Ken, Gunnar, David et al,
The on-going discussion on evidence-based design is thoroughly fascinating.
The various points of view are particularly stimulating, as often is the
case when a provocative topic such as this one pops up.
From my perspective, it is rarely a case of either/or. No one would be
foolish enough to believe that evidence-based design is a panacea for
designers, much like no one should believe that design cannot occur in
situations where hard evidence is not at issue. As an example, some
designers of the Modernist genre perceived the adage of 'form follows
function' as the ultimate answer to our design challenges. As appropriate as
this direction was in its time we now know more about human behavior,
engineering principles, and business models. Consequently, we should shy
away from evidence that can inform design.
Gunnar provides some valid points in his questions about font size and
value. In the end, however, the appropriateness of any design comes down to
context. The graphic designer mentioned by Ken who combined red and blue may
have been making some kind of statement in one context; however, I would
hope that the same approach would not be used in the design of visual
communication devices in the cockpit of a passenger, which is a much
different context and where evidence of legibility and readability would be
essential.
Jacques Giard, PhD
Director and Professor
Cross-College Programs
BA/MSD/PhD
College of Design
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287-2105
P 480.965.1373
F 480.965.9656
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