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I think the issue is that modern interfaces are self-centered. Or rather, the designers are self-centered: they believe that the world revolves around them, and

by jwr 5y ago

I think the issue is that modern interfaces are self-centered. Or rather, the designers are self-centered: they believe that the world revolves around them, and Their Magnificent Design is the One Thing that everyone will want to learn, appreciate and admire. In reality, their design is one more thing among the hundreds or thousands of things that a user manages, and should mostly serve to get other things done. It's more about hubris than minimalism.

crazygringo 5y ago
That's extremely ungenerous, and no more true about designers than coders. Perhaps some designers start out have this immature attitude, but professional designers I've worked with are user-centered, not self-centered. That's just a professional prerequisite, and what you learn in design school as well. And in any case, you could just as easily say about programmers starting out that they too often believe "Their Magnificent Program is the One Thing" and ignore what users actually need as well. In any case, when it does happen (to anyone), it's not hubris, just immaturity. If something seems like the best solution to you, it takes experience and perspective to realize it's not always the best solution to others. But people generally learn that fairly early on.
- bluGill 5y ago
  Yeah, the lack seems to be the lack of qualified designers in the first place. Or maybe designers who are not givens enough time to do the job.
  - yen223 5y ago
    A lot of times, the approach that the designer took is the right one, and the approach the engineer proposed is flawed when tested with real people.
    - bluGill 5y ago
      Either way, a time wasn't spent to iterate on the design until it was good. Designers are good, but they make mistakes too.
- jwr 5y ago
  > If something seems like the best solution to you, it takes experience and perspective to realize it's not always the best solution to others. I think this is exactly the point I was making.

by jwr 5y ago

crazygringo 5y ago

That's extremely ungenerous, and no more true about designers than coders. Perhaps some designers start out have this immature attitude, but professional designers I've worked with are user-centered, not self-centered. That's just a professional prerequisite, and what you learn in design school as well. And in any case, you could just as easily say about programmers starting out that they too often believe "Their Magnificent Program is the One Thing" and ignore what users actually need as well. In any case, when it does happen (to anyone), it's not hubris, just immaturity. If something seems like the best solution to you, it takes experience and perspective to realize it's not always the best solution to others. But people generally learn that fairly early on.

bluGill 5y ago
Yeah, the lack seems to be the lack of qualified designers in the first place. Or maybe designers who are not givens enough time to do the job.
- yen223 5y ago
  A lot of times, the approach that the designer took is the right one, and the approach the engineer proposed is flawed when tested with real people.
  - bluGill 5y ago
    Either way, a time wasn't spent to iterate on the design until it was good. Designers are good, but they make mistakes too.
jwr 5y ago
> If something seems like the best solution to you, it takes experience and perspective to realize it's not always the best solution to others. I think this is exactly the point I was making.