C’mon, really? Who wrote this? Who thought most people think about the sensor for traffic lights as “actuating signals?” Really?! This sign is at the exit of my office building, the Smith Bros. Hardware building in Columbus, OH. The sign is meant to tell drivers where to stop so the sensor is activated and the traffic light changes.

It blows me away every time I see it. It’s a constant reminder that bad design decisions are made all the time with everyday objects like this sign.

I originally thought this was a custom sign (made to look standard/official), but after a little search I found the Standard Sign Design Manual from the Ohio Department of Transportation, Office of Traffic Engineering. The image below is from the black and white regulatory series. Evidently, it is an Ohio specific sign type.

First of all, the sign itself shouldn’t be necessary. The sensor for the signal is in the wrong place based on user behavior at this intersection. The sensor is further back from the intersection than most people stop, because they always creep forward to see if any cars are coming around the corner.

But if the sensor can’t move, let’s at least create a sign that people won’t find odd and maybe even understand. Even if you just changed “actuate” to “activate” it would make more sense. Some may argue that actuate is actually more semantically accurate, meaning “to put into action; start a process; turn on” as opposed to “to make active; cause to function or act,” but I think the semantic accuracy is immaterial. It doesn’t matter how that actual physical thing (the engineering of it, the system design) works; what matters is the user’s mental model and how they think it works.

This a classic example of the system design being directly represented in the user interface. It may be a 1:1 and truthful representation of what is happening, but it’s not how people think about or interact with the system.

How would you change this sign to make it more understandable to the everyday user?

btw, that arrow looks non regulation to me.

UPDATE: (02-02-10):

I came across another sign today that says “stop here to trip detector.”

Between now and April 15th, create and share your own U.S. Design Policy’s Necessity videos. You’ll have the opportunity to star in the Initiative’s Design CEO’s Design Policy Support video, which will be led by IDSA.

[ via: Customer Experience Matters ]

I would consider buying these based solely on the packaging design. Brilliant.

original Swedish from Below the Clouds:

Jag kan inte så mycket om whisky men jag vet vad som är snyggt. Whiskyserien The Elements of Islay från Speciality Drinks Ltd innehåller tre flaskor som bär de lätt kryptiska namnen AR1, CL1 och LP1. Bakom namnen döljer sig tre whiskys från Ardbeg (AR1), Caol Ila (CL1) och Laphroaig (LP1). Men jag bryr mig inte direkt om innehållet utan mer om de snygga, enkla flaskorna som påminner lite om medicinflaskor eller flaskor med läkarsprit. Tyvärr så vet jag inte vem som formgivit etiketterna eller flaskorna. Fler bilder finns efter hoppet så klart…

translated via Google translate:

I can not so much about the whiskey but I know what is beautiful. Whiskey Suit The Elements of Islay from Specialty Drinks Ltd includes three bottles bearing the easy cryptic names AR1, CL1 and LP1. Behind the names conceals three whiskey from Ardbeg (AR1), Caol Ila (CL1) and Laphroaig (LP1). But I care not about the content, but more about the stylish, simple bottles that reminds us a little about medicine bottles or bottles with medical alcohol. Unfortunately, I do not know who gave the form the labels or bottles. More photos are after the jump as well …

Okay, after a little digging, I was able to locate a little more information about these whiskeys at the whisky exchange.

Welcome to the Elements of Islay, our new range of Single Islay Malt Whiskies.   The Elements range draws its inspiration from traditional medical laboratory labels and packaging – even the bottle we’ve used is called ‘pharmacy’.

The Elements range will be bottled in individual batches, typically blended from between 5 and 20 casks from a single distillery.  Each bottle will show the distillery’s ‘Element’ symbol alongside a batch number on the label (eg Lp1).

Another important feature of the Elements range is the absence of vintages or age statements on the label.  This enables us to marry casks of different ages together to create a unique taste profile for each batch – we believe that stated ages and vintages are less important than creating a top quality malt that truly expresses the character of the distillery that made it.

To underscore this, we have asked respected industry figures to endorse each batch of Elements whisky.  We are delighted that the famous whisky writer, raconteur and bon vivant Charles MacLean has agreed to endorse our inaugural release, which encompasses truly elemental full-proof single malts from three wonderful Islay distilleries. [via: the whisky exchange]

more photos:

Lp1 – A coalsmokey Southern Islay malt from a distillery with many friends. Exuberant, up-front bonfire character, with citrus and brown sugar notes – this is a must for peatheads.

Ar1 – A phenomenal Southern Islay single malt to kick off our Elements of Islay series. This is bursting with peat but with a delicious compensating sweetness.

[via: Below the Clouds]

Microsoft released a new video with their glimpse into the future (2019).  Even though the ideas aren’t jaw-dropping innovative or orthogonal to current trends, it’s always good to get a refresh on the future and how technology might change our behaviors. I think the most interesting aspects of the video are not the technology or the concepts, but how can be used to make connections or change our behavior.

You can explore more of their ideas at the Microsoft Office Labs.

Dieter Rams’ 10 Design Commandments

1. Good Design is innovative
It does not copy existing product forms, nor does it produce any kind of novelty for the sake of it. The essence of innovation must be clearly seen in all functions of a product. The possibilities in this respect are by no means exhausted. Technological development keeps offering new chances for innovative solutions.

2. Good Design makes a product useful
A product is bought in order to be used. It must serve a defined purpose – in both primary and additional functions. The most important task of design is to optimise the utility of a product.

3. Good Design is aesthetic
The aesthetic quality of a product – and the fascination it inspires – is an integral part of the its utility. Without doubt, it is uncomfortable and tiring to have to put up with products that are confusing, that get on your nerves, that you are unable to relate to. However, it has always been a hard task to argue about aesthetic quality, for two reasons.

Firstly, it is difficult to talk about anything visual, since words have a different meaning for different people.

Secondly, aesthetic quality deals with details, subtle shades, harmony and the equilibrium of a whole variety of visual elements. A good eye is required, schooled by years and years of experience, in order to be able to draw the right conclusion.

4. Good Design helps a product be understood
It clarifies the structure of the product. Better still, it can make the product talk. At best, it is self-explanatory and saves you the long, tedious perusal of the operating manual.

5. Good Design is unobtrusive
Products that satisfy this criterion are tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained leaving room for the user’s self-expression.

6. Good Design is honest
An honestly-designed product must not claim features it does not have – being more innovative, more efficient, of higher value. It must not influence or manipulate buyers and users.

7. Good Design is durable
It is nothing trendy that might be out-of-date tomorrow. This is one of the major differences between well-designed products and trivial objects for a waste-producing society. Waste must no longer be tolerated.

8. Good Design is thorough to the last detail
Thoroughness and accuracy of design are synonymous with the product and its functions, as seen through the eyes of the user

9. Good Design is concerned with environment
Design must contribute towards a stable environment and a sensible use of raw materials. This means considering not only actual pollution, but also the visual pollution and destruction of our environment.

10. Good Design is as little design as possible
Back to purity, back to simplicity.

Quote extracted from Vitsoe, and do visit their site for some great images of Dieter’s work.

Videos

Dieter Rams, designer – Cold War Modern from Victoria and Albert Museum on Vimeo.

Braun T1000, designer Dieter Rams – Cold War Modern from Victoria and Albert Museum on Vimeo.

Links

Check out the links for tons of pictures of designs by Dieter Rams.

1) Braun products and Apple design

2) Design Museum

3) Dieter Rams talks to Design Boom.

4) Dieter Rams at Wallpaper as a Guest Editor.

5) Dieter Rams at Vitsoe

See video below.