| p>Effective print design is laconic: no wasted ink; | | | | instead of all the bells and whistles, gets |
| less is always more. A good designer can | | | | crystal-clear reception everywhere? |
| communicate a stunning amount of information | | | | The desire to pack a lot of functionality into a little |
| with surprisingly few tools. Design is pervasive in | | | | package is tempting primarily because we can: |
| our media-centric culture, and subsequently we | | | | technology gets continually smaller and faster. The |
| are constantly absorbing information via color, line, | | | | exponential growth in circuitry described by |
| shape and symbol. Likewise is technology | | | | Moore's Law (which celebrated its 40th |
| pervasive. From cell phones, to handhelds, to | | | | anniversary in April), has outpaced a concomitant |
| PCs--technology has become a permanent and | | | | understanding of how to humanistically design |
| essential tool in our society. | | | | these extra circuits into our lives. The drive to |
| But the way in which we interact with technology | | | | harness technology's full potential should be |
| has yet to fully evolve; the connection often | | | | tempered with restraint and good design. |
| remains sterile and detached. The potential to | | | | Consider the iPod. Its success has little to do with |
| improve this relationship lies with designers. | | | | Apple's unique or cutting-edge technology--it's a |
| For starters, we need to acknowledge the | | | | hard drive with earphones. iPod is successful |
| lingering disconnect between print and tech design. | | | | because it conveys a big idea with what are |
| The same minimalist ethos that drives effective | | | | essentially Kindergarten shapes: a rectangle and |
| print media seems lost amid a sea of bad | | | | two concentric circles. By limiting functionality, the |
| websites and unwieldy technology. | | | | designers create a sleeker user experience and |
| First, the bad websites: | | | | clearly articulate the product's identity and |
| Affordable publishing software has enabled a host | | | | purpose. |
| of amateur web designers to enter the fray. The | | | | This approach is the type that will humanize our |
| benefits of empowering individuals to express | | | | relationship with technology. But how do we get |
| themselves on the web are undeniable--indeed this | | | | there? |
| is the living, breathing heart of the information | | | | Ironically, the same advances that spawned an |
| revolution. What these recreational desktop | | | | onslaught of poorly designed webpages also |
| publishers do to advance design, however, is | | | | create the opportunity for systemic change. |
| questionable. With so many untrained hands at the | | | | Technology has crossed a critical threshold. Just |
| helm, proper design is at risk of being run aground. | | | | as you don't need to know HTML to create a |
| Now, the unwieldy technology: | | | | website, you no longer need assembly code or |
| Technology, by definition, is an enabler: it makes | | | | binary math to approach tech development. The |
| our lives easier, better, or both. Without | | | | pieces are out there, we just need to put them |
| thoughtful design, however, technology only partly | | | | together. Instead of viewing technology as |
| lives up to its definition. An example: Multi-purpose | | | | something to design around, we should design |
| cell phones. In theory, they enable you to talk, | | | | with it, engaging technology not as a mechanic |
| calculate an 18% tip, take pictures and videos, | | | | uses tools, but as an artist uses paint. |
| and surf the web. But what these phones gain in | | | | Interacting with technology shouldn't be taxing for |
| potential functionality, they lose in actual utility: you | | | | the user--it should be fluid and intuitive. Good print |
| can't use the calculator while you're talking; the | | | | design communicates ideas this way; doing the |
| pictures are low-res; the videos are sub-par; and | | | | same in technology design requires but one |
| the web access is slow and requires very small, | | | | courageous tweak in the way we embrace the |
| nimble fingers. Why not design a phone that, | | | | medium. The time is ripe for a shift in paradigm. |