Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works. The scope of design is much more complex than many assume, with a multitude of factors that come into play when designing something. This article will explore the different aspects of design, including understanding the concept of usability and considering the users’ perspectives.
1. What is design
What?
Design is the process or art of giving form to one’s ideas; creating an aesthetically pleasing plan for something. Design can include other things that are not just related to appearance like shape, but also how a product performs.
Design is about the human experience. It’s how people interact with a product or service to achieve an outcome. It’s more than just what it looks like and feels like; design is how something works.
Designers must also take into account other relevant factors like cost, sustainability, manufacturability, and the preferences of their target customers.
Why design is important
Design is important because firstly, it provides the initial conceptualization of a product and gives it an identity.
Secondly, design provides a way to communicate with the people who are going to use the product in order to get their feedback on how they want it to work for them.
Thirdly, design helps solve problems by immersing oneself in the world of the user and think about what they would want or need in order for the product to be perfect for them.
Design influences people’s choice for everything from clothes to how someone brushes their teeth. Design is everywhere.
How design works
Design can be complicated, but it is not rocket science. It involves a process of thinking about a problem and breaking it down into smaller parts in order to understand what’s wrong with the current situation.
It focuses on understanding the needs of your customers or users and how they would like their problems solved using your product or service. This is known as user-centered design .
2. Design’s scope and complexity
Design has a large scope and complexity that many people fail to realize. There are many factors which need to be taken into consideration when designing something, including the concept of usability, considering the perspective of the user, and utilizing a variety of design tools.
Design is complex because it has many parts and needs to include something that can be used by other people, so the design should always take into account the user’s perspective.
3. The user’s perspective in design
The user’s perspective is a very important part of design. The designers need to be aware of what the user wants and needs when they are designing an object. For this reason, the user should have a significant say in the designing process. Read this article about the importance of always keeping your user in mind.
Designers should understand that in order to create a successful design, all aspects of it must be considered. This includes whether or not the design can be used or enjoyed by anyone that encounters it. This brings us to the usability.
What is usability
Usability refers to how easy and efficient it is for someone to learn your website or device. It includes understanding which features are most important and how someone will navigate through your site or device.
There are many aspects of usability that are important like:
- Efficiency – the goal is to accomplish something with as few steps required as possible.
- Content – it should be easy for a person to find what they are looking for and not get sidetracked by other things or distracted by unnecessary content.
- Information architecture & labeling – this means how information is organized on a website or device. It should be structured in a way where the content is easy to find and easy for users to navigate through.
- Color, graphics & images – this includes how you use color and graphics on your website or device. Images can add important information but it can also distract from the main task at hand.
- Element hierarchy – people should know right away what is most important on a website or device. It should be obvious which buttons to click or links to select and which things should be read first and last.
- Knowledge of your users – when designing something for someone you need to understand who your user will be in order to make the product as easy and efficient for them as possible.
- Knowledge of the technology – how users will interact with your product and how computers work in order for your user to have a good experience using your site or device.
One of the many reasons why design is so important in today’s society is because it affects every part of life and has influence on social values and norms.
Focusing on the user’s perspective involves a lot of trial and error, learning from each iteration until you come up with a solution that works. Sometimes it might require hiring other specialists — such as industrial designers (who focus on the aesthetics) or ergonomic experts (who focus on making products comfortable to use).
5. Examples of good design from the past and present day (e.g., Apple)
Even though Apple is a well-known tech company, they are far from the first to come up with innovative ideas. It was Steve Jobs who brought their revolutionary ideas to life and made them real products that people could use. In 1999, Steve Jobs introduced Apple’s first no-button mouse design:
“It came about after much experimentation in trying to figure out the fundamental question of what we wanted in a computer. We brought in the best people from around the world and went through all sorts of trials over a period of five years, until we finally figured out the right form for this mouse.”
The main thing that makes this mouse so good is its shape; it fits right into someone’s hand and is comfortable to use. The original mouse had three buttons but there were two more added later on, which was a very simple change that made it way better:
“We thought about how we could make this thing really simple, so we asked ourselves the question ‘What do you really need?'”
The next design Steve Jobs introduced was the iPod, released on October 23, 2001. It combined a lot of hardware and software to create something that was much more than just an mp3 player:
“We’ve also designed it [the ipod] so you can put thousands and thousands of songs in your pocket… [it’s] easier to use than any other music device has ever been, it’s the first to put your whole music library in your pocket.”
The iPod didn’t just play music; it played video too. It was designed so that anyone could navigate through their entire music collection to find something they wanted to hear or watch without any trouble at all:
“We’ve kept the same simple design principle that we used with the Apple IIc. It has one button, that’s it… You can’t do anything wrong.”
The simplicity of these designs is what makes them so good. The iPod and mouse are both very comfortable to use because of their ergonomic design: they’re designed to fit into a person’s hand and be easy for someone to use. Simplicity is one of the key factors in a good design; it’s also what makes it so easy for someone to use because there is no confusion whatsoever as to how something works and which buttons to click.
The Apple Watch was introduced on September 9, 2014:
“I’ve been wearing this watch since we began working on it and I love it and can’t live without it. Now, how do we translate this to millions of people?”
With a lot more advanced technology, the Apple Watch does so much for someone that they might not even realize at first. Much like the iPod, this watch has a simple design and is very comfortable to use: “The best way to think of it is, I have both an iPhone and this watch strapped to my body.” The Apple Watch was designed so users can integrate the device into their lifestyle, making things such as checking their text messages easier.
“We’re really making products that people are going to love, and we’re going to get it right in the first try.”
With all of these great innovations, there are still many more products that Apple is working on. It’s important to continue developing and creating new designs for devices such as iPhones and iPads: “We are always looking at different technologies, and rethinking how things work… We are really good at solving hard problems.”
6. Advice on how to become a designer (e.g., study art, get experience with different types of design)
If you’re interested in becoming a designer, there are a few things you should know. You need to understand the concept of usability and users’ perspective, which is why it’s important to be creative when designing something.
There are also different ways to design something, such as sketching your ideas or using a variety of design tools. “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”. Like to read more about what makes a good design? I suggest reading this article: The details are not the details. They make the design.
Conclusion
The Apple Watch is just one example of how great design can make a difference in someone’s life. It has been designed with simplicity and usability at the forefront, which makes it easy for anyone to use without any confusion as to what they’re doing or where their fingers should go on the screen when navigating through menus.
If you want your product to be successful, take some time designing it so that potential customers will be able to easily understand and navigate through its features.
If you need help creating an excellent webdesign, user interface (UI) or UX, contact Team Made today! They ‘ll work with you every step of the way from brainstorming ideas all the way until launch day arrives.
