[IxDA Discuss] Common design mistakes?

[Nathan]

Apologies if these were already mentioned and I just missed them:

1) using a metaphor or simile that isn't appropriate or useful
2) using said metaphor or simile beyond it's usefulness (so that the  
understanding or functionality is limited by the metaphor)

3) building profiles/personas based only on demographic data instead  
of psychographic attributes (this leads to an unconscious cheat of  
simply developing for yourself, only in the guise of a "different"  
person)
4) building scenarios only for most obvious processes for optimally  
informed users (what about challenged users? what about help?)

5) not recognizing/appreciating when other team members (engineers,  
project managers, etc.) make valuable design suggestions
6) not realizing that all design is team-oriented and not "designer  
vision"-driven
7) not understanding or being prepared for their work to be critiqued  
(by team and/or client)
8) not challenging the purpose and un/stated goals and messages of a  
project when they make no sense for the user or offer no value to users
9) not understanding or appreciating scheduling (time to market) and  
financial (budget) implications of their work. Part of this is also  
not realizing that most products and services need to make financial  
sense for organizations to create them.

BTW, these aren't just problems with "young" designers. I see them  
all of the time with experienced designers, too.

________________________________________________________

Nathan Shedroff                  WEB   www.nathan.com
Experience Strategist

22 Cleveland Street                  NET    nathan at nathan.com
San Francisco, CA 94103