[ID Discuss] Convention versus innovation

[Leigh Allen-Arredondo]

As a lead UI Designer, these are some questions I would ask to determine the idea's validity:

1) What is the need behind trying a new approach? Does it make functionality faster/easier/more visible to the user? Does the need outweigh the risk that it might not end up being as usable as the 'conventional' design?

2) Do you have any data that the more 'innovative' design is as usable or more usable than the conventional design?

3) Do you have any evidence that your users want something 'innovative'? 

4) What are the generally accepted 'UI standards' around the functionality you're designing? Are those standards changing, or becoming more ingrained? Are they different in different countries? Are they dependant on technology? All of those questions could help you determine whether or not straying from the 'microsoft' way might be either helpful or a hinderance.

5) Is there any published material dealing with the item you're designing? That is often a good place to get support for a new design if you don't have much data yourself.

Also I would add that if you're unsure of a design's usability, and you're comparing it to a 'conventional' design that has a known level of usability, you'd better test it before you go too far down that new path. Business folks are going to be wary of change because there IS a risk involved -- you have to show that the risk is justified or that it isn't as much of a risk as they think. Your best argument will be user data!




-----Original Message-----
From: discuss-interactiondesigners.com-bounces at lists.interactiondesigners.com [mailto:discuss-interactiondesigners.com-bounces at lists.interactiondesigners.com] On Behalf Of Sandeep Jain
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 1:34 PM
To: id-discuss
Subject: [ID Discuss] Convention versus innovation

Consistency is touted as an important principle of UI
design.  Arguments are made about focusing on user
needs, and avoiding stringent adherence to external
and internal consistencies.  But, nonetheless, taking
advantage of user habits is a good thing for ease of
learning and intuitiveness etc.

What is the criteria for choosing an innovative design
over a conventional one? In addition, how does one go
about convincing non-designer, decision makers
(product managers etc) to take a chance with an
innovative design?  How does one challenge the
statement: "But Microsoft doesn't do it that way?"

To complicate matters, let's say that the context is
UI design jobs where contact with users is limited and
it isn't easy to get evidence from the field.

Views on this discussion topic will be much
appreciated.

SAndeep
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