start with an understanding

"Even today my work is still very much involved in understanding and recognising trends and the way people or societies are changing…The main thing is to start with an understanding of the user, the consumer, and the life they are living. Of course most designers do that intuitively, even if they don't realize it, but within Nokia there are specialists who do that research in a more methodical way." http://37signals.com/svn/archives2/experience_design_at_nokia.php

The Beauty of Simplicity

Here is how Mayer thinks about the tension between complexity of function and simplicity of design: "Google has the functionality of a really complicated Swiss Army knife, but the home page is our way of approaching it closed. It's simple, it's elegant, you can slip it in your pocket, but it's got the great doodad when you need it. A lot of our competitors are like a Swiss Army knife open--and that can be intimidating and occasionally harmful."

Linda Tischler, "The Beauty of Simplicity," Fast Company, Nov 2005.

Is Don Norman right about Google?

Is Don Norman right about Google? - Signal vs. Noise (by 37signals): "It’s very hard being minimalist in the face of complicated tasks."

You feel a little vulnerable.

'It's like having a kid,' Graf says. 'You think he's beautiful, but you know there are flaws. You feel a little vulnerable. You just hope other people see the beauty in it, too.'

Nancy Perkins, "Attorney -- and artist, too: Avocation drives the Dixie man's days and nights," Deseret Morning News, 1 may 2006.

Data is only available about the past

"Data is only available about the past."

IT Conversations: Clayton Christensen, "Capturing the Upside," Open Source Business Conference, 17 Mar 2004. Podcast from www.itconversations.com/shows/detail135.html - quote starts at 1:19:45.

graphic paths that are stunning

The challenge for the new maps that are coming ... Is to allow the users to have maximum flexibility in configuring their information, while at the same time leading them down graphic paths that are stunning. In other words, artistic maps that are also great science.

David Rumsey, "The Past and Future of Mapping," O'Rielly Where 2.0 Conference, 29 June 2005. Podcast from www.itconversations.com/shows/detail633.html - quote starts at 27:38.

Every time you add something you take something away

A design and usability blog: Signal vs. Noise (by 37signals): "Every time you add something you take something away Jason Mar 04 25 comments Latest by Scott Meinzer What’s the most ignored paradox in software development? Every time you add something you take something away. Screen real estate. Interface clarity. Simplified testing. Shorter development time. Certainty. Agility. Managability. Adding anything dilutes everything else. That’s not always a bad thing, just be aware of it. Be aware of the trade-offs. The dilution effect is why maintaining a clear vision for your product is so important. Without a clear understanding of the limits and boundaries of your product, the product will morph into something you no longer recognize. Or worse, something you can no longer manage or control. A product people loved can turn into a product people liked. Then the product people liked can turn into the product people can live with. Then the product people can live with can turn into the product people can live without. Of course the reverse can also happen. A product people can live without can become a product people love, but once you’re at the love stage it can turn around on you just as fast. This reality reveals itself on release day. The first thing you’ll hear from customers that love your product is how they’d love it even more if it did this or th"

Google

Google: "'There are sadistic scientists who hurry to hunt down errors instead of establishing the truth.' - Marie Curie"

What do you want to contribute?

...when asked to spend time with an unknown and unproven young man seeking his way in the world, Drucker freely gave the better part of a day to mentor and give guidance. I had the honor of writing about that day in the foreword to The Daily Drucker, wherein I recount how Drucker altered the trajectory of my life by framing our discussion around one simple question: "What do you want to contribute?"

And therein we find the secret to Peter Drucker: He had a remarkable ability not just to give the right answers, but more important, to ask the right questions -- questions that would shift our entire frame of reference. Throughout his work runs a theme that highlights a fundamental shift, away from achievement -- jettisoning with the flick of his hand, as if he were waving away an irritating gnat, any consideration of the question of what you can "get" in this world -- to the question of contribution. Drucker's relentless discipline to say "no thank you" to invitations and inquiries stemmed from thinking always about how he could best contribute with his one lifetime.

Jim Collins, "Lessons From A Student Of Life," BusinessWeek, 28 Nov 2005, p. 106. (subscription required)

User

The problem is we don’t have good language. When I’m on Flickr I’m a photographer or a commenter. When I’m here I’m a writer or a blogger. When I’m on Craig’s List I’m a job seeker or a buyer or a seller. When I’m on MSN Search or Google I’m a “searcher.” When I’m on Memeorandum I’m a “reader.”

“User” just seems so unsatisfying. “Participant” is a lot closer. What do you think?

Robert Scoble, "I don’t just “use” the Internet, so why am I a user?" Scobleizer - Microsoft Geek Blogger, 10 Nov 2005