Check out this blog for a great article on the value of simplicity in a setting other than that of usability...
http://worldeternal.blogspot.com/2011/01/use-2011-wisely.html?spref=fb
I am a usability expert, and 'simple' needs to be highly valued in the field of user interface design, and is beginning to be.
Perhaps, the complexity of 'simple' will start to get a better rap, and we can show the world before it's too late, that simple is often much harder to create or get back, than you think.
We should try not to destroy or change something until we truly understand if it will be a positive impact overall for real future use.
Completely agreed. It's sad that not many understand how complex "simple" can be. I find this ever challenging in my industry of online marketing. Many clients usually want the "most complex" website, when what they really need is one that is usable. I think that many almost get turned off by the keyword "simple" and equate it to cheap, when simple can actually be even more expensive due to it's complexity.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mktstmedia. We are lucky our COE UX leader is a huge proponent of simple, but the main concern I have is that stakeholders are so visually driven, and treat the design or marketing presence discipline as subjective. Often we have very good reasons for cutting out a field or visual treatment, consolidating and simplifying. I think it is easy for managers to get a vision in their head of what works for them, and for them to stick to it. What we need is more respect for, and more proliferation of dispassionate and clear user research. We are not trying to sell products or build sites for ourselves... it all comes back to we are not our users.
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