Persuasive data: How UX researchers can pitch with integrity Are academic reporting standards a must in industry?  A look at where reporting guidelines come from and how researchers can make their mark ethically.

Understanding how people group information over time: A new technique Temporal grouping cues help people make sense of information in feeds and other dynamic interfaces, but used wrong, they can leave users baffled.  We developed a new technique to determine which cues work best to help people parse visual and auditory content streams.

Windows 8 Metro UI: Flat isn’t bad The Windows 8 Consumer Preview was released on February 29, 2012. Some have criticized the move to a flat UI on the grounds that it will make it harder to find elements on the desktop. Fortunately, 3D is not required for the psychological phenomenon of “pop-out.”

Researching our communities: Who’s coming to design events (and why) Based on a 2011 survey, we explore the make-up of the Austin design community and what designers want from professional events.

Perceived affordances: Bridging innovation and usability How can you introduce novel, distinctive visual elements into an interface without confusing users?  By identifying visual cues that suggest specific functions to users, designers can determine where to innovate and where to stick to the basics.

The psychology of 11/11/11: Pattern recognition and scarcity Dates like 11/11/11 somehow just seem special. But why do our minds make such a big deal of arbitrarily assigned numbers, and why does it pay to associate notable dates with products?

When good design hurts: An argument for content It seems like a no-brainer that your site needs to look credible in order to make convincing appeals to users.  But what happens when you overlook effective messaging?  A 2006 study tells why it’s important to invest in good copy first.

Reward your users: A lesson from dolphins Sometimes there’s a disconnect between the goals of a company and those of its users. In these cases it can be helpful to identify the steps along the path to a target outcome and to ensure that users receive the reinforcement they need.