[IxDA Discuss] design by committee??

[Dan Saffer]

On Jul 18, 2006, at 7:38 AM, Wilson, Russell wrote:

> And yet it seems that no matter where I go, no matter what level
> I reach within a company, development (and other groups) want some
> authority over interface design...

Because everyone thinks they can do what we do. Ok-Cancel had a great  
comic on this a few weeks ago:

http://www.ok-cancel.com/comic/137.html

> Does anyone have any successful experiences to share regarding
> improving synergies between design/development?

Alan Cooper in one of his books suggests that interaction designers  
should have two reasons for every design decision they make. The  
reason, he says, is for just this purpose: when people want authority  
over your design, you have ammunition. Otherwise, your "opinion" is  
just that, and everyone, right or wrong, can have one.

This is daunting, but it might be a direction to pursue.

Dan