Scott Berkun, a bestselling author known for his insights into design and innovation, discusses how design shapes the world. He explains the differences in thinking between designers and engineers, using relatable examples to demystify design concepts. The conversation touches on ethical dilemmas in UX design, drawing parallels to deep-sea anglerfish to illustrate unintended consequences. Berkun advocates for a focus on meaningful design solutions, especially in addressing societal challenges, like improving vaccine distribution during the pandemic.
Design shapes user experiences and interactions, yet many outside the field fail to recognize its broader significance beyond aesthetics.
Fostering appreciation for design can be achieved by reframing conversations to focus on people's experiences with objects and services.
Collaboration between designers and engineers necessitates mutual understanding and communication to align priorities and enhance problem-solving capabilities.
Deep dives
The Pervasiveness of Design
Design impacts almost every aspect of modern life, yet many people outside the design community fail to recognize its significance. While designers view design as a fundamental component that shapes our objects, environments, and experiences, non-designers often construe it merely as aesthetics or superficial decoration. To bridge this gap in understanding, it's vital for designers to communicate the importance and scope of design in relatable terms. By illustrating how various products influence user behavior and shaping everyday interactions, one can foster appreciation for design's significance in a broader context.
Reframing the Conversation about Design
Engaging individuals who lack design knowledge requires reframing discussions to focus on their experiences rather than abstract principles. A useful approach is asking them about objects or services they love and hate, prompting them to inadvertently use design language. By guiding the conversation towards their preferences and frustrations, designers can effectively showcase their role as problem solvers aiming to create better user experiences. This method not only ignites interest but also highlights how thoughtful design can enhance overall satisfaction.
Understanding Different Perspectives: Designers vs. Engineers
There exists a divide in thinking styles between designers and engineers, largely stemming from their differing focuses and training. While engineers often concentrate on practical constraints and functional building, designers might prioritize aesthetics and user experience. To achieve successful collaboration, designers need to articulate how design thinking contributes to solving specific problems and enhancing user interactions. Recognizing that engineering and design overlap, both disciplines can benefit from understanding the value each brings to the table and how their contributions make for comprehensive solutions.
Addressing Communication Breakdowns
Communication breakdowns between designers and engineers often stem from misaligned priorities, which can result in tension within teams. One effective way to mitigate this is for design leaders to facilitate understanding and collaboration within the organization, empowering both roles to appreciate each other's contributions. Trust is vital in such relationships, and designers must cultivate it over time by demonstrating the value of design in meeting collective goals. In doing so, designers can frame their proposals as opportunities rather than additional burdens, fostering a positive environment for collaboration.
The Role of Organizational Culture in Design Success
Organizational culture plays a crucial role in determining the effectiveness of design teams, significantly impacting outcomes far more than individual talent. Issues such as design by dysfunction, design by committee, and design by regulation often arise when team dynamics and decision-making processes are flawed. Consequently, teams might struggle to produce high-quality design work, as internal disputes or bureaucracy hinder creativity. Emphasizing the importance of healthy team relationships can improve the overall design output and ensure that effective design principles are upheld in practice.
Show notes: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/scott-berkun
Do you have a colleague who just doesn’t get what design is all about? Or maybe you’ve tried explaining it to your parents, but they just respond by asking you to fix their printer.
If that’s the case, then Scott Berkun has written a book for you, to give to them. It’s called How Design Makes the World, and it’s a great beginner’s guide to how design shapes just about everything we interact with in modern society, for better or for worse.
It is also a good refresher for those of us who are more well-versed in design. Scott—who has written other bestselling books like TheMyths of Innovation and Making Things Happen—does a great job of distilling design concepts down into everyday examples that are accessible and engaging.
In our conversation, we chat with Scott about the differences in thinking between designers and engineers, what UX design has to do with deep-sea anglerfish, and how good design is often shaped by understanding the constraints on a product.