The Design of Non-Everyday Things

Bob Moll, Wednesday, April 12, 2006 @ 6:29 pm

Often as User Experience Architects, we are asked to bring the design process into new domains and complicated products that may have not been previously exposed to such a process. How can we, as professionals, achieve success in new and challenging environments? The answer is nothing new: Stick to the fundamentals. Don Norman listed them in his timeless classic, The Design of Everyday Things. As "Things" become more complex and more niche oriented, the principles still apply. Let's review a few of them.

First, keep the structure of tasks simple. A task may have many steps, and involve complicated data, but the structure can still be simple. Second, make things visible. If the user can't see it (or hear it or touch it), they probably can't use it. Third, design good error recovery mechanisms. The user should not be allowed to box themselves into a black hole they can't get out of. Finally, create and leverage standards. Think about the amazing complexities in road travel that are possible with a few simple standards of lights and signs.

Applying the fundamentals is the key to success in complex projects. Getting good with these timeless principles will make the complex manageable, and even fun.

user experience design

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