The (Bad) Design of Everyday Things (Part 4)

Shower screens not quite big enough to stop soaking the floor

I don’t really need to say anything more about that.

Similarities to Software Development

I cannot tell whether the problems are:

1. Irrelevant… no-one cares but me
2. The fault of cost-cutting
3. The fault of architects or interior designers who prefer minimal over usable

However, it needs to stop.
The problems are similar to those in software development. We have a paying customer, and we have users.

Customer: I want feature X. It must do this that and the other.
Developer: Ok, that will cost 25units of time.
Customer: Ooo, we need it done in 15, we have a deadline
Developer: We could, but it won’t be as nice to use
Customer: We’ll go with the 15 option

Now, a grumpy software developer is of no concern to the paying customers. But when the customer’s customers get grumpy because of bad design - that will cost sales.

If you are involved in interactive design in any way - be it shower heads or software, then ‘The Design of Everyday Things’ is a must read. Click the image to buy from Amazon.co.uk.