The short answer to your question is "YES!!!". There is so much need for people doing hardware design to be thinking about what they do from the perspective of user behavior and context of use. Having worked for a technology leader for the last year, I really see how thinking about technology first and foremost (must create patent) really leads the design direction into weird spaces/places.
Now your next question is probably going to be "how?", right? Well, first off, in your current work if there is no interaction designer, BE the interaction designer. Read up on blogs and books (search this archive for lots on books discussions), and start applying what you learn. Don't worry about process so much as applying theory at first. Then I would highly recommend taking the Cooper Practicum. It is a great dive into IxD, research, and analysis and if you are bold then take their courses and communicating design and visual design. That would lead to a 1-2-3-4 punch. What's good about their courses is that they do everything: software, hardware, and webware and so they would be good for someone like you. Must other offerings tend to steer more towards software/webware (mostly webware). Enjoy! and Welcome ... DUH!!! Oh! come to Interaction08 in Savannah in February and sit down and talk to people who are DOING the work that you are reading about here. http://interaction08.ixda.org/ We have already over 300 attendees signed up and we are going to sellout within 1 or 2 weeks after New Years! -- dave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=23918 ________________________________________________________________ *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
