Rob,
Although you are right about designers working for their clients rather
than users, that conflict can often be resolved by making the case for
the marketing advantages of user-driven design. There are relatively
few instances where user and seller interests are in opposition. (The
choice of spending money to find out about user needs or testing
designs for usability may be one instance. Spending more on
manufacturing for durability is another.)
One problem which may be beyond the control of most manufacturers is
the retail environment. People buy products in environments so unlike
the use environment that they are unlikely to notice many usability
problems. Black electronic equipment with small black buttons are quite
appealing in a bright showroom but less so in the closed cabinets and
dark rooms where the equipment is often used. (Other problems may be
more resistant to retailing breakthroughs: Beds, chairs, and bicycle
seats that seem comfortable for a moment are often less so in the long
run.)
Gunnar
On Oct 2, 2004, at 9:46 AM, Rob Curedale wrote:
> Liz Sanders believes that design will move to be human centered but
> the
> reality is that the final design is driven more by the needs of the
> manufacturer than the user because they are paying the designer not the
> user.
[snip]
> driven by socialist ideals. The only hope may be to educate users but
> they continue to select products with poor user consideration even
> where
> they have a choice, sometimes because they are cheaper.
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