[IxDA Discuss] Microsoft Surface (Who Made It)

[Chris Bernard]

All fair points and I believe with one more good kick this subject will be good and dead and we can move on to other more enlightening conversations.

Chris Bernard
Microsoft
User Experience Evangelist
chris.bernard at microsoft.com
312.925.4095



Blog: www.designthinkingdigest.com
Design: www.microsoft.com/design
Tools: www.microsoft.com/expression

"The future is already here. It's just not evenly distributed." William Gibson


-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Schraad [mailto:mschraad at mac.com]
Sent: Friday, June 01, 2007 12:18 PM
To: Chris Bernard
Cc: Nathan Kendrick; IxDA Discuss
Subject: RE: [IxDA Discuss] Microsoft Surface (Who Made It)

Hi Chris,

Almost took that line out of my Email - and in hindsight wish I had.

I was not arguing against or for how this forum could be improved. I was just stating a use case (that I am familiar with).

I think it is human nature to respond viscerally to a new (or slightly new) concept by testing it in a 'how can I break it' mode. Understanding where it might not work helps to focus on where it might work... which of course takes more thought and much more effort. Coming up with new and useful applications for the Surfaces product might be of benefit to the members here - I am not sure. Would an individual be likley to share their brainstorm of application here? I don't know, but I have my doubts.

As a manager and a parent I am always inclined to use positive reinforcement when possible. Similarly, I think a collaborative environment here could be beneficial. But, I can't think of situation where this sort of forum was used effectively for divergent group think. Off the top of my head... I have used both chat and Email, but my gut tells me this forum is more applicable to the divergent part of the process.

I am probably a little to grounded in reality at the moment... but I am certain that in just a few hours I will be more aspirational...



On Friday, June 01, 2007, at 12:52PM, "Chris Bernard" <Chris.Bernard at microsoft.com> wrote:
>Mark you're presuming my comments are coming from the perspective of someone that is just here to evangelize and sell or solely focused on Surface and in this particular instance that's not what I'm talking about.
>
>I'm talking more generically about how this list can better serve all the constituencies that IxDA aspires to serve as a design professional just like you. But when all we have is criticism (even valuable and insightful criticism) I think we're under-serving ourselves and the skills that this community brings to the table. Two quotes come to mind although Clement isn't talking about IxD here I think there's context there that could be applied to the current state of IxD. (although neither are as eloquent as the one posted by Julia).
>
>"It is much easier to be critical than to be correct."  --Benjamin Disraeli
>
>"I was amused initially when the design community was dragged kicking and screaming into the wired digital economy. Instead of embracing this brave new world and trying to learn the consequences and potentials, many practitioners complained about the displacement and disruption without assessing any course correction. They just complained about being victimized." --Clement Mok
>
>
>Chris Bernard
>Microsoft
>User Experience Evangelist
>chris.bernard at microsoft.com
>312.925.4095
>
>
>
>Blog: www.designthinkingdigest.com
>Design: www.microsoft.com/design
>Tools: www.microsoft.com/expression
>
>"The future is already here. It's just not evenly distributed." William Gibson
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Mark Schraad [mailto:mschraad at mac.com]
>Sent: Friday, June 01, 2007 10:53 AM
>To: Chris Bernard
>Cc: Nathan Kendrick; IxDA Discuss
>Subject: Re: [IxDA Discuss] Microsoft Surface (Who Made It)
>
>Chris,
>
>I see tha participation on this group quite differently. And for the moment I will speak to my specific reasons for participation.
>
>The primary reason that I participate here is to through out ideas and concepts that stew in my head for peer review. I engage in dialog and discussion here specifically for the sometimes harsh critic that comes with learned professionals. If all I got here was (earnest or false) accolades, I would not bother coming. This is incredibly self serving. I know that and have even made that a point of record.
>
>In return, I share as much perspective and expereince as possible. I weigh in when I feel I have something to contribute and hope that it is taken the proper spirit - and helpful.
>
>I too, tend to see old ideas resurected by large compaies with some skeptisism. Especially when they have a lot of promotional sizzle - but limited immediate application. This is as I see it, the case with Surfaces.
>
>I do not come here to sell or to be an evangelist, but I have not proble with others doing so. I am by-and-large very appreciative of advances in technology and methods when they are applicable and useful. I do not think you can equate colleg level critiques with general critism about a large corporation or product PR announcement.
>
>
>Mark
>
>
>On Friday, June 01, 2007, at 11:32AM, "Chris Bernard" <Chris.Bernard at microsoft.com> wrote:
>>I've been through a crit or two and as creative and design director for over a decade so I've also played the role of destructor and made people cry and all that business but you're comparing apples and oranges and talking about how we teach versus how we interact as a professional group of peers.
>>
>>I'd also disagree with most old school art and design folks on this being a 'best' practice in terms of teaching people how to work effectively in teams (although I admit all designers need a bit of a boot camp during their foundational knowledge in both academia and the workplace). And as lecturer at the Institute of Design I talk extensively with incoming students about this very practice during a teaming and collaboration workshop but also caution that how you interact with your fellow students in school will most likely follow you for your entire career. I being polite here but basically if you're into Bob Sutton's work over at Stanford you'll get an idea of my perspective.
>>
>>But THAT as opposed to the craft of interaction design and how people constructively create new things and work together in cross disciplinary teams is different. Many designers don't get how self-destructive this approach can be in collaborative environments and I'll submit it's why design as a profession is still in a bit of stasis and is largely left out of some of these efforts that seem to be the topic of the day.
>>
>>The bottom line is that the majority of people that are active on this list (although not all) bitch about what is wrong with everything that people submit versus offering up ways to make it better or acknowledge what is done well and then conversation typically falls into summary and ad hominem judgments on the creators or sponsors of such work. I mean if that's all I or other designers want we can have this debate on Amazon or Slashdot. I simply expect more out of this community I guess.
>>
>>It's not a small irony that much of what is discussed on this board that involves IxD is not work that has actually had the participation of members of this list or community. Why do you think that is?
>>
>>We certainly don't need sycophant here and criticism is valid and necessary but anyone that's been to design school knows that the best hard asses that broke you down also frequently gave you the best advice about how to make things better. That last part doesn't exist here as much as it should.
>>
>>Also, we all know I work for Microsoft but I'm also a part of this community and have been a practicing designer way before I ever got involved with Microsoft and I'm passionate about advancing our profession. My comments here are not just about or specific to Surface but the general tenor of this list and the perception this tenor projects on all of us. I'm encouraged however by how this thread is evolving. And for the record I own 4 iPods and 1 Zune and like them both. :)
>>
>>Chris Bernard
>>Microsoft
>>User Experience Evangelist
>>chris.bernard at microsoft.com
>>312.925.4095
>>
>>
>>
>>Blog: www.designthinkingdigest.com
>>Design: www.microsoft.com/design
>>Tools: www.microsoft.com/expression
>>
>>"The future is already here. It's just not evenly distributed." William Gibson
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: discuss-bounces at lists.interactiondesigners.com [mailto:discuss-bounces at lists.interactiondesigners.com] On Behalf Of Nathan Kendrick
>>Sent: Friday, June 01, 2007 1:35 AM
>>To: IxDA Discuss
>>Subject: Re: [IxDA Discuss] Microsoft Surface (Who Made It)
>>
>>
>>Clearly someone didn't go to a art school and experience foundation
>>year in life drawing =)
>>
>>destruction is the only way to create.
>>
>>On May 30, 2007, at 8:07 PM, Chris Bernard wrote:
>>
>>> I'll also agree that we are all critics from time to time but boy
>>> is this a self-destructive posture for this community to embrace on
>>> this board if we want to advance our profession and encourage our
>>> fellow peers to participate here.
>>