Objectified presents a number of intriguing ways of looking at design as a whole and the thought that goes behind it, as told by a variety of designers themselves. It highlights a number of simple truths about the way the world around us is constructed and why it was constructed in that way. One designer points out that people generally do not consider the fact that everyday objects such as Post-It Notes were designed by someone. When one realizes this, it becomes fascinating to consider the thought behind objects that are not necessarily considered by many to be significant triumphs in design. Perhaps such objects that are not thought of in this way truly are the greatest triumphs, for their designs simply seem natural.
By examining the way people behave, designers can best judge the ways to reach them in terms of their design needs. I agree with what one designer had to say about the design process: essentially, tending to both extremes in people will cover the majority who fall somewhere between those two extremes. Grouping people into categories based on their need-level ensures that everyone’s needs have been considered and addressed. I also agree with treating design as ways to improve daily life. Design is a complex process of trial and error that is seemingly never finished because perfecting the process takes time, especially as the definition of what is “perfect” evolves.
The idea that if a component of a design is not necessary, it should not be there changed the way I view design. Although this perhaps seems obvious, I realized that my own designs could have been improved by incorporating only what was essential and had an assigned purpose. Understanding what was referred to in the documentary as “design hierarchy” aids in deliberate and thoughtful design, rather than design that cannot necessarily be explained because not every component is essential.
Many of the designers discussed the importance of an understanding of how and why people behave the ways that they do even more than they themselves do in crafting a successful design. This awareness of natural instincts and basic behaviors ultimately provides the foundation for design. As a designer, one wants to be able to predict how people will react and adjust to different factors based on how they have dealt with previous ones. Creating parallels between other interactions people have with their surroundings and everyday objects and the experience with a new design ultimately allows for a smoother result.
Ultimately, design is the thoughtful craft of creating something with a designated purpose. In the case of specifically interaction design, it is imperative to design with people in mind, and people must be conscious of the way that something has been designed and know that a poor design is to blame for problems in interacting with it, rather than the people themselves. Designers must find the best ways to reach and serve people; it is a crucial part of the design process. This definition has changed in that I now fully realize the designer’s accountability for how his or her design is perceived by others. Poor design does not help anyone, but everyone has the potential to be impacted by good design, which is why the better something has been designed, the less bumps along the way in life.