[Sigia-l] simulations and scenarios

[christina wodtke]

Currently I'm reading the excellent book (with a kinda lame title) Sources
of Power: How People Make Decisions
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0262611465 and it's really gotten me
thinking about how we design.

Sources of Power talks about mental simulation-- in which a person is faced
with a problem and quickly runs a set of potential solutions and their
effects through his or her head. When a solution that looks likely to work
is uncovered, the person then acts... Satificing, though, not satisfying.
Not looking for the best design necessarily. Just looking for the one that
works.

It seems to me that we as designers do the same thing when creating
interaction design and sometimes IA.  When under very tight deadlines, we
probably all do simulations. When we have more time, we can create formal
scenarios and perhaps more simulations beyond satisificing.

But does anyone ever not do simulations? Does anyone *not* sit back, close
your eyes for a second and picture the user wandering through a design?

I'm curious to see if others solve problems in the same way, and if you
perceive it to be helpful. I'm wondering if this is something that can be
taught as an aspect of the design process, or if it is somehow intrinsic to
a individual designer's nature.

c