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WebWord Weblog Posting Posting Date: April 01, 2003 Keeping it simple -- "On this point, my message to vendors is simple and perhaps obvious: Listen to your customers. They will tell you what they need, and, although you should certainly set forth the product's the long-term vision with clear explanations of why new features might be useful to your customer, don't assume that the customer inherently cares about your favorite feature. It might not matter."
Reader Comments...
Perhaps there is something to be said for a "Simplicity Consultant" Posted by: daniel szuc on April 2, 2003 02:48 AM
I was just wondering today how to achieve the best balance between user input and design by the designer. Without a vision and a set of guiding principles on the part of the designer, something can become a hodgepodge very quickly if every user's favorite feature is added without question. But this is probably still preferable to an autocratic design. Posted by: Ralph on April 2, 2003 07:24 AM
Most designers design for themselves. Even if they use colors or graphics they believe the audience will like, the information architecture tends to be based on the designer's own experience and comfort level using web sites. Begin with a draft design from your designer. Then give users carving knives to cut the fat. Posted by: Butcher Bailey on April 2, 2003 09:32 AM
Designing for internal reasons is sooooo tempting. For instance, I recently made a bad UI decision because I wanted the program to capture certain information without having to search a database for it. It took my manager reminding me who I was designing the thing for in order to snap me out of it. Ouch. Talk about embarrassing. I should have known better. I liked this article. I think a lot of companies let themselves be swayed by the potential of a solution, forgetting that 9 times out of 10, the system has to work perfectly for full (or even half) potential to be reach, and since that never happens, disappointment is rampant. Posted by: Lydia on April 2, 2003 04:43 PM
37signals has been talking about the value of simplicity for years. It's about time it starts getting some more mainstream attention. Posted by: Joshua Kaufman on April 2, 2003 05:10 PM
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