“As we explore new human interface devices and incorporate new interactions into our designs, we have the opportunity to create deep connections between users and their technology.” – Jonathan Follett
Read Jonathan’s article “Toward a More Human Interface Device: Integrating the Virtual and Physical” for his thoughts on how input devices impact experience.
“We don’t want to figure out what all those buttons do or why they are set up the way they are. We just want to get on with our lives and do our jobs well. When we make use of technology, we want to focus on achieving our goals, not on deciphering the technology. The design should be in the background of our attention.” – The Human Factor by Kim Vicente
Read The Human Factor for Kim’s take on “Revolutionizing the Way People Live with Technology.”
“As web designers, we need to be very careful about the lure of complexity. We should not fall into the trap of thinking that if it’s hard to design, it must be good; that if it’s using the latest technology, it must be good; that if all our friends think it’s really cool, it must be good.” - Gerry McGovern
Read Gerry’s article “Achieving greater simplicity involves managing increasing complexity” for his thoughts on the importance of reducing complexity. Gerry McGovern provides website content management solutions.
“When software is hard to use, don’t make excuses for it. Improve it. When a user makes a mistake, don’t blame the user. Ask how the software misled them. Then fix it. The user’s time is more valuable than ours. Respect it. Good UI design is humble.” – Jono DiCarlo
Read Jono from Mozilla Labs’ article “These things I believe” for his thoughts on software development and user interface design.
“Design, in its broadest sense, is the enabler of the digital era – it’s a process that creates order out of chaos, that renders technology usable to business. Design means being good, not just looking good.” – Designing Business by Clement Mok
Purchase Designing Business by Clement Mok here.
“Too many companies believe that all they must do is provide a ‘neat’ technology or some ‘cool’ product or, sometimes, just good, solid engineering. Nope. All of those are desirable (and solid engineering is a must), but there is much more to a successful product than that: understanding how the product is to be used, design, engineering, positioning, marketing, branding—all matter. It requires designing the Total User Experience.”- Don Norman
Quote from the article “Sharing Ownership of UX” from UXmatters.
If you’d like to read more by Don Norman, pick up his books for many insightful thoughts on design.
Catriona Cornett