Fourth Law - Learn
The fourth law is LEARN – Knowledge makes everything simpler. Knowledge and time are related as it will save time if we have knowledge since learning is time consuming. This law is form by BRAIN:
BASICS are the beginning;
REPEAT yourself often;
AVOID creating desperation;
INSPIRE with examples;
NEVER forget to repeat yourself.
“Basics” involves stepping out of your role as expert and assuming the position of the first-time learner. It is true if we are not in other position or difficulties, we wouldn’t able to understand their point of view. Repetition and simplicity are related, and the author cites George Bush’s campaign messages during his successful re-election run. Avoiding desperation involves not trying to “shock and awe” the user with new feature overload. “Inspiration is the ultimate catalyst for learning”, says Maeda. What motivates most designer is inspiration. It will not only help with designer works but also as a life shaping tool. He advises designers to control the human instinct to relate (by using metaphors to allow users to map the experience to something they already know), then translate the relationship into a tangible object or service, and then ideally responding to users’ efforts with some type of reward (Relate —> Translate —> Surprise).
Relate-Translate-Surprise relies on having a common experience upon which to map your own, which unfortunately limits the approach to specific cultures and customs. Metaphors serve to Relate-Translate a key concept, but the Surprise can be undesirable when the metaphor doesn’t work.’ (For example the metallic trash can in Apple Macintosh’s desktop looks to Japanese users odd because they never saw one). The system can also be reversed as Surprise-Translate-Relate, as in Studio65’s sofa inspired by a woman’s lips (Italian Design), or lacking of the element Surprise – as a Braun shaver (German Design).
-mei-
3 years ago