I agree with you that many usability practitioners push hard to make the interface transparent in the face of the content or process at hand. Funny enough, though, NNg's own Intranet Design Annual includes one category called something like the "Wow factor", which is some element of the interface that (in their words) is innovative and really improves the user experience through sophisticated behaviors not found anywhere else. I have the words a little off, but essentially intranets get bonus points for breaking the norm in a usable way. I don't really object to the category, but giving points for inconsistency (however good) doesn't exactly follow the mantra of "Good design is transparent" taught by their consultants.
Not making a judgment either way - I think they included the category because they can't ignore the benefit that innovation in the right direction provides. Just think it doesn't fit their model exactly... Bryan http://www.bryanminihan.com -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mark Schraad Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 11:37 AM To: Jared M. Spool Cc: ixda Subject: Re: [IxDA Discuss] The mighty UX guru has spoken - Discuss!! Jared, Are you suggesting that the domain of usability is growing? Nearly everything I have read and most of what I have heard about usability is in fact 'working to make the interface transparent' - which implies staying out of the way, or making the interface 'not bad'. It does not seam the norm for usability experts to be concerned about delight or pleasurability. Is this a domain shift - or is it how you are now approaching the topic? Mark ________________________________________________________________ *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
