9 comments

  • Nicholas BurroughsNicholas Burroughs, over 3 years ago

    Why do designers constantly feel the need to remind each other to be a fucking human?

    Hey, don't forget to have empathy! Oh, thanks, I forgot to have empathy, like a human. Hey, don't forget that there's a world outside the screen you design for! No shit.

    Designers seem obsessed with sharing or receiving incredibly basic and shallow theoretical nonsense.

    It's good to be reminded of the real people—with stories and hopes and fears and physical constraints and busy schedules—who use the digital artifacts we produce.

    If designers actually need to be reminded of this, I'm more scared for the future than I once was.

    2 points
    • Oliver Swig, over 3 years ago

      It's the PC silicon valley thinking that try's not to offend anyone, appeal to everyone (as if anything we as designers create don't have target markets) and come off incredibly generic, virtue signaling and preachy.

      "It's important to be reminded of the beauty of the non-screen world—the natural parks and architecture and artworks—" Cringe. No shit.

      "If you really want to be inspired or motivated, don't spend all your time looking around other websites or apps, but instead step outside into the real world and go somewhere you've never been before." Please shoot me.

      "The world doesn't exist behind a screen, the world is everything outside it." Such insight. I'm in tears.

      1 point
      • Reece ButlerReece Butler, over 3 years ago

        It's the PC silicon valley thinking that try's not to offend anyone, appeal to everyone (as if anything we as designers create don't have target markets) and come off incredibly generic, virtue signaling and preachy.

        This is ridiculous. What does Political Correctness have to do with this at all? You're just trying to "virtue signal" yourself to show how much of a contrarian you think you are. Any valid objection you may have just gets lost in the nonsense catchwords you decided to dress them up in. Sure the articles tone is a bit preachy and generic, but it's point definitely isn't wrong.

        Your point on target markets is absolutely correct, designers work on projects that have target markets/messages/customers etc... But that doesn't mean that the people doing that work are actually focused on that. Its not uncommon to fall into the trap of forgetting that your managers, bosses and team members aren't the target user. Some people really do need reminding of this.

        1 point
      • Tanner ChristensenTanner Christensen, over 3 years ago

        Thanks for your comments.

        While not very constructive or really at all helpful, you did remind me of another article I wrote which may or may not be more insightful for you. I've pulled out what I think might be the most relevant part for you:

        "We rarely see the constraints, pushback, perspectives, and objectives others are working with. We can hardly know whether the work was even meant for someone like us, or if the audience is an entirely different group of people with different beliefs, ways of seeing things, or needs. Readily jumping to any conclusions without first considering these aspects means we’re shutting off and rejecting work that may otherwise actually be 'good' or even remarkable."

        https://tannerchristensen.com/blog/2019/5/20/making-informed-design-judgements

        0 points
    • Reece ButlerReece Butler, over 3 years ago

      From my experience, a lot designers do need reminding. Whether a slightly twee post on a blog is going to be the thing that does it is definitely questionable, but its point is not entirely off the mark.

      A lot of people I have worked with — and myself for that matter — have fallen into the trap. Instead of actually focussing on what we're making and who will be using it, I started to worry more about what my bosses and managers were asking whether it was good for users/customers/readers.

      It's great that you don't need this advice, and know a lot of people who also don't but there are definitely others who do,

      1 point
    • Joey Prijs, over 3 years ago

      Considering the writer worked at Facebook I'm not the least bit surprised by this "article"; he probably needed the revelation/reminder himself.

      Designers seem obsessed with sharing or receiving incredibly basic and shallow theoretical nonsense.

      This is so true it hurts...

      1 point
    • Tanner ChristensenTanner Christensen, over 3 years ago

      You do see the irony in your comment here, don't you?

      0 points
  • James O., over 3 years ago

    Great reminder: Online experiences should be built to nurture offline experiences.

    2 points