Focus on what you should be doing, not just what you can

“Technological advances have always been driven more by a mind-set of ‘I can’ than ‘I should’… Technologists love to cram maximum functionality into their products. That’s ‘I can’ thinking, which is driven by peer competition and market forces… But this approach ignores the far more important question of how the consumer will actually use the device… focus on what we should be doing, not just what we can.” – John Maeda

Read John’s “mini manifesto” in this article from Esquire.  Thanks to Experientia for sharing this story.

1. Think a lot less about technology for technology’s sake, and a lot more about design
2. Customer focus is the beginning, middle and end of a successful web strategy
3. If you want your product to sell, focus on memorable experiences
4. Design’s true purpose is to improve people’s lives
5. Products are the gateway to a plethora of experiences