you use electronic prototypes to the design said the young man. said “And ‘get right’,” “That’s right,” Sofie. just discovered the third secret of the User-Centred “You’ve Designer.” The young man smiled and searched the walls for a poster. suppose you have this written “I don’t down anywhere, do he asked. you?” it said Sofie, She stood up and invited the young man to follow her. In the “As happens,” “I do.” corridor outside the room was a poster on the wall. It showed a number of arrows arranged in a circle. At the top of the poster were the following words: THE THIRD SECRET OF USER-CENTRED DESIGN: ITERATIVE DESIGN me write that said the young man, turning the page of his Moleskine note- book. “Let down,” As the young man glanced over the notes he had made, a thought occurred to him. I ask you a “Can he asked. question?” said Sofie. “Fire away,” I look over these three secrets of user-centred design, they seem very agree with “As sensible.” “I said Sofie. that,” why do so few companies design this asked the young man. “So way?” Sofie let you ask the User-Centred Designer that she said. smiled. “I’ll question,” The User-Centred Designer Explains As the young man left Sofie office, the low afternoon sun was disappearing behind the office Brown’s buildings. The sun cast long shadows and the sky promised a fine sunset. The young man walked back towards the User Centred design certainly Designer’s office. “Iterative seems a very simple and powerful he thought to himself. how can you be an effective method,” “After all, designer if you just come up with one or two designs?” He was looking forward to meeting the User-Centred Designer again. The three secrets seemed so obvious to him that he wondered why so few companies followed this approach. He hoped that the Designer might be able to tell him. When the young man arrived at the office, he found him in conversation with a colleague. designer’s The designer saw the young man and finished his conversation. He walked over and shook the young hand. did you find out on your asked the designer. man’s “What travels?” said the young man enthusiastically, shaking off his coat. “A lot!”
“And you use electronic prototypes to ‘get the design right’,” said the young man. “That’s right,” said Sofie. “You’ve just discovered the third secret of the User-Centred Designer.” The young man smiled and searched the walls for a poster. “I don’t suppose you have this written down anywhere, do you?” he asked. “As it happens,” said Sofie, “I do.” She stood up and invited the young man to follow her. In the corridor outside the room was a poster on the wall. It showed a number of arrows arranged in a circle. At the top of the poster were the following words: THE THIRD SECRET OF USER-CENTRED DESIGN: ITERATIVE DESIGN “Let me write that down,” said the young man, turning the page of his Moleskine note- book. As the young man glanced over the notes he had made, a thought occurred to him. “Can I ask you a question?” he asked. “Fire away,” said Sofie. “As I look over these three secrets of user-centred design, they seem very sensible.” “I agree with that,” said Sofie. “So why do so few companies design this way?” asked the young man. Sofie smiled. “I’ll let you ask the User-Centred Designer that question,” she said. The User-Centred Designer Explains As the young man left Sofie Brown’s office, the low afternoon sun was disappearing behind the office buildings. The sun cast long shadows and the sky promised a fine sunset. The young man walked back towards the User Centred Designer’s office. “Iterative design certainly seems a very simple and powerful method,” he thought to himself. “After all, how can you be an effective designer if you just come up with one or two designs?” He was looking forward to meeting the User-Centred Designer again. The three secrets seemed so obvious to him that he wondered why so few companies followed this approach. He hoped that the Designer might be able to tell him. When the young man arrived at the designer’s office, he found him in conversation with a colleague. The designer saw the young man and finished his conversation. He walked over and shook the young man’s hand. “What did you find out on your travels?” asked the designer. “A lot!” said the young man enthusiastically, shaking off his coat.
Fable-of-the-User-Centred_Designer.docx