[Sigia-l] Life after Visio

[Listera]

"Gothelf, Jeff" wrote:

> In the organizations that I have worked for (mainly mid to large-sized
> professional services companies) the argument that repeatedly arose within
> the UX groups was the question of HTML-based wireframes (using your tool of
> choice) versus Visio-based ones. This was the spawn of the article.

I am well aware of the obscene circularity of that argument: everyone uses
PowerPoint -> we'll be safe using PowerPoint, etc.
 
> Now perhaps the use of the term "status quo" was a bit over-the-top but
> based on my experiences, it seemed that in these types of organizations
> coupled with the type of clients we were dealing with, these were the
> primary choices for prototyping.

Oh, go ahead, hit me with a double whammy: large organizations *and* Visio,
wrapped up in the holy shrine of status quo. Why don't you just turn that
knife slowly! :-)
 
> Yes, I have a bias towards Visio but I am open to new tools that can improve
> the design process and quality of deliverables. I am an equal opportunity
> IA.  

The article didn't sound like it, at all.

I'm not questioning your (ulterior) motive (OK, I am, but that's not the
point here :), just the result of your effort.

I'm forever grateful to librarians, for example, for their long-standing
steadfastness on free speech and resistance to censorship. And as people who
deal with information (ahem, content, hi Chris :) we carry the
responsibility to make sure people have maximal access to it and our tools
are also reflective of that.

Visio is a bloated, hard-to-use, Windows-only, expensive app that doesn't
play well with others and is not the best-suited tool for IA/ID/UX work. The
overwhelming impression one would get from your article (especially for a
young IA) is that all that doesn't matter, because, well, it's the status
quo. Bonkers!

You may not be well attuned to this reaction, because you are well ensconced
in that environment, as I think you yourself suggest. But come out and play
with us, in the sunshine. :-)
 
Ziya
Nullius in Verba