Designers create and support a strong point of view

“Good designers happen to have talents or skills that allow them to make their point of view tangible, but that's not enough. Designers should be engaged due to their ability to create and support a strong point of view first, followed quickly by their ability to produce the goods.” - Brett Lovelady

“Good designers happen to have talents or skills that allow them to make their point of view tangible, but that’s not enough. Designers should be engaged due to their ability to create and support a strong point of view first, followed quickly by their ability to produce the goods.” – Brett Lovelady

Read Brett’s article “Design is a Point of View: Seven Truths in Designing” for his seven core perspectives that make design successful.

The behavior you’re seeing is the behavior you’ve designed for

"The behavior you're seeing is the behavior you've designed for (whether intentional or not)." - Joshua Porter

“The behavior you’re seeing is the behavior you’ve designed for (whether intentional or not).” – Joshua Porter

This quote is from Joshua’s presentation “Designing for Social Traction.”

Quote submitted by Robert Shedd.  Do you have a quote you want to see on inspireUX? Submit it, and it may be chosen!

Design is about choices and intentions, it is not accidental

“Design is about choices and intentions, it is not accidental. Design is about process. The end user will usually not notice ‘the design of it.’ It may seem like it just works, assuming they think about it at all, but this ease-of-use (or ease-of-understanding) is not by accident, it’s a result of your careful choices and decisions.” - Garr Reynolds

“Design is about choices and intentions, it is not accidental. Design is about process. The end user will usually not notice ‘the design of it.’ It may seem like it just works, assuming they think about it at all, but this ease-of-use (or ease-of-understanding) is not by accident, it’s a result of your careful choices and decisions.” – Garr Reynolds

As a continuation of Wednesday’s quote, this quote is also from Garr’s article “10 tips on how to think like a designer.”

Design is a “whole brain” process

“Good designers are skilled at noticing and observing. They are able to see both the big picture and the details of the world around them. Humans are natural pattern seekers; be mindful of this skill in yourself and in others. Design is a ‘whole brain’ process. You are creative, practical, rational, analytic, empathetic, and passionate. Foster these aptitudes.” - Garr Reynolds

“Good designers are skilled at noticing and observing. They are able to see both the big picture and the details of the world around them. Humans are natural pattern seekers; be mindful of this skill in yourself and in others. Design is a ‘whole brain’ process. You are creative, practical, rational, analytic, empathetic, and passionate. Foster these aptitudes.” – Garr Reynolds

Read more from Garr in his excellent Presentation Zen article “10 tips on how to think like a designer.”

UX designers need to possess both creativity and vision

“[UX designers] need creativity and vision to [create] a system that helps a business achieve its goals by making it easy and enjoyable for its users and customers to achieve theirs. You need the ability to both envision the big picture and craft the details. You need the creativity to innovate consciously and the drive to encourage innovation in others.” - Fred Beecher

“[UX designers] need creativity and vision to [create] a system that helps a business achieve its goals by making it easy and enjoyable for its users and customers to achieve theirs. You need the ability to both envision the big picture and craft the details. You need the creativity to innovate consciously and the drive to encourage innovation in others.” – Fred Beecher

Check out Fred’s article “Nine Essential Characteristics of Good UX Designers” for his thoughts on the characteristics you must possess to be a good UX designer.

Make it easy for customers to perform useful tasks

“While I acknowledge that there is a need for art, fun, and a general good time on the web, I believe that the main goal of most web projects should be to make it easy for customers to perform useful tasks.” - Designing Web Usability by Jakob Nielsen

“While I acknowledge that there is a need for art, fun, and a general good time on the web, I believe that the main goal of most web projects should be to make it easy for customers to perform useful tasks.” – Designing Web Usability by Jakob Nielsen

Read more from Jakob in his book Designing Web Usability.