The Right Thought, Not Far Enough
I talked about design and comments in a post Friday. My theory, based on my experience and continuous conversations with readers, was that design has an impact on whether we leave a comment in response to what we read. I was on the right track, but my thinking was just short of where it should have taken me. I should have gone deeper. I also should have left more room for other folks to add their experiences. Details in such conversations are the the nuggets and the takeaways.
We Break Stuff Said It Better
This morning I read an article from We Break Stuff on design.
What We Break Stuff says is crucial and brilliant.
Iââ¬â¢m not talking about large type, gradient and rounded-corner design, but the understand user needs, develop meaningful experiences design. Iââ¬â¢m talking about the art of tailoring products to the necessities of the user, creating emotional connections and building compelling solutions.
Emotional Connection — I felt that thought, I recognized it when I read it. We Break Stuff had nailed it.
Let’s take a look at how they propose we give readers a complete and compelling experience.
How to Do Design Better
The premise of the We Break Stuff article is that most start ups suck on design and that a new approach to thinking about design will generate a better result. The suggestions they offer are simple, but profoundly powerful.
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1. Forget that design is about colors and shapes. Instead approach design as a way to meet customers’ to bring them to see your product at it’s highest level.
2. Before the design work even begins — think about what your customers see and feel, what they think about your product, what they need to enjoy it and get the most value from it.
3. Use that information to stop designing products and start design experiences.
To read the article and the comments, click the title bar below.
We Break Stuff goes where I was trying to get. I wanted to challenge us to make a space that perfectly matches what we’re saying. A remarkable experience happens when the words, the navigation, the look all come together as one message that says the same thing. It is a brand experience — a feeling filled with meaning — not a brand display — an indentiy of words to interpret. .
Elegant communication is in all things present and all things missing.
Do all of your choices say the same thing?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
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