[Sigia-l] IA for non-web based projects

[Donna M. Fritzsche]

Great points,

The role of user-centered design is something that I have thought 
about a little in relationship to experiential art and how the 
creative processes vary in terms of knowing how the user experiences 
a "work of art". What differentiates  "art" from "product design", 
etc.  Does anyone know of any art studio programs that incorporate 
user-centered/audience-centered concepts into their teaching?

One of the best interactive pieces that I have experienced was in the 
T-station at Kendall Square in Boston, Mass (late 80s?).  The artist 
(I believe a relative of Matisse or some other famous French artist), 
had positioned a set of large musical pipes hanging between the set 
of tracks. Users could control the movement of the pipes from either 
side of the track by moving a lever.  When still, the pipes did not 
touch each other.  When someone on either set of the tracks moved 
their respective lever - they could make the pipes move so that they 
would hit each other making music.  When people on both sides of the 
tracks moved the levers - that made for more complex "musical" 
combinations and a fun interaction with your peers on the other side.

Besides creating an interesting, collaborative experience - I was 
also impressed that during the test phase the artist had posted a 
personal note soliciting feedback on the experience and how it could 
be improved.

Donna




At 7:57 AM -0700 5/13/04, Peter Merholz wrote:
>>- Do you produce projects in different media? (web, disc, video, film,
>>print)
>>- Which media do you produce in?
>>- What are the barriers to you from producing in different media?
>>(technical knowledge, linear vs. non-linear thinking, job class, etc.)
>>- Why would this be desirable to you?
>>- Why don't more people do this?
>>- Does big IA apply to all media?
>>- If so, why isn't this discussed more?
>
>I think these are interesting questions, and I've appreciated the answers.
>
>However, there's a key element of IA that has been missing from the 
>media discussion. Namely, "the user". From what I know of media 
>production, apart from testing with audiences after something has 
>been produced, there's little input from "users." I've never heard 
>of a user-centered media process, where themes, concepts, scripts, 
>storyboards, etc., are somehow "tested" on users.
>
>The thing to keep in mind about IA, and, well, any user experience 
>method, is that they are as rooted in product design methods as they 
>are in media methods. In fact, you could argue that our work is a 
>hybrid of the two.
>
>--peter
>
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