UX

The ‘Science’ of Good Design: A Dangerous Idea – Atlantic Mobile
http://m.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/05/the-science-of-good-design-a-da…

“It is as if anyone could follow the same steps and end up with a great design on the other end. This story satisfies the design customer’s desire for predictability and reliability. Unfortunately, it also trivializes the role of the designer. Paula Scher criticizes this mechanical view of design in her book Make it Bigger. “It diminishes the real value a corporation gets from a designer,” she writes. “It is the rare combination of the designer’s intelligence, intuition, inspiration, and aesthetic sense—dare I say talent?—that makes for successful design.”

http://www.contrast.ie/blog/faster-horses/

This is a great read. I think all designers walk that tightrope… You don’t want to be a “Design Dictator” but you also don’t want a “design by committee” approach or to blindly follow the data or simply do whatever the client wants (or rather what they clients says/thinks they want).

Reminded me of another quote that I like but that troubles me:

“Ignore what people say and focus on what they do. Then ignore what they do and focus on WHY they do it.”

Yes. But how can we know *why* without listening to what they say?…..