Design Considerations

There was an article about 37signals in a recent issue of Wired that design guru Don Norman (author of the excellent The Design of Everything Things) had issues with. I like their rebuttal at Signal vs. Noise.

He argues that because we design for ourselves first, we're selfish, arrogant, and have a disdain for customers.

That's not true. Designing for ourselves first yields better initial results because it lets us design what we know. It lets us assess quality quickly and directly, instead of by proxy. And it lets us fall in love with our products and feel passionate about what we make. There's simply no substitute for that.

We're like chefs. We make food that we think tastes good and that we believe in. We make it for customers who have the same sensibilities that we do. It might not be for everyone. That's ok. But for people who think the way we do, and appreciate the things we appreciate, it's perfect.

Good essay about design in general, and following your own instincts. As always, a lively discussion thread as well.