The History of the Button blog has a really interesting post on a seemingly smart, but ultimately confusing elevator design. Is it possible for designs to be too clever for their own good?
Dealing with the user’s ingrained expectations is often a dilemma when trying to innovate: do you create something that is novel and potentially confusing, or do you conform to the user’s expectations? Often, an idea will be a clear improvement on paper, but the user’s habits will in practice prove an overwhelming barrier. This is particularly true when the interaction is almost subconscious, as in the elevator example linked to above.
When a novel design provides significant new value, users may be willing to invest some time and mental effort to learn new behaviors. Many people are willing to learn how to use a navigation system, as it makes life so much easier. Nevertheless, designers should work to minimize these switching costs by providing adequate explanations (preferably in context, not tucked away in an obscure manual), adhering to usability conventions as much as possible, and using methods such as progressive disclosure.
Of course, the most revolutionary designs are those that innovate in a way that is so intuitive that they behave exactly as the user expects them to — even though the interaction is completely novel. Automatic transmissions are a good example of this — they are clearly simpler to use than their alternative. Not to use a tired example, the iPod’s scroll-wheel also springs to mind. It remains to be seen if the iPhone lives up to expectations, though usability expert Bruce Tognazzini has high hopes.
I’ve touched on this subject before: elevator algorithms
In 2005, Raphael Julliard had 1000 red monochromes manufactured in China and sold them for 100 euros at a Paris art fair. The pieces, each stamped “Made in China”, are a fun way to comment on the democratization (or commoditization) of art. A friend of mine bought one of these, they’ve apparently appreciated quite a bit since then.
Miele Liquid Wash, a washing machine that automatically dispenses detergent. Simple innovation that makes daily chores easier.
LiquidWash also offers ecological benefits by conserving every extra drop of detergent, gauging the perfect amount per individual load.
The Fletcher Capstan expandable table is a very ingenious design. It’s really a shame that it’s so ugly.
UPS is leveraging some clever technology to shave seconds from each delivery, and saving hundreds of millions of dollars in the process. I love the fact that they consciously avoid left-hand turns:
Not only does Alles’ handheld computer contain his route sequence – with as few time- and fuel-wasting left-hand turns as possible – …
The SawStop is a table saw with an amazing safety innovation: the blade automatically halts and retracts if it comes into contact with flesh, all within milliseconds. This video demonstrates the feature.
It’s amazing what you can do with ordinary forks. Remember: there is no spoon.
Update: Added the link! Thanks to Matthew Bartik, the artist, for pointing out this omission.
Some examples of clever packaging over at Pulse Laser.
Sketch furniture may not have any practical applications (yet), but the idea of drawing furniture in thin air and printing the physical objects is just amazingly cool.
Markus Hofer has some really fun pieces. Along with the above pictured Room Corner, Light Cone and Juice are personal favorites. The site’s in German, but the pictures speak for themselves.
