Hi all, First post ever! Thought I'd weigh in about the tangents going on here, as well as the tangent in the Mac Air thread http://www.ixda.org/discuss.php?post=24636.
What's becoming increasingly apparent is that career titles are changing and blurring. For example, my degree is in 'Product Design' (not 'Industrial Design'). This caused all sorts of issues as people ask - what is a product? Essentially the names are the same, but from what I understand, the degree was named that way (in 2002) to give a bit more scope as Industrial Design sounded too much like designing machines. Another reason is that industrial designers are increasingly having to think about systems rather than just products e.g. having a carpet hiring system rather than just buying it. Maybe there is a similar thing going on with Interaction Design vs. interface design (or even web design). It implies a wider field - e.g. I think I'd talk about interactions rather than interface with the Nintendo Wii! Also with questions as to whether Industrial Design is all about the hardware and Interaction Design is about the software - most product designers would start that way I think, as we are taught about objects and form first. However, muddying the waters a bit are the terms 'experience design' or 'design for experience' which have been floating around for the last 10 or so years (was is suggested by Brenda Laurel? Would have to check my books). Basically the idea is that form and materials can only do so much - if you think through the whole process of using it (and sometimes easy-to-use doesn't give the most resonant experience - think automatic vs. manual coffee machines!) you're far more likely to come up with something that people will become attached to. >From what I know, industrial design-type people would probably not talk about designing interactions unless there was software involved. However, most up with the latest literature would think about the experience. That would be I think where the Mac Air comes in - the industrial designers would have been thinking about the experience of using it - approaching it, opening it, exploring etc. Ideally, a well managed product with an electronic component aligns the experience of using the physical with the virtual, by using personas, mood boards etc. Then the really amazing stuff happens ... ________________________________________________________________ *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
