[IxDA Discuss] What sets the 'best' interaction designers apart?

[Cian]

Basic position I'm arguing from:
a) Designers learn through playing/exploring a medium.
b) Our medium is primarily interaction, hence designers need to learn
through exploring interaction.
c) I don't think you can learn/understand a medium through simulation
(this is not an argument about whether one can design through
simulations).
d) The only way that I am aware of that you can really explore
interaction, is through building interactive applications - be it in
flash, Visual C++, Processing, webapps, etc.

i.e. - I'm not sure how anyone can gain sufficient understanding of
the medium without having the ability to construct working (however
primitive) examples of their ideas. Otherwise all you will have is a
theoretical understanding, which seems inappropriate (the standard is
not that high. Both processing and Flash are fairly straightforward to
pick up at a prototyping level).

I'm not arguing that all code experience is useful, or relevant. If
all you've ever done is write network drivers in C++, or SQL code -
that's not useful.

As for the foam comment. Would you prefer that the designer had no
experience of working in a 3D medium, or some experience? Obviously
experience with plastic would be better, but foam at least is a 3D
material.

Cian

On 2/6/07, David Malouf <dave at ixda.org> wrote:
> What if you are designing consumer electronics, remote controls, a
> washer/dryer, a soda vending machine, etc., etc.?
>
> where is the "code here"?
>
> As to the foam comment. You're kidding right? The properties of foam bear
> little resemblence to plastic, except it is a form. Weight, texture,
> luminence, etc. don't translate at all.
>
> Anyway, I think Robert really said it best for me.
>
> I can code. It helps me in my life, But I don't see how it makes me a
> better DESIGNER. I say this as my career grows, I  my technical expertise
> to become less and less relevant to the work I do as an IxD.
>
> M work with engineers has become more collborative so that interactive
> protoypes are done by us as a group and not only by me. And often I
> protoype my work in methods that require less and less code. Tools are just
> getting better.
>
> Dave
>
>
> Dave
>
>
>
>
> ...... Original Message .......
> On Tue, 6 Feb 2007 15:12:00 +0000 Cian <cian.oconnor at gmail.com> wrote:
> >Not really. The medium could be flash, Processing, Visual Basic, or
> >whatever. As long as it shares the basic qualities of the medium
> >you're working in.
> >I'd be suspicious of a product designer who didn't work in some form
> >of 3D material, even if it was foam.
> >
> >The key thing is interaction. I'm not sure that's something you can
> >explore creatively, if you are unable to work in some form of
> >interactive medium.
> >