What an excellent elucidation this was, Jeff. Here is another quote, which gets the message across:
"Architectural patterns are the antithesis of the pre-fab building, because context is of absolute importance in defining the actual rendered form of the pattern in the world" -- Christopher Alexander (1979) It is more polite than the self-evident and true Emerson's quote. -- Oleh Kovalchuke Interaction Design is design of time http://www.tangospring.com/IxDtopicWhatIsInteractionDesign.htm On Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 10:50 PM, Jeff Howard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Emerson wrote that a "foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little > minds." Unfortunately it's my experience that stakeholders don't > appreciate being called hobgoblins... Or foolish. Or little, or > really any of those things. But it might make you feel better. > > This is partially a problem of framing. If the battle is in terms of > consistent vs inconsistent, you've already lost. Because of course > inconsistency is vile. But if instead of inconsistency you're > talking about contrast, then you're working within a more flexible > framework. It's no longer binary. > > More broadly, I'd say it's about being able to articulate your > design decisions. If your button (looks inconsistent/provides > contrast) then explain why this is necessary. Maybe buy a book like > Universal Principles of Design to back you up. > > Finally, if it tests well then all the principled arguments against > inconsistency are moot. Does your design work? > > // jeff > > ________________________________________________________________ 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
