[IxDA Discuss] product SUITE design

[Mark Schraad]

Great questions.

I do not have 'the' answer, but I know that generally I tend to defer to context over consistency. 

This is not a decision that is exclusive to UI (IMO). The business and brand/marketing should weigh into this decision as well.

Depending upon how engaged your users are and how much elasticity there is in the user's need or product loyalty - you may be able to afford some minor or purposeful inconsistencies. While heavy users get the most benefit from consistency, they will also likely be the best at adopting to minor shifts, depending upon how likely they are to switch o the next competitive product.

Mark


On Friday, August 03, 2007, at 11:48AM, "Wilson, Russell" <Russell.Wilson at netqos.com> wrote:
>I'm struggling a little with the design of a product suite.
>
> 
>
>The products perform very different functions, but they do
>
>makeup a suite of tools that can be used in conjunction.
>
> 
>
>The struggle is: 
>
> 
>
>1)      What design elements (banners, navigation, interaction patterns,
>etc.) should be the same?  
>
>2)      What can be different?  Can I have different navigation
>mechanisms for two tools in a suite?
>
>3)      What is key (from a design perspective) to presenting a
>connected suite of tools?
>
> 
>
>I tried at one point to fit all the products into one navigation style,
>but for at least one
>
>of the products, I was sacrificing usability for the sake of
>consistency.  So, I can create "optimal"
>
>designs for each product, but how do I make them come together?  
>
> 
>
>My current gameplan involves making several mechanisms within the
>products consistent (the
>
>way a user expands a window, visual elements and icons, etc.), but the
>overall navigation is
>
>different.  To me, this "threads" the products together.  But I'm
>concerned that navigation is
>
>so different...
>
> 
>
>The best design for a particular function VERSUS consistent coordinated
>design???
>
> 
>
>Thanks,
>
>Russ
>
>blog:  http://www.dexodesign.com
>