Gunnar,
What I am arguing is that with the relative balance of forces currently
in the existing market that Manufacturers considerations are relatively
more apparent in the design in the vast majority of manufactured
products than users. You would have to conclude this if you examined
existing office furniture systems for example. In that case it is not
the users who purchase the furniture but usually specifiers who tend to
select furniture that is easy to install, maintain and replace rather
than use. They make the purchasing decision not the user. Because the
user is several stages removed from the design decisions and the
purchasing decisions their needs are subordinate to the needs of the
manufacturer who selects the favored design directions when the product
is being designed.
I am not suggesting that this is an ideal situation. But it explains why
so much office furniture has poor user consideration. The user's needs
are not translated into higher sales as you are suggesting.
______________________________
R o b C u r e d a l e
Professor, Chair Product Design
College for Creative Studies Detroit
201 East Kirby
Detroit MI 48202-4034
Phone: 313 664 7625
Fax: 313 664 7620
email: [log in to unmask]
http://www.ccscad.edu
______________________________
______________________________
R o b C u r e d a l e
Professor, Chair Product Design
College for Creative Studies Detroit
201 East Kirby
Detroit MI 48202-4034
Phone: 313 664 7625
Fax: 313 664 7620
email: [log in to unmask]
http://www.ccscad.edu
______________________________
>>> Gunnar Swanson <[log in to unmask]> 10/02/04 1:14 PM >>>
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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