ability to create “good design” maintains the same principles across all design disciplines even though execution may be handled differently.

The effects of emotional intelligence on the digital landscape are ever important in not only building brands, but also in building and maintaining relationships. A user wants a connection overall to their experience, otherwise it becomes a fleeting moment in time that is soon to be forgotten. Tying in user values and expectations provide insights on reaction and response. Only when this is understood can it be addressed in the design scenario.

Emotion in design whether it is digital design or another format will always remain relevant because as humans live and breathe, we live with emotions. It is inherent in us to seek and respond as a whole being. Emotionally intelligent design revolves around a system of factors: the way in which the information is presented, the way in which it is received and translated and its user response. Being in tune to these levels of interaction provides the designer with the best possible information to produce a piece that interacts with the user at an emotional level. Emotional intelligence will always help to facilitate intuitive experiences and create stronger user relationships. 

1. Carr, Nicholas G. The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains. New York: W.W. Norton, 2011. Print.

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Thesis Preparation - EQ and its impact on intuitive interactive design

Emotional intelligence becomes a fundamental component of the digital tapestry that involves the user in a meaningful way. Building emotional intelligence as an integral part of the digital landscape allows for more intuitive interactive design and stronger user relationships. In order to fully understand emotional intelligence the designer needs to become involved and invested in the feelings and emotions that develop during the user experience. It is through these emotions that the designer is enabled to not only understand, but to influence the users’ response.

Within a scientific standpoint, Emotional Intelligence, EI or EQ is ability to use emotions in a way that enhances thought and “promotes emotional and intellectual growth.” [1] An individual’s EI is held with as much esteem and weight scientifically as the IQ in that it provides just as much insight, if not more into the users neural processes. User competencies and cognition correlate directly to the interaction of emotion in the thought process that occurs in the brain.

Through the design standpoint, Emotional Intelligence creates the ability to understand and encourage a specific user reaction. Additionally, embracing the user’s emotional intelligence and creating an environment that supports it, enhances the human connection that occurs through a digital platform and device. Emotional intelligence involves sensitivity and thoughtfulness in choices of the defined objective.

Awareness is also essential in the realm of emotional intelligence. The more intimate the experience between the designer and the user, the more lasting the message. Memory, recall and recognition form relationships over time, which are directly linked to emotional response and processes. Designers can capitalize on the emotional relationship through experiences that are designed to promote the user’s emotional investment. Investment in design is achieved specifically through trust. This is created through three main levels of connection in digital realms; visceral, behavioral and reflective. To connect with users on all of these levels creates the most impact. By adding emotion into the digital landscape the designer become an instrument that drives behavior. Therefore, the more the designer understands their user, the easier it is to achieve the proper emotional appeal. [2]

[1] Mayer, John D., Peter Salovey, and David R. Caruso. "Emotional Intelligence: Theory, Findings, and Implications." Psychological Inquiry 15.3 (2004): 197-215. Web.

[2] Aubin, Rachel. "Cold Spring Design. Inc." Emotional Intelligence in Web Design. N.p., 09 May 2012. Web. 31 Jan. 2013.

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Free Writing - Thesis Preparation - E-Learning/Corporate Training

Knowledge is free, but the application is key. Being an effective teacher lies in the ability to adapt to someone else's learning style. Employers are teachers while being students to their employees. There is an essential give and take relationship.

An employers job is to retain and grow leaders; to discover the best practices to motivate others as leaders; to train and invest in their people; to value their staff as much as their product.

Promoting education through in and out of house measures is important to staff development. This includes the ability to attend events, webinars and formal and informal training opportunities. Corporate in house training structures should grow and change with the needs of the company and the forecasting of future needs and technological advancements. This isn't a singular initiative to to the company alone but rather an opportunity to promote and create cross training programs, pilot programs and E-learning curriculum.

Allowing employees to have an open forum for discussion, ideas and feedback is a valuable tool. This allows for continuing, open conversation and a flexible means by which to enter into discussion. By enabling open dialog it gives employees the benefit of being and feeling like contributors. Ideas are inexhaustible resources that should be given a place to live and potentially grow into something bigger.

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The Conceptual Conversation

When choosing a Thesis topic the thought can be one that is overwhelming. There is so much information available at our fingertips and as such a seemingly unlimited pool of choices. Within the contexts of Graphic Design I have been drawn to various areas of exploration and study. Information graphics that are well executed and poignant, Emotional Intelligence in design and most recently the idea of Corporate training methods and programs that provide continuing design education in the workplace.

Working in corporate America has opened my eyes to a variety of personalities, cultures and subcultures. The ever growing corporate ladder and the means by which one “gets ahead” seems to be at the front of everyone’s cerebral cortex. Where do we fit in and where do we rank? How to we move ahead? Within all of this is the reality of who we are as humans and the idea of the survival of the fittest.

So how does design and design theory fit into the corporate realm? Well it is just as present as we are as humans. We are creative individuals. Despite the black and white and bottom line, the gray matter, just as that which is present in our minds is present in the working world. How does an employer measure creativity? It is not an easy task. However the best way to understand an individual’s contributions is to understand their skill sets.

Our formal education provides us the abilities to gather and develop a set of skills and abilities that we can utilize and make economically viable. As a designer of this era, our abilities rely heavily on our technological acumen. These avenues are the ever-evolving software tools such as the Adobe Creative Suite and online social environments that are the ways in which we have come to send and receive the vast majority of our information.

Therefore when our formal education is done who picks up the remainder? The individual is ultimately responsible but as our employers looks towards developmental opportunities and increased productivity it only makes sense that they provide the arenas that are conducive to continued learning.

Through my initial thesis exploration the idea of training in graphic design as well as emotional intelligence in design have stuck out as prominent areas of exploration. As this journey begins I look forward to continue my research and make new discoveries.  

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