Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
I see. It's not calles interactive design, but general communication design, and therein interactive systems as a specialisation. You could also specialise in editorial, photo, advertising, or sound/video instead. There is a very distinct difference between these courses of study. In fact, in the US there are currently 2 active courses in IxD from a design perspective at all. There are other programs that talk about IxD, but not from a design perspective. IxD or Interface Design courses are very young in Europe, at least in Germany. But if it's called like that, then it is surely a Design school which also has a background in industrial and communication design. In France, this sort of education is being done at the Art schools. I think the nordic countries are ahead in special IxD programs, even if they are not always called like that. milan -- milan guenther * interaction design ||| | | || | || | || +33 6 67 11 13 83 * www.guenther.cx Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
J Ambrose Little: I do see some tendency to dismiss or at least minimalize and marginalize the scientific contributors in this space. Personally, I see value in both approaches to the problem of designing things to reach the Quality Without a Name. As a designer, I would prefer to synthesize the good in all these different approaches. I think a greater respect from all sides is called for%u2014*including the engineers* who are equally scoffed at by both the scientific and design folks. I can sense that there is some of this so thanks for making the point. Like yourself, I have to concur that all approaches bring value to the table. In my team, we have 3 IxDers and 1 graphic designer, and we all have different backgrounds (business analysis, programming, art, research testing) but the point is that working together, we have a skill-set that leaves few weaknesses. Even though we're a new team, we're already producing some great and practical ideas solutions to very real problems and (I would hope) are stronger than most single candidates because we bring so many viewpoints to the process. This helps in reviewing ideas to that when we finish with our work we can be more certain that it meets all our requirements: those of the user, those of the business, those of the developers, sleekness and smoothness etc. Sadly we can't talk about these things until they've been released - I wish we had a live lab where we could put up ideas for wider examination and feedback. Anyway apologies as this post has turned into another problems with IxD post as opposed to chatting about stuff we do. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=40619 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
In the US a very scientific approach was formed. It built off the work being done in Human Factors and called itself HCI its method collection as User-centered Design. In other parts of the world, especially in Europe, designers began applying THEIR methods and practices to understanding this in a fairly different way. There are some on this list, including myself, who attended a design school in Europe. I would like to know if this is really so different from the US in terms of teaching. I graduated in Communication Design, and there was a sub-field called Interactive Systems where I did most of my coursework. Now, after completing, there are also Interface Design, Interaction Design and Information Design courses emerging in Germany. They have UCD classes, we didn't. Yes, we didn't care much about formal HCI or Usability issues, in fact most of the knowledge about these things I acquired in self-study. Just as mastering some code and design apps, but that is expected from any student at my school, because classes are essentially about studio work. There are no Photoshop or HTML classes. Some theory courses centered around art, semiotics, systems and media theory. I think that it is from here (That Euro school of design thing) that many are unaware of, b/c they haven't looked for it, or otherwise experienced it, but THIS is what for me has made IxDA and IxD a But why then IxDA was created by Americans, in the US? I think it is the mix of HCI knowledge and Design methods that makes the difference. milan -- milan guenther * interaction design ||| | | || | || | || +33 6 67 11 13 83 * www.guenther.cx Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
Milan,I'm not talking about all courses, but specifically the courses in IxD. There is a very distinct difference between these courses of study. In fact, in the US there are currently 2 active courses in IxD from a design perspective at all. There are other programs that talk about IxD, but not from a design perspective. Your course of study sounds very similar to what in the use is Interactive Design. -- dave On Tue, Mar 31, 2009 at 5:04 PM, Milan Guenther mi...@guenther.cx wrote: In the US a very scientific approach was formed. It built off the work being done in Human Factors and called itself HCI its method collection as User-centered Design. In other parts of the world, especially in Europe, designers began applying THEIR methods and practices to understanding this in a fairly different way. There are some on this list, including myself, who attended a design school in Europe. I would like to know if this is really so different from the US in terms of teaching. I graduated in Communication Design, and there was a sub-field called Interactive Systems where I did most of my coursework. Now, after completing, there are also Interface Design, Interaction Design and Information Design courses emerging in Germany. They have UCD classes, we didn't. Yes, we didn't care much about formal HCI or Usability issues, in fact most of the knowledge about these things I acquired in self-study. Just as mastering some code and design apps, but that is expected from any student at my school, because classes are essentially about studio work. There are no Photoshop or HTML classes. Some theory courses centered around art, semiotics, systems and media theory. I think that it is from here (That Euro school of design thing) that many are unaware of, b/c they haven't looked for it, or otherwise experienced it, but THIS is what for me has made IxDA and IxD a But why then IxDA was created by Americans, in the US? I think it is the mix of HCI knowledge and Design methods that makes the difference. milan -- milan guenther * interaction design ||| | | || | || | || +33 6 67 11 13 83 * www.guenther.cx -- Dave Malouf http://davemalouf.com/ http://twitter.com/daveixd http://scad.edu/industrialdesign http://ixda.org/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
This is an honest question. What are some of the non-software things that you all see interaction designers doing? It might be a bit 'out there' for your tastes, but currently I am designing a ruleset for a physical (wholly analog) game that when played will result in an opera-like performance. Amongst other things, the game being played will serve as 'input' for a musical ensemble. Once I wrap up the project I will share some of my experiences. It's been very interesting so far, as most of my past work has been in the realm of the digital. I would also like to second David's point about the stuff happening in European IxD schools, such as CIID and Umea, as well as the Utrecht School of the Arts (where I teach myself). Do check that out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=40619 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
Currently, some customer research (I'm a psychologist by training so have a lot of experience measuring various things about people). Previously, I also * helped to design educational tools (though delivered with software, the aim was to get general practitioners participating fully on an e-learning course and interacting with each other), * helped design aircraft cockpits to reduce pilot error, some have done some stuff on commercial branding, * process design, * paper form design * some commercial innovation design. This is as well as communicating ideas about research methods to other people (there are lots of useful methods out there that are just not widely known about in the practitioner community). I guess pretty much all my research is non-software really though it is often applied through that medium eventually. It's quite fun when you get to build towards something 'real' though. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=40619 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
Thanks to folks for responding on this question. *Behavior is Our Medium* I watched the presentation by Robert Fabricant. It was interesting, very reminiscent of some themes in *interactions* lately. Social engineering has been around for a long time now. Using psychology as a tool to shape people's behavior, in general, has been around for a long time. But I don't think that interaction design's only goal is to give form to behavior. Often, it is more to facilitate behavior or to make behavior more enjoyable or to increase the effectiveness of behavior. In those cases, behavior is not essentially changed or shaped--it's the things that the people are using to accomplish their goals that are being designed. Even in the case of social engineering, it seems you are not actually designing behavior but rather designing *things* to impact behavior, so again, the media could be any number of things but not behavior itself. I would venture to say that the only behavior you can consider a true design medium is your own. The best you can do with others' behavior is try to influence it, not design it. (But I guess this is really a philosophical digression...) To the other things interaction designers can do: *Organization* People have been thinking about organizing groups of people for maximum effectiveness since time immemorial. *Communication* As Robert showed, people have been communicating using whatever tools they have forever. *Commerce* Products and services have been designed and created for a very, very long time as well. I guess the second half of my question is at play here. There are and have been others not in the proper role of interaction design who have done all these things. They likely even specialize in these areas. What is it about the interaction design role (or even just the activities) that brings something new and valuable? I think what I'm hearing (not just here) is not so much that interaction design is the core but just Design (with the big D, i.e., a specifically-principled approach at designing). I'm hearing that the opinion is that Design can do things better in all these areas, including but not limited to software. That's fine. It's an opinion. It may even be true. But Design, while encompassing (potentially) dealing with interactions, is not limited to that. And I think the point's been made by others many times, Design has been around much longer than interaction design, so what specifically is new, different, and special about *interaction* design? Why couldn't I just hire, say, an industrial designer to do the same job? Why not just attend an industrial design school? What's the special sauce in interaction design as distinct from Design that has been and is being taught and practiced under other auspices? I keep returning to software as being the new thing--this digital, extensible, malleable medium that allows me to take this hunk of hardware that someone else designed (maybe I worked with them on that, maybe not) and add that extra special stuff, using my Design principles, my research/experience with the domain/people, and unique skills understanding the medium of the digital world (software) to make something beautiful come together. Can I (the hypothetical IxD) do other kinds of design? Surely. I can help with organization, communication, and overall product and service design. But my specialty--why I have this specific interaction designer self identity/role/title is due to my special skills with this new interactive medium--software. Put another way, if it isn't software (digital stuff) that precipitated this particular role of interaction designer, then what is it? Why is this role just recently (historically speaking) blossoming? If it does come from software but there has been the gradual recognition that Design needs to influence more than just the software for a holistic experience to emerge, why should interaction design be the role that does this? Why not the other design specialties? And isn't there some truth that at some point, if you climb up this ladder influence/focus, you lose (practically speaking) the specialty that gave you the interaction designer role in the first place? I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but what we do, our roles, and our names for them should reflect what we're actually doing--if we're doing service design maybe we should call it that and not interaction design. If we're doing product design maybe we should call it that and not interaction design. If we're doing a little bit of everything that ultimately impacts the experience of the people using (users) and/or buying (customers), then maybe the name should reflect that (e.g., user experience designer or customer experience designer or even just experience designer,' if you prefer, all of which seem more apropos at that level than interaction designer). It seems people agree here that names and words are important, no? And if you do keep
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
How synchronous, I was just about to comment on how I am attempting to convert my bathroom hallway in to a recording area. I noticed when I shut both entryway doors it is pitch black in there. So, I decided to get some lights, some sound sensor lights ( totally off subject, any recommendations would be great this has been added to my list of ungooglables). Anyways, so far I have a metronome that blinks and when I went to the cyclers store to pick up some blinking safety lights that have different modes; but, they were closed. So, I went to the borders next door and bought a book and some moleskine (graph [I wish I could customize the grid size and have the paper be black rather than white, I have contacted them about this] ). I bought Pragmatic Thinking and Learning 'Refactor Your Wetware'. the selling point was this list of biases that triggered IxD in my wetware:Meet your cognitive biases Anchoring Fundamental Attribution Error Self-serving bias Need for closure Confirmation bias Exposure effect Hawthorne effect False memory Symbolic reduction fallacy Nominal fallacy But, that is all besides the point. The book I bought is only one of a few I thumbed threw. I picked up one that was called the 'Art of Deception' and it was all about Social Engineering. It must have been misplaced because it was in a strange section. I think the role is blossoming out of necessity. I also think that it is still lacking in consistency and it is hit or miss approach, meaning...I am working on 4 projects at the moment that desperately need an interaction designer; but, the deadlines and my personal experience tell me it is a gamble of if it would be more of an asset or a handicap. I fill the void satisfactory (says me); but, it would be nice to not get a tangled mess and ludicrous deadline passed along every once in awhile. Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
I hate the word designer, because when people use it, they think web designer i.e. colors, icons, shapes, and not necessarily interactions or social engineering. I think interior designer, website designer, graphic designer, which quite honestly, I think we sit above that. I like Experience Architect is it is about the experience: whether it be a voice system, or a keypad, or a subway car, what's your experience then? Like Ambrose pointed out, many of us do work outside of software that still achieves the goal (writing CRM scripts, coaching users, etc.). It's overarching enough to satisfy multiple constituencies. I think there is a sub divide of titles every once in a while that is a means to an ends for something other than helping the user. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=40619 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
Here's my most honest, undefensive take. IxD is emergent through the new application of artificial intelligences found by applying silicon chips to devices. Objects started to have a level of complexity that required new thinking, methods, and practices. They even required a new way of thinking about aesthetics. In the US a very scientific approach was formed. It built off the work being done in Human Factors and called itself HCI its method collection as User-centered Design. In other parts of the world, especially in Europe, designers began applying THEIR methods and practices to understanding this in a fairly different way. Both had similar goals of making the solution better.for people. They both understood utilitarian needs, but one had a much richer understanding of emotional needs (the Euro side). As the technology permeated more ubiquitously through mainstream cultures the need for BOTH sides of this equation not only began to grow but also began to permeate unexpected forms. Some of these didn't have form at all, per se. What emerged though were separate collections of the same tool sets. Pieces that had wide or narrow overlap. That overlap though was not universally understood, nor did it need to be to have relevance. The reality is though that groups communities never define themselves by their similarities to others, but by their differences. There is a saying in anthropology (or at least in UC Berkeley Anthropology) that there are more differences among the individuals of any defined group than there are between any two unique groups. But the other reality is that people don't care if their identifications are indeed arbitrary and meaningless; they are still constructs that have created psychological value embedded into social systems. That is all to say, no one ever defines themselves based on their similarities. it is always about juxtaposing contrasts and finding those people who believe in the same contrasts. But to the point of the thread. even if everything is technological (as in related to software). Like a keypad design and back-panel design and button layouts, etc. How and what you need to do to make different form factors or pieces of different platforms work, to say they are all software is pretty disingenuous to the point. And to the greater point, while most of the people here may all be doing the same mouse, keyboard, monitor, software type design, there are still significant #'s of us who are not. AND there are even other parts of the puzzle beyond sheer medium that matter. Maybe we are THOSE interactive software designers that think about aesthetics of motion, or even conceive that there is such a thing to discuss. (BTW a topic you would never see on other UX lists from what I can tell, but one started in an ID blog--Core77-- and transferred here.) I think that it is from here (That Euro school of design thing) that many are unaware of, b/c they haven't looked for it, or otherwise experienced it, but THIS is what for me has made IxDA and IxD a richer platform for thinking about people-centeredness across a host of mediums that converge around added intelligence within systems design. (too much distraction by an amazing tweet convo. I apologize) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=40619 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
Patrick, just to give you a sense that it depends Here at SCAD the industrial designers look at the architects as being way too into form (beauty for its own sake). here deigners are seen as solutioneers who put why? before what? in their work. -- dave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=40619 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
Here's a different way of looking at it depends... From LA Craigslist Ad: We are looking for a talented web designer...We offer a flexible schedule, $14 per hour... ... I never, ever see that $14 per hour number next to the word Architect. Or, show this to your ID's, and ask them if $14 per hour is what their skills are worth. The title is important to convey a) what we do, and b) market ourselves that what we do has some kind of worth. The investment analysts that, uh, ruined the world economy were able to market themselves as worth the money they were being paid. Seth Godin has a great take on this: http://tinyurl.com/cbp48a I don't know about you, but some of this title discussion and how we are perceived outside of our little corner of the world I think is very important. I migrated from the creative design field (I used to be in print) because a) I enjoy this line of work, b) I would hope to think I'm good at it, c) I enjoy bossing around web designers (KIDDING!), and d) the pay doesn't suck. It sure beats being a laid off journalist or print designer. We can all talk about how at the end of the day we're solving the world's problems, but in reality, we aren't. We aren't a doctor, or growing food. For most of us, we build things that have an impact on the bottom line of a company, and that's all (or since when did a web widget save someone's life?). We do it because we like it and it pays well as a perceived valuable service to our clients and companies. Having this discussion is important to protecting and encouraging this thought process. Within the community, it's okay to differentiate. However, outside of the community, we should be SOMETHING so we don't confuse the people that hire us. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=40619 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
Patrick: For most of us, we build things that have an impact on the bottom line of a company, and that's all (or since when did a web widget save someone's life?). At least I have that boast ;-) (helping towards the design of safer commercial aircraft cockpits and enabling doctors to learn about skin cancers, etc) Right now, I am bottom line only and that's all, but it's still a great job to have, a wonderful career to be building, and the work is still fascinating. I guess a lot of the 'other' stuff we work on will depend upon our background. As I said earlier, I'm a psychologist with training in human factors and HCI so I got to work on some large juicy projects with a demonstrable impact on people's lives (perhaps I should say a 'lack of impact' given the subject matter of aircraft cockpits?). However when all's said and done, I think most companies would rather hire someone with a creative background as that is closer to IxDs perceived nature. Even things like usability testing seem a million miles away from being a trained researcher when they are just the same things. I cannot say for certain, but I get the impression that some companies/recruiters are quite confused when a psychologist applies for any kind of UX job, especially when they advertise for candidates with computer science degrees... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=40619 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
As a project-of-love, I'm going to try to construct a shadow-puppet theater that's user-driven based on fabric screens with lights projeccted upon them, and carved/cut shaped images that people can use to create storylines. I'm still figuring out the materials and flow of this project, but I hope to present it to the hippies at Transformus Festival in June. Scott -- I have mad skills at doing spazzy things. - Janiene West Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
A project-of-love! ha, that rules. Make one argyle and douse it in patroli oil, hippies love that sh*t! I went to an art show out in the OC last night to support this chiq I work with, custom jewelry organic meets industrial design. The band had projections cast on them from different perspectives. As for the job boards that post blah blah blah designer I always remove the blah blah blah and just put designer in the subject line when I apply. Soul designer, that's what I am! I've printed everything, ended doing high end flexography I think making more as a pre press DESIGNER freelance 10 years ago and then I made the change to multimedia! It was discouraging when I just took a UX class and the instructor said her self proclaimed community of UX people would laugh if they read multimedia or GUI rather than interactive UI on a resume. Laugh...who laughs at someone, that made me certain I was dealing with some top notch people. This is an interaction design forum and it does seem to get bombarded by user experience lingo more often then when I originally started looking into it. I think the people that are good interaction designers know what they are doing and they never comment on such trite time consuming silliness. The light show reminds me of the dracula musical in that movie leaving sara marshall. It still sounds fun... On Sun, Mar 29, 2009 at 8:07 PM, Scott McDaniel sc...@scottopic.com wrote: As a project-of-love, I'm going to try to construct a shadow-puppet theater that's user-driven based on fabric screens with lights projeccted upon them, and carved/cut shaped images that people can use to create storylines. I'm still figuring out the materials and flow of this project, but I hope to present it to the hippies at Transformus Festival in June. Scott -- I have mad skills at doing spazzy things. - Janiene West Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
patchouli http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=patchouli oops Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
Patrick, re: the $14/hr. is it the title that is the value, or the tasks assigned under it. If you did the same tasks under web architect, would it gain you more? is there some magic here, I'm missing? highest rate of pay I ever had was with the title designer. Lowest rate of pay was with the title architect (both pretty good considering my years of experience at the time). I don't see validity in your argument and it is all about the circles you keep. In my previous employ UX meant more money than industrial (both ended with designer) b/c the market determined it. interaction a bit more. If this is really about job titles, i could care less about this discussion. I'm not interested in titles, I'm purely interested in the disciplines themselves. Each one is an arrow in my quiver and I pack my quiver differently or with different counts of arrow types depending on the context. I call the quiver different things depending on whom I'm talking to. I always call the disciplines the same thing. Keeps me sane and grounded. --dave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=40619 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
I'm currently designing a new department for my company. yes, (also in the 3rd time redesign my apartment) that's one of the most favoraite part for interaction designer. Design it, live in it, and find many design needs to be improved, this is a excelent experience. Cheers, -- Jarod -- http://designforuse.blogspot.com/ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
In the area of service design in healthcare, quite a bit is being done by interaction designers including: - creation of new spaces in which to physically interact e.g. pediatric suite of the future - study and design of conversations e.g. facilitating patient-provider relationships particularly around difficult topics like direct-to-consumer predictive genomic testing - design and research of decision aids to help patients and providers understand risk, probability and make choices together for treatment/medications ...and the list goes on... On Fri, Mar 27, 2009 at 2:19 PM, josh Seiden joshsei...@gmail.com wrote: J. Ambrose Little wrote: This is an honest question. What are some of the non-software things that you all see interaction designers doing? I'm currently designing a new department for my company. I've also worked on projects to envision end-to-end business scenarios X years in the future. These scenarios describe the interaction of people, businesses, services, and yes, software. Of those, how many are not currently being done by others with already-defined and different titles (e.g., industrial designers)? For the former, I suppose that this work is more typically done by professionals in the HR field, and likely there is a large body of work on organizational design of which I must confess ignorance. We (my team of designers and I) are using techniques that we know and that seemed appropriate: service design and interaction design techniques. For the latter project, I imagine that many design communities have techniques to approach projects like this. I think of the work as interaction design (in no small part because that's my background). The techniques that we're using (personas and scenarios) are ones that are not exclusive to IxD, but they are are certainly the meat and potatoes of our field. For a very thorough example of interaction design beyond software, I would refer you back to Robert Fabricant's keynote at IxD '09. Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
At our design program we are exploring non-software based interactions with service design, interior design, social -and offline- networking (see Prototyping Social Interaction. Esko Kurvinen, Ilpo Koskinen, Katja Battarbee, Design Issues Summer 2008, Vol. 24, No. 3: 46–57 for reference), non-software based game design and others. We're also studying performative communication issues, think of an airline counter, how does the person providing the service should interact with customers? How does the flight crew provides brand-exclusive services, and interact with people? We think all those little interactions are designable, and measurable (we are having a bit of trouble trying to find ways to measure this, but working on it though) I also remember this one project, thought to make people interact with Bogotá (Colombia's capital), remotely through taste. Students mapped Bogota's downtown through taste, developed a food-based experience, and remapped it to NYC, so you could actually feel how our city is like, when you go out and eat Colombian things in NYC. This might be a little bit far fetched when you think of it as an /interactive /project, but it's certainly pushing the boundaries of it, since it's not just people with/or machines interacting, but actual cities, through human senses. : ) LPA. In the area of service design in healthcare, quite a bit is being done by interaction designers including: - creation of new spaces in which to physically interact e.g. pediatric suite of the future Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Some of the non-software things that interaction designers do
keypad layout General button controls port configurations or back panels Eco-system integration Power management communications Voice communication systems Scripts for service agents Near-field systems Barcode applications It isn't whether or not it is non-software, but whether or not the software is visible, or otherwise made manifest (audio) to the user. Let's not even get into ambient systems where presence awareness is in play. To me asking whether software is involved is missing the target. There isn't an old medium of fine art or design that is not effected by silicon or similar intelligence holding systems. What is important is that designing for each brings with it unique issues. We understand that there is a level of distinction between web, desktop and mobile. These distinctions get even deeper when you leave the realm of platforms (unchanging form factors like the above) and begin to enter form factor creation. My work at Motorola paired IDs and IxDs for this very reason. My expertise in dialog creation was instrumental in many form factor decisions just like it would be between an IxD and a visual designer of a web site. My students last quarter in my interaction design studio designed watches, surface tables, digital drafting tables, and wearable computers, who's designs were conceived through the use of interaction design methods and processes. I suggest anyone even more curious with this should look deeper into 2 portfolios. The IxD schools of europe AND the work of Antenna Design. Their design of entire subway cars is a great example of this. A team of students here at SCAD are designing heavy equipment using IxD methods and processes. Again, it isn't about the title, but about the discipline. So yes, some may be industrial designers, but if they are designing behavior and for behavior, they will be incorporating IxD as a discipline into their work. -- dave -- dave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=40619 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
