The usability of a good Design
Second week after my Master programme and things did not go as planned. To start with, I've decided that on the week 2 I would cycle to Smurfit, but unfortunately did not check the bike conditions one night before and it resulted on myself being unable to cycle and 40 minutes late to attend class. Sounds great, doesn't it?!
Anyway, I missed the first thought and discussion for the lecture. So will focus on what came next. We brought for discussion two readings: Moggridge, B. (1999) Expressing Experiences in Design and Greenberg, S. & Buxton, B. (2008) Usability Evaluation Considered Harmful (Some of the Time).
The first reading "Experiences in Design" was very enjoyable. Most people were likely to associate Design to creative or innovative products for example, but in terms of what you see and touch. Design does include that, but it goes far than what you see, it includes what you feel and how you feel. Therefore complex designs are about creating experiences and a good design will potentially add value proposition to the product/service. Moggridge (1999) discuss the example of the chocolate. It is all about the experience you have while eating the product that will remain memorable to the customer and achieve the design purpose for that. The author also argues the possibility of designing for the 5 senses that humans have: Sight, Smell, taste, touch and hearing.
However, the whole point of the Author is the use of technology in creating design. On one part, he claims that the internet as a revolutionary tool enable products and services offered through the Web to be connected. For example, when buying online, we might not notice, but there is a variety of services connected in others to provide the best design experience on making the process of buying easier and faster. One the other he mention digital technologies enabling improvements. For example, the mobile phone devices that changed gradually their design and services through digital technologies. Another example are smart shoes, that adapt according to how you walk or run to provide a smoother usage. Additionally, few models enables customers to measure their speed and miles run because of the technology implemented.
The other reading "Usability Evaluation Considered Harmful", discuss the usability evaluation as a important tool to be applied for the right purpose. Greenberg and Buxton (2008) defends the importance of usability evaluation in receiving feedback on product performance, and customer acceptance towards specific product. However, in certain cases it is not possible to measure the usability of a product or service. For instance, there was a group presenting a research propose about pilotless plane. In order to evaluate the proportion of customers willing to pay for a ticket on the pilotless plane, customers that flight regularly were asked whether would they flight or not. According to my classmates group presentation, more than 50% answered that they would not have flown even if the ticked had costed half price cheaper than pilot planes.
Thereafter we think, how accurate was that usability evaluation on pilotless plane? Was this method enough to dismiss the service implementation? Was this the most efficient method to be used? In this case, other methods would have validated better the service. As the authors point methods such as "a vision" on how it could be, "expected scenarios of use" and others. The main point about usability evaluation is be use only when its application is appropriate, otherwise, meaningless information is provides and the entire project may be mislead.
In the end of the class, we took time to watch couple of usability time lapse produced by students. If you haven't watched my video, there is the link from the last post:
Have a great weekend!