Learning Interaction Design From Everyday Objects

What this episode covers

Like every other design discipline, an important component of self-education is learning to critically examine what others have produced. And when it comes to interaction design, there are plenty of good and bad examples to guide us. Inspiration for interaction design is all around us; all we have to do is stop and really look at the objects inside our homes, our cars, our workplaces or our pockets. Microwaves. Remote controls. Alarm clocks. Cell phones. Digital cameras. Game controllers. Music players. Washing machines. What icons, labels and colors do you find on these objects? How many buttons do you see? Too many? Too few? Is there enough uniformity? Variation? Most importantly, how easy is it for a new user to comprehend and actually use this interface? Every one of these details is a direct result of someone’s design decision, whether intentional or subconscious. The key is to learn how to divine these intentions (or lack thereof) so that when we design, we leave nothing to chance. In this session, you will: * Discover new methods and tools for learning interaction design lessons from everyday objects. * Explore the ever-changing culture and language of interface design. * Pinpoint areas and strategies for improving on the interface design strategies of today. About Bill DeRouchey As a writer, web producer, product manager, information architect and now senior interaction designer for Ziba Design in Portland, OR, Bill has been simplifying how people interact with technology — including handheld devices, websites and environmental spaces — for over fifteen years. Bill also writes about the evolution of technology on his blog, History of the Button, where he poses esoteric questions such as: What was the first button? Who invented the pause icon? And why does “pushbutton” translate to “easy”? From these explorations, Bill hopes to understand how people think about technology — the cognitive foundation of interaction design — and apply that perspective to the design of the ubiquitous, content-dense, touch-sensitive future.

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