Just watched a fascinating InfoQ video of a talk by Giles Colborne, of Bristol-based design consultancy cxpartners, on the question of “simplicity” in software design. He brings in all kinds of interesting examples and points out ways to improve the user’s perception of simplicity when using your products, as well as pointing to various warning signs of a system that lacks simplicity. And the terrifying vision of Microsoft Word with every toolbar enabled will haunt my nightmares for years to come…
InfoQ is also the place to visit for another intriguing presentation by anthropology professor and former Xerox PARC worker, Lucy Suchman, on Practice-based design: Some obejct lessons. Many software developers are familiar with the concept of “object-oriented design”, but Lucy Suchman challenges us techies by asking more fundamental questions about how users identify and relate to “objects” in their working environments, and how developers of systems and products can reflect these relationships in their approach to design. So put aside your UML diagrams and books of patterns and enjoy a fresh perspective on your favourite buzzwords…