Category Archives: Design theory

Digital simulacra and the iPad human interface guidelines

Posted on 17 June 2010 by Adrian Short

This was originally posted as a comment to an article in UX Magazine about the iPad human interface guidelines. I was reminded by it today by this blogpost by Ben.geek.nz about the forthcoming Windows Phone 7 UI design. While I … Continue reading →

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How ebooks will replace printed books

Posted on 3 February 2010 by Adrian Short

Do you remember when film photography was ubiquitous and consumer digital cameras were just starting to come onto the market? (Worryingly, there will be readers of this blog that won’t.) At the time, there was any amount of commentary from … Continue reading →

Posted in Design theory | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Why wouldn’t you want an Apple iPad on your coffee table?

Posted on 28 January 2010 by Adrian Short

The Apple iPad isn’t just the first credible device in a new category — it’s leading the way towards a world of elegant, specialised computers. Continue reading →

Posted in Design theory, Product design, Simplicity | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

What’s the point of a tweeting mobile library?

Posted on 17 December 2009 by Adrian Short

Last week I launched @SutMobLib, a Twitter account that tweets the location of Sutton’s mobile library in real time. No, I’m not sitting here all day sending messages. A program does that automatically. Every time the library gets to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Design theory, Software design, Sutton, Urban design | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Parsimonious design (or not)

Posted on 17 September 2008 by Adrian Short

In which we explore the parsimony principle in design with reference to two horribly over-engineered ideas: the Segway personal transporter and ebook readers. Continue reading →

Posted in Design theory, Product design | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The features you have vs. the features you use

Posted on 12 September 2008 by Adrian Short

Of the 21 features on my phone, I use just five. Can’t someone make a phone without all the rest? Continue reading →

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Estimated date of birth — an interaction design pattern

Posted on 9 September 2008 by Adrian Short

How to avoid asking people for their date of birth when you don’t need it but still gain enough data to be able to produce meaningful age segmentations. Continue reading →

Posted in Design theory, Software design, Uncategorized, Usability, Web design | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hack your world

Posted on 16 August 2008 by Adrian Short

On the web, in the streets and even in the municipal flowerbeds, people are taking design into their own hands. Continue reading →

Posted in Design theory, Product design, Software design, Urban design | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Getting to Less part 2: Critically refocus

Posted on 24 November 2007 by Adrian Short

(Back to part 1) Getting to Less is all about helping designers decide what to keep and what to throw out of their designs. Whether you’re designing software, websites, products or cities, you need to choose what to include and … Continue reading →

Posted in Design theory, Simplicity | 2 Comments

Getting to Less part 1: How to keep what you need and chuck what you don’t

Posted on 21 November 2007 by Adrian Short

Simplicity is becoming an increasingly important trend in design. As life becomes faster-paced and we’re deluged with more choices, more information and more stuff, users and consumers are demanding that designers do the heavy lifting of making things more focussed, … Continue reading →

Posted in Design theory, Simplicity | 1 Comment