ManMade Creative

09/06/2023

Trust the process!!! is a process which requires multi-disciplinary activities to be conducted to listen, learn, predict, and confirm. True UX professionals don't care what the "answer" is. We understand we are facilitators as much as . Our goal is to pinpoint needs and identify system that will be impactful in improving .

- UX is the facilitator of data-driven strategy, design, implementation, modifications, and iteration management.

- UX ensures the voice of the user is heard, and that solutions are designed to be accessible by those with natural limitations.

- UX enables data visualization to tell a story succinctly in order to enable users to make decisions quickly and confidently.

- UX informs and assures the design "language" through design governance mechanisms like: design systems and UI pattern libraries.

- UX allows the focus of O&M to be on minor improvements, bug fixes, and sustainability.

- Practice areas include: User Research, System/Product Analysis, UI Design, Prototyping and Testing, Data Analysis, Validation, Build Strategy, and Backlog Management

09/16/2022

Quality Assurance Tester opportunity w/ManMade Creative - Follow link to submit your resume, and share post to invite your friends to apply!

Easy 1-Click Apply (MANMADE CREATIVE, INC) Quality Assurance Tester (Automation) job in Washington, DC. View job description, responsibilities and qualifications. See if you qualify!

05/27/2022

UX is taking the federal contract space by storm, and we're here for it!

Part of the fun in what we do is getting to witness those "ah-ha!" moments where our customers realize that the very thing they've been looking for exists, has a name, and is within reach. But, it's not just "UX" as a principle that gets 'em. It's UX in action - the process, the inclusivity, the !

04/29/2022

Remember when User Experience (UX) wasn't a thing? You know, the days when people would hire graphic designers to create interfaces that were "cutting edge"?

Those days are long gone and, no, isn't the new name for . Designers are artists and, while there are many creative elements to UX, practitioners have a usability-first mentality, with beauty taking a back seat to simplicity and efficiency.

Through the few who realized that the success or failure of any design is completely subjective without user data, UX was born and the importance of UX practitioners was, and is becoming, realized.

04/01/2022

We know how easy it is to lose inspiration and, as a result, lose sight of the endgame. It happens on all sides - contractors, customers, users. There's a feeling of defeat that seems to follow Government IT, which has a tendency to suck the life out of even those with the best of intentions.

Don't believe the lie - all hope is not lost. It's the approach that's wrong, not the expectation that success is possible.

This company was created because we got tired of the same things you are, and decided to do something about it. Let's shape the future together.

03/17/2022

Are you partnering with companies whose capabilities align with the current administration's goals?

Just three months ago, the White House released a notice of intention to increase equity for underserved small business owners in the federal contract space by 50%, by 2025. Target increases have been set for every year prior to that, with priority funding going to minority groups and business who fall into "other socioeconomic categories," including HubZone certified businesses who offer employment opportunities in underserved areas, nationally.

Less than two weeks later, an pertaining to the governments intent to prioritize was announced. The order emphasized a need for principles and processes to be implemented across the board. We check those boxes and would love to help you reach your goals.

03/10/2022

Want to know how we can help you build a successful product and reduce spending? No fluff, no empty promises, just proven method and RESULTS! Check out our website for a little insider information on our focus as User Experience (UX) practitioners and the benefits of user-centered design.

03/03/2022

An interesting question from a Reddit user - Should they follow their company's style guide when designing for them?

They're probably asking because they feel like their creativity is being limited. But, when designing for any entity or user group, it's not about you, it's about them.

The right response? Come at 'em with, "Challenge accepted!" It's all a matter of how you look at it - look past yourself and see the bigger picture.

Hello UXers! So I have to submit a design assignment and in their deck, they mentioned that I should 'respect' the design principles set in their...

03/01/2022

Selecting a UX partner is not as easy as it sounds.

Everybody is throwing around buzzwords and representing themselves as a UX practitioner these days, oftentimes selling the buyer a bill of goods. Sure, they may have good intentions, but being able to implement and execute a UX process is way more involved than saying all the right things.

Because it's such a new practice area, finding a company who not only understands UX, but also has employees who are able to deliver on their promise is a difficult task.

The tell tale sign you're headed in the wrong direction? The path to the finish line looks eerily familiar. UX is a game changer and a well executed process will lead to dramatically different results than what you're used to within the first year. Dare us to prove it.

02/22/2022

The development of successful technology begins and ends with UX. We know what you're thinking because you're not the first to give us the side-eye, but skepticism doesn't change the truth.

A successful build requires implementation of a robust UX process to conduct various fact finding missions with users, developers, and stakeholders, leading to design and responsive prototyping for validation before the build even begins.

The right UX partner will take the guesswork out of design strategy, allow developers to focus on what they do best, help to uncover solutions for technological setbacks, and establish and execute a communication plan that manages expectations and timelines.

02/15/2022

As the saying goes, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results.

Historically, it's been an on-going cycle of mediocre builds in Government IT, with years of backlog to fulfill seemingly empty promises. Development code becomes a patchworked mess that becomes difficult to modify and, after years of striving, and unfathomable amounts of time and money spent, the customer finds themselves looking for the next best thing, while IT companies are trying to dig themselves out of one hole after another.

The implementation and ex*****on of a proper UX process throughout the development lifecycle ensures successful delivery of an intuitive, functional product (the first time), with a clear picture of timeline, potential limitations, and costs, and user needs driving decisions.

02/08/2022

Are people really giving you what you're paying for or are your being duped with buzz words?

There is more to User Experience (UX) than an aesthetically pleasing design and, being that it's a new practice area in the government space, there just aren't enough companies who have an understanding of what it takes to implement a robust UX process.

So many are still trying to figure out what it all means. If a system doesn't do what users need it to do, it's a waste of time and resources, leading to endless cycles of reinventing the wheel. True User Experience practices are an integral part of the development process from the moment a need is identified, in order to get it right the first time.