[Sigia-l] Computer scientists and engineers thinking about user acceptance and social adoption?

[Ziya Oz]

Andrew Boyd:

> The UCD101 stuff is not about teaching them to be their own Designers
> - it is about teaching them that they are not, in the same way that
> you are not your own Doctor.

:-) Problem is, yes, I do know that I'm not my own doctor, but these people
think they can and, by God should, design. It's like giving them a loaded
gun. I've written enough here about the countless hours I've wasted
de-programming clients of de-contextualized nonsense from Nielsen over the
years for example, just because some of the same people had read a book or
an article by him to give them the illusion that they had the key.
 
> How do you convince them that Design is strategic otherwise?

This is an excellent question. Think of it this way: programmers,
scientists, developers, etc are *not* involved in other 'strategic' affairs
of a company, like finance, biz process, compliance, product positioning,
etc that also have a fundamental impact of the organization's success. We
hardly ever expect them to have 101s in those areas, yet when it comes to
design it's open mike night for everyone and his brother.

I'm not against anyone acquiring design sensibilities. If the company can
bear the total cost, fine. But to go from that to encourage assorted geeks
to think 101 gives them an excuse to practice is folly.

> By telling them that they are not one of the cool kids without it? :)

Well, you should tell them that anyway. :-)

I view this problem as one of cost-effectiveness: do you distribute UX
competence among the workforce or refactor it in the person of the Designer?
You know where I stand. :-)

----
Ziya

Design is the art of not inventing.