OneCenterPlaza gets my vote for worst splash screen ever... a logo, and two buttons which, if you rollover them, say "walk the path" and "know the path" Why would I bother?

And honestly I would recommend that you not bother either, since the rest of the website is just as cryptic. The only thing I could learn from "walking the path" is they are not launched yet, and they are hiring a UI person (good!). No sign of what they do, or even in what field. I can understand a stealthy launch, but why put up a site, then?

"Know the path" is no better: all you get is a form that allows you sign up to be notified why they are launch. Again, why bother... because I don't get enough email? Some inducement should be offered.

Is this the best way to intrigue users to sign up to find out when the site is launched, lure in prospective hires (such as myself) and venture capitol? I doubt it...

Well, I'm trying to find my recipe for pate brisee and all I can find is quiche. One more day of being a housewife, then I return to my more comfortable role of user centered design (IA, whatever)

I can't help but think about what makes a good recipe... my quiche recipe is of course a stellar example of the worst... no instructions, in two languages, fuzzy measurements: if it was a website, Jakob Neilson would mock it. Still, it is useful to me; I recognize the crust as pate brisee, and remember how to assemble it. If this was a recipe for only me, I would give it high usability marks. Since it is the public area of my website, I cannot. Always remember who the audience is is the first rule of usability.

A good recipe - I think - would have clear measurements in both metric and imperial, clear instructions, links to basic cooking techiques (such as kneading bread, sauteèing, etc) pictures of the dish and variations. I have always enjoyed Tavola (formerly Digital Chef) for just these reasons. They also have an excellent search. A quick search for Quiche Lorraine turns this up.

Nice!

Nope, I'm in France again, having just returned from Greece on my honeymoon and puttering around Burgundy for a bit before returning to the grand USA to pick a new job. Lots of intriguing oppurtunities out there right now!

I'll put up pictures as soon as possible of Greece and France, but for now picture me here.
(for more past visits, check this out http://www.nothing-new.com/travel)

In any case, I'm mostly online now, though irregularly and my ETA for returning is this thursday. Sigh.