[Sigia-l] is bad design a choice?

Dave Heller dheller at gmail.com
Mon Oct 17 15:46:15 EDT 2005


On 10/17/05, Jared M. Spool <jspool at uie.com> wrote:
> Ohhh. I get it now.
>
> "Bad design" is design *you* don't like. 17 million folks can be happy with
> it (including Alex's room-storming mom), but if *you* don't like it, well,
> it's bad.
>
> Got that. Thanks for clearing it up for me. I always wondered. Now I know.

Well, Mr. Spool, isn't personal opinion what matters most in the end?

Actually, I'll put it another way. Bad Design = untrustworthy. I'll
just reference the work they are doign at Stanford's credibility
project and leave it at that.

I also think "bad search" as referenced above IS bad design. Design is
NOT = aesthetics. Visual Design is NOT = to aesthetics.

But even so, aesthetics creates a certain level of emotional response
that effects the overall sentiment over time of a product.

17 million people trust eBay (and I use that term loosely) b/c there
isn't another game even close to eBay in the arena. Monopolies allow
for a lot of bad design.

To compare ... if you look at the banking industry, I have heard many
a customer say they switched banks b/c of overall bad experience. When
you asked them what is wrong, sure! they'll mention a feature or two
here or there, but they also mention that the site doesn't make them
feel a specific way they want.

It is a combination and in a world where technology is getting cheaper
and cheaper to replicate (market share is not cheap, just eBay's
advantage), when there is a more level playing field, design (all
aspects, not just visual) can make a difference depending on the
market.


> At 09:58 AM 10/17/2005, Dave Heller wrote:
>
> >them there are fightin' words. ;)
> >
> >jared, if you are lookin' to pick a fight, I may have to oblige, but
> >only over a lot of root beer at 3a in the lobby of a nice hotel ....
> >
> >seriously, though. I don't think anyone here is saying that design
> >trumps content (or for that matter visa versa).
> >
> >I can talk of my experience of eBay.
> >1) I can't find what i want
> >2) 2 i hate how it is presented, so really I don't trust what I'm
> >getting. i really don't.
> >3) I feel that eBay does nothing to help its customers make themselves
> >seem anything more than "off the back of the truck" providers. I feel
> >they do them a dis-service.
> >
> >As for MySpace, I feel this is about engagement. Community building is
> >like home building. I stay here a lot and so I want to feel
> >comfortable.
> >
> >eBay doesn't have to change its design b/c it is a veritable monopoly.
> >I don't think that MySpace can do that.
> >
> >so yes, content or process is king, but design differentiates (and
> >btw, I'm not just talking about visual aesthetics either). I'm also
> >speaking about behavioral interaction design, where it is obvious that
> >there is thought to the context and use of a tool and how it is used
> >in that context. I think eBay fails miserably on this route of design
> >as well.
> >
> >-- dave
> >
> >
> >On 10/17/05, Jared M. Spool <jspool at uie.com> wrote:
> > > By what metric are you judging MySpace (and eBay, for that matter,) to be
> > > *bad design*? Because it is ugly? Because *you* have trouble finding your
> > > way around it?
> > >
> > > It always intrigues me that people in the design community are ready to
> > > praise a design where the aesthetics and "navigation" are well thought out,
> > > but no effort has be put into the content. Yet, when a site comes along
> > > with excellent content (for its user community) and poor aesthetics and
> > > "navigation", the condemnations rise quickly.
> > >
> > > Here's a thought: maybe MySpace sold for so much money purely because of
> > > its content (and the access to 17 million content providers)? Maybe that's
> > > also why eBay and CraigsList (another "bad design" site) are so valuable
> > > today? Maybe the users of such designs are happy with poor aesthetics and
> > > "navigation" when the content exceeds their expectations?
> > >
> > > Maybe, just maybe, content trumps "design"?
> > >
> > > Just sayin'
> > >
> > > :)
> > >
> > > Jared
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Jared M. Spool, Founding Principal, User Interface Engineering
> > > 4 Lookout Lane, Unit 4d, Middleton, MA 01949
> > > 978 777-9123   jspool at uie.com  http://www.uie.com
> > > Blog: http://www.uie.com/brainsparks
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------
> > > When replying, please *trim your post* as much as possible.
> > > *Plain text, please; NO Attachments
> > >
> > > Searchable Archive at http://www.info-arch.org/lists/sigia-l/
> > >
> > > IA 06 Summit.  Mark your calendar.  March 23-27, Vancouver, BC
> > >
> > >
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> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >--
> >David Heller
> >E: dheller (at) gmail (dot) com
> >W: www (dot) synapticburn (dot) com
>
>
>
>


--
David Heller
E: dheller (at) gmail (dot) com
W: www (dot) synapticburn (dot) com




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