First of all, do no harm or three rules for creating public interfaces

Original author: Seth Godin
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From a translator: this article is of a general nature, not directly related to web design or UI, in particular. Nevertheless, I think that these things should always be remembered.
Thank you very much in translating Ole @ OlgaTeslenko

When we think about design, we usually imagine things that are chosen because they are designed or painted. Vases, comics or architecture ...
But it turns out that most of what we do or design is aimed at an audience that needs something else. Design is important, but design alone is not the point. You can call it “public design” ...
Public design is created for people who need to fill out our tax form, work with our website or register with our hotel  , regardless of how it was created, and not because of this.
In attempts to improve the work process, appearance and power, sometimes we just worsen the product, because we forget about the "public" part of public design. If the user is not aimed or interested in the innovativeness of our design, we must step aside.


Rule 1: The more often a device is used by beginners, the more standardized the interface should be.


For example, a shower in a hotel. Some examples of the most elegant, thoughtful design ever created by man exist in the form of handles and thermostats in the souls of hotels. All of them are terrible, dangerous and take away valuable time. The guests do not want to learn to take a shower again, they do not want to scald, they just want the water to go, the right temperature, in the right direction, and with the necessary pressure. The first time.

Rule 2: The most important question is who will be outside the circle of users.


A small ramp is better than a few steps if you have a choice. The wider the circle of people in our sample, the better the choice is by definition.
No one takes a shower with glasses, and yet on a very similar tube in the shower, a description is often gained with a 12 point size. No, I'm not going to wear reading glasses in the shower.
If people with disabilities, older people, or those who have not installed the latest version of a modern browser cannot use what you created, then it does not deserve to be publicly available.

Rule 3: The best interface is the lack of an interface.


Outstanding design contains a story. It moves a product from one product category to another, increases sales, creates efficiency and, above all, adds beauty to the interaction.
But he should not "scream." Or misleading. An experienced user, a person who chose your design consciously, based on his needs - such a user will appreciate the features and beauty that you created. But in a public space, do not try to draw the attention of casual passers-by to what you have created. We have other concerns. A good designer understands what is important .
Do not give up responsibility for excellent design in a public space. Do not settle for ineffective, banal or ugly decisions. But at the same time, honor the rules. Anyone can play in public, but creating a good design for a wide range of users requires real skill. We are not talking about the design that we notice ... No, a design that improves everyday life and is the best for society.



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