Designing for Experience

I have been enjoying the various comments and critiques on the democratic process on the transforming transformation discussion group we just went through here in the United States, and it is clear that we need to have a better way of doing things.  I frame the problem as confusing voting mechanisms, whether it be paper ballots that are hard to understand, or “touchy” touch screen, or electronic voting that mimics bad paper ballots things need to change.

Some have suggested that there be a national standard ballot and that local issues be ballotted separately, but of course many people feel like this is taking away power from states and local municipalities.  The argument is that “we can’t leave something up to local people who may screw it up” or worse yet “let someone like (the now infamous in some places) Susan Harris manipulate it.”  While I will say that I do know that there is some very limited manipulation that goes on in some places I don’t believe it is a wide spread problem.  I am a little repulsed by the notion that the huge lumbering giant that is the federal government could possibly do a better job, and that it must assume control from the people.  I find it somewhat undemocratic to think that, maybe my faith in humanity is misplaced.  I DO think that perhaps a hyrid approach is called for.

Let’s build on the fine work that has already been done on how to design ballots (it has been pointed out that there have already been some studies on this) and make it even better.  Let’s make this a standard that is at least somewhat flexible that must be followed on the local level.  Local municipalities still retain all control over the process, but what the ballot, whether paper or otherwise, looks like and how you interact with it is controlled by the design standards set forth.

I am at the Participatory Design Conference and have really enjoyed the first official parts of the conference and during the opening keynote Finn Kensing he showed a Venn Diagram of several fields and that PD overlapped several including HCI, IS, EPIC, CSCW.  It seems that many times HCI user centered design or user involvement is like PD lite.  I guess you would have to say that a full participation in design in an ideal sense is richer than user participation in HCI as it is practiced now.

Are there any thoughts on this?

Most people know what they like.  When they see a car, website, face, or bookcover they can usually make a judgment in a matter of seconds whether they like it.  I know what I like, and I can usually tell you the reasons why I like it e.g. I like the symmetry, juztaposition of textures, openness etc.  I don’t always know what everyone else will like though.  When I’m getting dressed for the day, it’s really more about what I like to wear, what I think looks good (with some caveats obviously if you’ve ever seen What Not to Wear, you know some people think certain things look good which are ridiculous), but when you are designing a website for a business that is not just about a single person, then the website will not be nearly so personalized.

This has come up working with a partner who was playing around with a CMS that had a number of really great looking template designs.  She chose one that I personally loved and so did she, in this case it was one of those things that reflected out personal sense of taste, but was not appropriate for a business.  Through informal feedback avenues it was obvious that we had made the wrong choice, and it was nice that before we had really started into developing the look and feel of the site any further we were able to make that major course correction early.

So what’s the take home? Critique early  & often. Involve potential clients and cusomters early in the process both informally and formally through simple conversations, getting feedback, focus groups etc, and usability testing.

Bloomington Startup » Blog Archive » Requesting chatter from local bloggers

OK so because of my work locations and twitter I keep pretty up to date on what is happening with Bloomington Startup Weekend (or BSW).  Interestingly I have not as of right now signed up.

Here’s why I haven’t yet: It’s a huge time commitment in some ways.  I get very little time with my family anyway, so I don’t want to miss out on that.  I won’t be there for Sunday, I don’t work on Sunday, it is a rare social function that I attend on Sundays (last Sunday being an exception for a little get together for Chinese New Year).  I don’t attend work or school functions on Sunday, it’s just how I feel about the Sabbath, and I always ask my colleagues to respect that, and I will always do my best to respect your beliefs as they intersect with our interactions.  I’m so busy with my capstone and grant work, let alone my coursework, that I don’t think I can fit another thing in.

Here’s why I WANT to sign up: It’s only ONE weekend, or in my case Friday evening and Saturday.  Start-ups are fun and exciting.  I love design and business, I’ve been involved with start-ups before, pitched to VCs and loved it.   I LOVE the idea of BSW, and if when it happens next year I’ll be there with bells on, well at least with great anticipation.  Designing something, something that will, at least to some extent, get built and right away is great.  I’m sure it will be a great experience.

In short I think that  anyone who has an interest, they may be a few spots still left. Sign up today!

Sorry everyone, I am allowing trackbacks etc, but I turned off comments until I get a fresh WP install controlled by me.  I am getting way too many comments to moderate, and they are (at least in the last 2 months) all SPAM. I hate it, but that is the way it is.

Twitter related post coming in the next 24 hours.