Kerry Houghton
Location UK
Activity
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I chose the Red Squirrel as an example, and they too, in the North West have moved to more urban areas (as people in the know support - and feed - them) rather than the more coastal pines were they used to reside. This similarity could be made to hedgehogs. As there is some public engagement, surveys - and census, as you mention, make a similar, suitable tool.
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
In the UK, the Red Squirrel is on the decline.
Scale:
A suitable scale for the study would be defined regional habitats, given that there are only a few pockets where Red Squirrels are present. Due to some of the threats (pox), studying genes could also be helpfulThreats: The main threats are pox, and habitat loss. Both threats are increased by the...
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
I'd like to share an example of a population, and it is the population of Robins in my local park. Whilst Robins are widespread and often solitary with their own territories, these territories occur in the same environment - the park. The park is an environment that offers enough food and a suitable habitat for them to thrive. At this time of year, the...
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Immediate gratification, yes, I tend to agree, unfortunately. But also, as you allude to in regards to people prioritising themselves, it's potentially short-term survival too. If less sustainable options are currently cheaper or more accessible, certain people may feel they have less choice.
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That is an interesting point about the economic argument being more objective. And therefore less emotional...? Emotion can be seen as subjective, but also more impactful. It's an interesting debate.
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
I think both arguments put forward by the professionals in the video are convincing, and it depends on the audience as to which will be most persuasive. Personally, though, I think the moral argument eventually becomes stronger because nature is intrinsic to human survival and wellbeing.
With a background in marketing, I am not surprised to hear different...
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
T number of insect and bird sounds relate to the “urbanness” of the landscape because a mixture of urban and rural areas provide more diversity in the habitats available for those species.
Bioacoustics be challenging in cities and to animals that rely on sound in urban areas due to noise pollution, where the noise of traffic will make it difficult to hear... -
Kerry Houghton made a comment
Of the four methods four methods to survey pollinators, it's difficult to choose one.
Considering the poor quality of the results from pan trapping, small samples, and the harm done, this seems a somewhat outdated option as technology moves on.
I am between FIT and Bioacoustics. I think both can be leveraged as a motivator for conservation as they offer...
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The most significant threat to pollinators is modern farming, which results in the use of pesticides and habitat loss.
Pollinators and plants/flowers have a mutualistic symbiotic relationship which means and benefit and depend on each other making pollinators very sensitive to this threat.
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
I have chosen rainforests. The key threat is deforestation for agricultural purposes (e.g. space for cattle or palm oil, for example), supply of wood (for construction/paper/fuel), and pollution.
Similarly to the previous example of coral reefs in previous exercises, the tree of the rainforest are a key species but also the habitat, and of course, the most...
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
As coral bleaching and other damage starts to kill the coral, gradual changes will happen, but a bleaching affects all coral, eventually the whole network/ecosystem will be lost.
The damage may not show straight away, as some of the linked species will be generalists, and they will find other sources of food. Specialist will die out as their food source...
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
I would think a network with more links would be more resistant, as the more links, the less one species would rely on another exclusively. However, it may make it less resilient, a threat to one species could have a knock-on effect, meaning there would be a chain reaction, and depending on the rate of change, things may 'tip the balance'.
If a species is...
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
The most significant threat to coral reefs is climate change, as this is global, could be reversible and requires the most effort and coordination to resolve (again globally).
However, I did not realise people used dynamite to fish. Obviously this is immediately destructive, I imagine causing horrific damage and trauma, so this is also significant on a...
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
Earlier in the course I chose urban garden communities. I narrow that to the (urban) European Hedgehog - listed as stable globally but is in decline in the UK.
The aspects of its biology (its traits) to consider are;
Diet - Hedgehogs mostly eat invertebrates, which gardeners control/try to eliminate, meaning s less food available. Also, some gardeners...
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
The research is useful, but I was surprised how small the sample was: 32/31 birds, from a population of approx. 150,000 and for 2 weeks (over x2 seasons so far). Some birds, e.g. Bird 4, comes close (not sure what the scale is) - I think it would be an assumption to say that this bird would never cross the area of the turbines. Further research on more birds...
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Seabird behaviour might be influenced by the placement of wind farms because if the windfarms are in the natural path the birds would take to migrate, feed, etc, then the birds may alter their path to avoid the threat. In turn, this may mean that the birds are travelling more and exerting more energy, which may have an effect on other behaviours - such as how...
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You raise some interesting theories about Bees In London. I chose to study communities of urban wildlife in the UK, and explored the threats from other non-native species, i.e. Ring-necked Parakeets potentially competing with starling and nuthatches for nesting holes.
As you are studying one species, I guess abundance would be one method you would measure,...
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...the risk and rate of transmission.
There may also be non-native species who are more adaptable to living in close proximity to humans such as the Ring-necked Parakeet.
Due to my study being about communities methods to study and conserve them could be more complex.
To measure the health of the system, several methods might be required, if...
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
Being very aware of nature living near people during our time in lockdown, a few species sprang to mind for me such as Starlings, Sparrows, Bumble Bees, Hedgehogs, etc, so I have chosen to study communities of urban nature and wildlife (UK) , particularly those effected by change in habitat as the environment is altered to accommodate an expanding population...
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
Community in the conservation area of the urban park.
In the corner of my local park, there is a small section of wooded area - smaller than the group of tennis courts in the centre of the park.
There you will find a community, made up of various birds (Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Robin, Bluetit, to name a few) along with Grey Squirrels, and a variety of...
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
I've always had moral beliefs that the natural world should be conserved and I can't really put my finger on "why" I feel that way - "I just do"... I think it's a shame to be so destructive and take the benefits of wildlife away from future generations. I also belief we, as a race, won't survive without nature either. I think this *should* be the most...
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I accidentally but my general response here, so I've deleted it and added above.
But, Taylor, I agree, it's difficult for people who's fundamental existence is under threat to be concerns with the wider environment.
It's an interested perspective to suggest those better off are in a position to enjoy nature for natures sake. I agree, but wonder if that...
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
Kerry from Leicestershire/Northamptonshire, UK here. I've worked as a designer and in marketing for some years, and I try to work on environmental projects where possible. I'd like to learn more about Ecology, Wildlife & Conservation with the aim of aligning my work and interest in these topics more in the future.
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@BelénMoreno It seems we have explored the same train of thought, Belen.
And to respond to you both, @RobertJones - I think elements that *differentiate* (authentically) are the things that turn a shop into a brand, whether that's tangible or intangible. The blue packaging of Tiffany, for example (be wary of giving a gift with similar packaging if it's not...
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
CocaCola and Apple appear to be the two brands understood to have the most commercial impact, and I find the point that @YitzchakYoung has made about CocaCola's associate with Santa and owning "the holidays are coming" an interesting one. I agree this is social impact to an extent, I'm not sure if it's for the social good?
Brands that have the greatest...
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
Some great and varied insights there. Really interesting that Wally Olins goes as far as to mention the human condition which starts to explore branding's overlap with social psychology.
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
A brand is definitely deeper tha a name, a logo and/or a slogan. The Jeff Bezos quote is a brilliant one I often quote to clients, and drives the current state home - that your brand is how your customers experience it ...not always, how you intend it, unfortunately - then it would be easy! ;-). That being said, the visual and tonal elements play a part in...
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
As a graphic designer working with digital marketers, I hope to develop/refresh the way I am able to discuss and advocate brand with colleagues and clients.
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
In some ways I am surprised there are not more tech brands mentioned, but then my view of what is well-loved may be demographically and geographically bias.
There are some functional reasons given, but most of all, people describe emotion - a feeling or memory, and I feel this is the common link. People love brands because of the the feelings that are...
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Kerry Houghton replied to Richard Holland
Hi Richard,
I like what you have to say, and agree with your sentiment, especially your summary that 'a brand stands or falls on the latest customer experience' - nice.
To play devils advocate a little though, I think consistency can really be king. Can quality and reliability be less important, dependent on the brand positioning and promise..? Take a...
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
I am interested to learn about any processes or tools involved in evaluating and/or creating brands and brand stories. I would like to develop my abilities in communicating the value of effective brands.
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
Hi, Kerry here, from the UK. I've been working as a graphic designer in marketing departments in-house and more recently at a small agency, totaling many years now. I often become in involved in strategy, and would like to formalise (and test/improve) my branding knowledge. This course sounds like a good place to start.
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Hi Anastasiya. I like Pinterest too, and I find it mostly easy to use, and agree with most of your observations, but it's funny to me that you should cite it as a good example of UX... (I guess you're referring to the app?) For me, it was one of the first to come to my mind when talking about bad UX (- but it's the desktop version I'm referring to). It's only...
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Kerry Houghton replied to Andrew Cheel
I agree. Even just mobile sites using the "hamburger" icon as the menu (the thee horizontal bars icon), and what ever will evolve after that. I often find myself explaining this icon to less internet savvy users.
Is this a case of self-referential design and/or designing for The Elastic User?
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Kerry Houghton replied to Olga Gutiérrez
Interesting that we tend to trust Amazon, even though some of the visual design is lacking (it can be cluttered and some of the recommendations are distracting/disruptive at times). Great point about experience after purchase. The emails that follow are quick, easy to understand, and transparent about what is going to happen next and when. Very valuable to the...
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
Website I trust: www.johnlewis.com. Visual design is clean, well spaced, balanced. The imagery is professional. The colour palette is muted and minimal and the font is timeless.
For a children's website: www.peppapig.co.uk. Greeted by music, sound effects, animations, and bright colours - all quite annoying! But then I'm not the target user! :-) I noticed...
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Hi @EilísNíhAirtnéada, an interest thought process. Whilst you had second thoughts, I think I think it's good that you have questioned, rather than just taken it at face value. :-)
Targetting people who don't have mobile devices might be a step too far, but it could be worth thinking about those who don't use *apps* in particular - like an older group. This...
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
For me, I'd like to learn more about an 'industry standard' process, or realistic expectations of what is involved. I'm a designer (traditionally for print but moving more into branding, and the demand of digital) and feel as though I've always naturally explored UX before I even know it was 'a thing'. I question everything, and it often is I 'lose' time,...
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
What do you think are the main advantages of having a user-centred design?
User centered design will empathise with the user's needs, and utlise the other factors discussed in the course, such as usability, engagement, to enable the user to fulfill their intentions without discomfort, disruption, etc.Why is it important to do this from the start?
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Kerry Houghton replied to Nathan Shaw
@CherylLit @VictoriaR-V I read in one of the further reading links (sorry, I can't recall which) that successful UX is where *what the company wants the user to do* and the *means for what the user wants to do* are aligned/balanced. In the examples you both speak of, it sounds like there is little compromise, never mind success.
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Kerry Houghton replied to Emma Roberts
Ooo, maybe I have one... (I sometimes struggle to differentiate between a *brand* experience and UX. And I guess there is overlap anyway?)
Since you mention the NHS, you may be UK based, and familiar with Waitrose? Their brand is strong, but the UX I'm thinking of specifically is the Community Matters initiative (at the end of your shop in branch, you'll...
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Kerry Houghton replied to Emma Roberts
I'm interested in offline observations too, @EmmaRoberts, but struggling to put my finger on one particular experience off the top off my head. What comes to mind for you?
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
I agree with many other commenters.
Another, and very commercial answer to the question (why do you think continual improvement is important for a product/website?) is... competition. Everyone wants to be better or wants the best. If you neglect UX, it is an area in which your competition could gain an advantage.
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Kerry Houghton replied to Allie Ford
@AllieFord, the fact you are learning about UX and your workplace makes changes to be trendy must be frustrating!?
I agree that bad experiences are easier to recall (which seems a sad state of affairs?) and mentioned this in an earlier stage of the course. Its makes me think of Jared Spool's quote; "good design...is invisible"
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Kerry Houghton replied to Agnese C
@BrianDumas I think I am with you on UCD vs UX. I guess UCD is often a consideration at the start of a project, whereas UX is the iterating throughout a project and even after the finish?
I think what also possibly confuses matters is the misinterpretation of the D of Design in UCD - often people think design is just an adjective - to describe aesthetics...
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Kerry Houghton replied to Agnese C
@AgneseC I also ponder on this conundrum a lot, and hope this course and the views and experience/expertise of other students will help me to clarify things in my own mind, and then express to others. As a print designer (traditionally) I have seen lots of usage of the term UX to mean digital only, but agree that it's just as important offline, and often find...
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Kerry Houghton made a comment
I actually find it much easier to recall UX experiences that frustrate me than those I enjoy... :-/ In answer to the question though, one I can think of is Ebay's app - I find it a much better experience that the desktop site.
Now I come to think of it, I enjoy AirBnB's app. It's clean, simple, and self-explanatory... or should I say intuitive. It uses...
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Hi Carlos, you know, I can recall websites that frustrate me or that I don't enjoy much easier than I can those that I do... it's sounds like you have identified areas for improvement within the New York app, which bodes well for your learning. :-)
