Author Archives: swaltersky

Code Mocking? How about business plan mocking?

Posted on March 14, 2013

After 40 years of participating in software code reviews, I couldn’t stop laughing when I encountered a recent Scott Adams‘ Dilbert cartoon: Many is the code review meeting that I wished I could stand up and start mocking the fruits of … Continue reading →

Posted in Dilbert, Humor, Software Development | Leave a comment

What if what we know is wrong?

Posted on March 11, 2013

Many years ago I came across a diagram of the four boxes of knowing: I was reminded of the box about “what you know that is wrong” while listening to Dana Chisnell’s talk on “Rethinking User Research and Usability Testing … Continue reading →

Posted in Content with Context, Design, Human Centered Design, Innovation, Knowledge Management, Learning, Software Development, Teaching, User Experience | 3 Comments

Seeing Organizations – How do you teach?

Posted on March 10, 2013

Several years ago, David Socha and I wrote an article “Is Designing Software Different From Designing Other Things?” In the article I shared my Chris Alexander “Ah Hah” moment about designing better software products: “Successful software design processes include an … Continue reading →

Posted in Content with Context, Design, Human Centered Design, Innovation, Knowledge Management, Learning, organizing, Teaching, University, User Experience, Working in teams | 1 Comment

Entrepreneurial Teachable Moments

Posted on March 9, 2013

The Professor and the VC I attended the UW HCDE Corporate Affiliate Program (CAP) on Tuesday morning and sat next to one of my colleagues who also started a “maker” company last year.  As the corporate affiliates were introduced, we were both … Continue reading →

Posted in Curation, Human Centered Design, Innovation, Knowledge Management, Learning, Relationship Capital | 1 Comment

ConveyUX – Highlights from the cheap seats

Posted on March 8, 2013

Last week I managed to squeeze time into my crazy schedule to attend the ConveyUX conference in Seattle sponsored by BlinkUX. I was delighted to see the international turnout and many familiar faces from the UW HCDE program. While I … Continue reading →

Posted in Content with Context, Curation, Design, Human Centered Design, Innovation, Intellectual Capital, Knowledge Management, Learning, Relationship Capital, Software Development, User Experience | 1 Comment

Reflecting on Effectual Entrepreneuring Pedagogy

Posted on March 3, 2013

I have the privilege of teaching a great group of Human Centered Design and Engineering graduate students at the University of Washington in the course “Designing a Human Centered Venture.” Last week in our eighth class of the quarter I … Continue reading →

Posted in Content with Context, Design, Human Centered Design, Teaching, University, User Experience, Working in teams | 3 Comments

Too Funny for Words – NFL Highlights

Posted on November 30, 2012

I cannot remember ever laughing out loud and falling out of my chair while watching an NFL “professional” football game.  However the recent game between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots had us laughing even through our … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor | Leave a comment

Some Days You Just Need a little Dilbert

Posted on November 29, 2012

As I near the end of another quarter teaching a wonderful group of Human Centered Design and Engineering (HCDE) graduate students while juggling consulting clients, I need to ground myself in the eternal wisdom of Dilbert.  Here are a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Dilbert, Humor | Leave a comment

Review of Empirical Research Through Design

Posted on October 21, 2012

Design Research is one of those quirky phrases that I have a difficult time parsing.  Does design research mean that I am doing research on design (itself a tricky word as demonstrated in an article I co-wrote on “Is designing … Continue reading →

Posted in Attenex Patterns, Content with Context, Design, Human Centered Design, University | Leave a comment

Hiding in Plain Sight

Posted on October 21, 2012

While walking on Fourth Avenue in Seattle on a bright autumn day (a route I walk quiet often), an array of multi-colored flowers caught my eye.  I admired their beauty on this sunny day and kept on walking.  About 20 … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor | Leave a comment