In this week’s web design and development news roundup, you’ll learn about the costs of moderated vs. unmoderated usability testing, find out what to expect in the upcoming WordPress 5.5 release, discover how to position background images with CSS, and more.
If you’re new to my blog, each Friday I publish a post highlighting my favorite user experience, accessibility, WordPress, CSS, and HTML posts I’ve read in the past week.
Hope you find the resources helpful in your work or projects!
Want more resources like these on a daily basis? Follow me @redcrew on Twitter.
You will not remember how much money you made throughout your career.
However, you will remember every single person that graciously opened a career door for you.
Opening doors for others is important and meaningful work.
Be a door opener. Be remembered.
— Vala Afshar (@ValaAfshar) July 28, 2020
Tweet of the Week
User Experience
- To focus on outcomes users want, user researchers need to move beyond personas, demographics, and affinity groups.
Understanding what problem they’re trying to solve is far more effective than generalizing a non-task-centric group they may belong to.
- Did you know an unmoderated usability test can save you time and money? However, it may come at the cost of your findings, says Kate Moran in their review of moderated vs. unmoderated remote usability testing costs.
- One of the biggest issues with remote research during the COVID-19 crisis is making sure participants know how to use the remote technology.
- Your thoughts? Do you agree?
The evolution of product decision making in the valley:
10 years ago, I thought we weren’t using data as much as we should.
These days, I catch myself thinking that we aren’t using our instincts as much as we should.
— Shreyas Doshi (@shreyas) July 30, 2020
Accessibility
- The United States Americans with Disabilities Act celebrated its 30th anniversary this week. While it has improved over the years, technology still has a way to go to help people with disabilities.
- Great news for Microsoft Translator users, no more button pushing for iOS. Microsoft has added auto mode for one-on-one conversations.
- Barack Obama stopped by at Crip Camp to talk with activists and advocates in this almost four-minute video.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, I got the chance to talk to the next generation of activists and advocates in the disability rights movement––they're continuing the work of the activists in @CripCampFilm and I couldn't be prouder of them. pic.twitter.com/k7r5JJUC9T
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 26, 2020
- With so many people working remotely, it’s crucial for you to have an updated profile photo. Learn what accessibility considerations to keep in mind for your photo.
WordPress
- The first release candidate of the WordPress 5.5 version is available for download and testing. WordPress 5.5 is scheduled for release on August 11, 2020.
- Jacob Martella shares several highlights of what to expect in the upcoming WordPress 5.5 release, including the ones I’m most looking forward to: block patterns and XML sitemaps.
- Sad news to share, WordCamp US 2020 has been canceled. What a disappointment for people planning to attend and speak as well as the organizers who have been planning the event for months.
- Nick Schäferhoff shares 9 ways to effectively shut down spam in WordPress. I’m a fan of AntiSpam Bee as well as honeypots. But I don’t recommend CAPTCHA.
CSS and HTML
- You’ll want to avoid using legendary legend to create a button that expands and collapses a section of text. Check out the code example for a better way to code it.
- Bookmarking this in the “I didn’t know that” folder:
TIL #38: Using the background-origin property you can position background images relative to the inner border edge (default), outer border edge, or the content edge.
CodePen: https://t.co/V1khPjobCZ
TIL: https://t.co/JUR9AtvQ7q
MDN: https://t.co/cVfPv3mKeE pic.twitter.com/9HFWaTx32P— Manuel Matuzović (@mmatuzo) July 31, 2020
- Have you spotted the trend for blobby shapes? Geoff Graham noticed the popular colored shapes in the background of websites and shares his recommendations for making them work well.
Watch for contrast when text sits on top of a blob.
- I remember when I first learned what version numbers meant, years ago when I was a software release coordinator. Thanks to Chris Ferdinandi for explaining semantic versioning in plain language.
What I Found Interesting
- We all could use a story with a happy ending. Roxy, a golden doodle, has been nicknamed a miracle dog after getting lost in Lake Michigan.
- The editing on this Nike ad is incredible. Powerful message.
Nothing can stop what we can do together. You can’t stop sport. Because #YouCantStopUs.
Join Us | https://t.co/fQUWzDVH3q pic.twitter.com/YAig7FIL6G
— Nike (@Nike) July 30, 2020
- Fascinating. The world’s heaviest soaring bird, Andean Condors rarely flap their wings, relying on air currents to move around.
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Did I miss some resources you found this week? I’d love to see them! Post them in the comments below.
