Boxes and Arrows: Comments by David C Dunkle

David C Dunkle — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:30:04 GMT

The art of design is like a cuckoo clock maker who was summoned by the King to create the finest cuckoo clock ever for the Queen’s birthday.

Now, in addition to the obvious artistic carving that goes into cuckoo clock making, there are size calculations, audio ambience design, and a motif, or “metaphor” for the general mood that the clock presents. This includes the color, size, choice and composition of accessories, etc…

After a series of interviews with the King, the clockmaker began a prototype design. This consisted of a somewhat fleshed-out wooden shell, with a bird on a spring, fastened near the top. The King sort of “bought-in” to this vision of the gift, but it was hard to separate his functional preferences from his opinion of the workmanship of the prototype. The King would say, “This wood is too dull and rough”, and the clockmaker would reply, “Try not to focus on the wood, that isn’t the way it will look when it’s done”, or the King would say, “ Can we make the bird more lifelike?” and the clockmaker would say, “Oh yes- that is our intention in the final product.” The King wondered out loud, “What will it be like when the clock wakes the Queen up in the morning?” and the clock maker assured the King that the chime, or “cuckoo” would be most harmonious. In the end, the King agreed that his suggestions were being considered, so he accepted the design progress being made, but something bothered him in the back of his mind. As much as he tried to tie his concerns to an aspect of the prototype, it always seemed that he was criticizing the look-and-feel, and he was sure his concerns went far deeper than that.

On the morning of the Queen’s birthday, the clock was ready, and the King led his Queen into the presentation chamber. With great flourish, he unveiled the clock, and it did look magnificent! But the Queen could only manage a Mona-Lisa-esque smile; she was pleased, but not overwhelmed.

At that moment, a bluebird flew into the chamber, alighted upon the King’s staff, and broke into song. The Queen’s eyes lit up; “Oh my dear husband, what a wonderful sound to wake up to in the morning!” The King, being of quick intelligence, ordered his men to capture and cage both the bird and the clockmaker, but only the bird was housed in the Queen’s chambers from that day forward. You see, a cuckoo clock maker tends to solve all problems with a clock, and unless he is careful to refine his customer’s requirements prior to offering a solution, he might not realize a different alternative is superior to the original prototype.

David C Dunkle — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 20:28:11 GMT

Another practical topic to consider: the security of your incentive method.

Cash and gift cards have a level on anonymity that goes with them from test to use. Once those incentive items disappear from your lab, it’s hard to know who really has them, or who really spent them. Of course, it’s not difficult to make sure your participants do get paid, however, it is sometimes difficult to make sure only true participants get the incentive.

Specifically, I was once leading a team when one of our members was quietly stealing gift cheques meant for participant compensation. Because of the ease in “repurposing” gift cheques, and also due to the laxity in our bookkeeping, this continued for over a year, and added up to several thousand dollars.

Surely, a stricter accounting policy would have helped, but personalized checks would have also eliminated the problem.

David C Dunkle — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:27:57 GMT

Regarding formulas and/or methods for innovation: There has been a significant amount of innovation created using the TRIZ methods. Check out the TRIZ online Journal for more data. I mention it because it seems to directly support the concept that, ”...that there can be a step-by-step guide to innovation.”

Sure, plenty of innovation is performed in uncharted territory, but a map, like the TRIZ methods, can get you where you’re going quicker.

David C Dunkle — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:55:39 GMT

I chuckled at Dan’s metaphor, “The IxDA is definitely the AK47 of the UX world!” To extend it a bit more, perhaps each is a powerful tool in the hands of a willful revolutionary; a vehicle designed to break the oppressive shackles that limit mankind.

But it’s not a “perfect” metaphor, is it? Clearly, there are object differences. IxDA membership, for example, is not discouraged in the UK, and the organization has an effective range far beyond 200 meters. There’s also that pesky legacy of the weapon to deal with. “AK47. When you absolutely, positively have to kill every [person] in the room.”

I suggest a different metaphor; one with healing attributes. “The IxDA is definitely the polio vaccine of the UX world” Hmmm… Maybe, ”...the Muscle Milk™ of the UX world” or, ”...the Baby Einstein™ of the UX world”?

Perhaps an Interaction 08 lightning session could select the best.

Happy Holidays to all.

David C Dunkle — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:04:02 GMT

Your article represents the type that should more often appear here in B&A; one that addresses the foundational perceptual and mental constructs of information architecture. But you have provided so much information that, for me, it was hard to take it all in while reading. I believe the reason for this was my effort to transfer the information to long-term memory. It’s just the sort of stuff we should all be applying daily.

One question I have: You stated, “When presenting information onscreen, text and visuals are not as effective as seeing visuals and hearing narration.” This is quite a blanket assertion- do you really think it applies comprehensively? For example, what about complicated graphs, where portions of the graph need to be identified? I would think that labels work better than verbal narration in those (and other) cases. In any case, some examples of the research you cited would be helpful.