Design with Intent | 2008 January

Interesting parallels

By Dan Lockton ⋅ January 15, 2008 ⋅ 3 comments

Security is about preventing adverse consequences from the intentional and unwarranted actions of others. What this definition basically means is that we want people to behave in a certain way… and security is a way of ensuring that they do so.
Bruce Schneier, Beyond Fear
A simpler way of thinking about Interaction Designers is that they are [...]

Chute the messenger

By Dan Lockton ⋅ January 8, 2008 ⋅ 9 comments

This is a communal rubbish chute serving a block of flats. The cross-sectional area of the aperture revealed by opening the hatch should be smaller than the cross-sectional area of the chute itself, so there’s less chance of rubbish bags getting stuck, even when someone crams one in.
That aperture dimension is important. It (to [...]

Spear’s Spellmaster: Poka-yoke in the classroom

By Dan Lockton ⋅ January 7, 2008 ⋅ 3 comments

Back in September we looked at Mentor Teaching Machines, a clever type of non-linear textbook from the early 1970s which guides/constrains the user’s progression, in the process diagnosing some common types of misunderstanding and ‘remedying’ them. The comments were enlightening, too: there’s a lot more history to programmed teaching texts and programmed instruction than I [...]

J G Ballard & Architectures of Control

By Dan Lockton ⋅ January 5, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment

Over at the brilliant Ballardian, editor Simon Sellars has just published my article ‘J.G. Ballard & Architectures of Control‘, where I take a brief look at how Ballard’s work repeatedly examines ‘the effect of architecture on the individual’ – something central to both the physical and psychological aspects of my research. Many thanks are due [...]

Towards a Design with Intent ‘Method’ – v.0.1

By Dan Lockton ⋅ January 5, 2008 ⋅ 11 comments

As mentioned a while back, I’ve been trying to find a way to classify the numerous ‘Design with Intent’ and architectures of control examples that have been examined on this site, and suggested by readers. Since that post, my approach has shifted slightly to look at what the intent is behind each example, and hence [...]

A lengthy debate

By Dan Lockton ⋅ January 2, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment

Norwich City Council is introducing a system of parking permit charges determined by the length of the vehicle:
The move away from flat-fee permits will penalise drivers who own vehicles more than 4.45 metres (14½ft) in length, such as the Vauxhall Vectra.
Brian Morrey, vice-chairman of the Norwich Highways Agency Committee, a joint initiative between the city [...]

Search