[IxDA Discuss] product SUITE design

[Joseph Selbie]

I agree with Mark in the main, and with context, I know that I might give a
different answer -- but I would tend to consistency over context because I
believe consistency (for new users) is generally more user friendly than
having context specific navigation. I would reverse myself on this if it
were the case that the one product you want to deviate on were your most
popular or best selling, in which case it would deserve to be the
centerpiece of usability.

Tough to give you very good answer without context, but I hope this might
help.

Joseph Selbie
http://www.tristream.com

-----Original Message-----
From: discuss-bounces at lists.interactiondesigners.com
[mailto:discuss-bounces at lists.interactiondesigners.com] On Behalf Of Mark
Schraad
Sent: Friday, August 03, 2007 8:57 AM
To: Wilson, Russell
Cc: IXDA list
Subject: Re: [IxDA Discuss] product SUITE design

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
>

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