I still think we're making this more complicated than it is. The more I thought about it after my comment on Core77 the more I feel the answer is simply in the name:
Interaction Designers design interactions. That covers enough possibilities in my book - from screen/computer to person, person-to-person, service design interactions, gestural interactions. From tiny UI interactive flows through to much larger, more complex interactions and more. The approaches and methodologies will vary, but we're still designing interactions. Putting in all the stuff about making things easier to use or people-centered, etc. only helps different interaction designers communicate their particular flavours. There are plenty of interaction design situations that don't do that (e.g. an interactive installation that is deliberately enigmatic, a gadget for animals to use, etc.). It just makes it more confusing to lump that into the definition. I really think the what gets confused with the how most of the time. Recruiters, in particular, advertise a role with the tools the people are expected to use. That's where most of the mix up comes from. A graphic designer isn't just someone who uses Photoshop and Illustrator. It's a certain way of thinking about visual design. Another comparison, Product designers design products %u2013 those might be produced in all sorts of ways with all sorts of tools and techniques. It's still product design. So, let's keep it simple: Interaction Designers design interactions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=40375 ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
