Scott Berkun's "Why Design is Hard" offers a candid look at the challenges designers face in navigating organizational dynamics. The book explores the "ego trap," where designers' self-perception hinders their effectiveness. It delves into the complexities of power structures and the need for designers to develop negotiation skills. Berkun emphasizes the importance of building relationships and understanding organizational politics to achieve design goals. Ultimately, the book provides practical strategies for designers to overcome obstacles and gain more influence.
Scott Berkun's "How Design Makes the World" explores the pervasive influence of design in shaping our daily lives. It examines design principles across various domains, from everyday objects to complex systems. The book highlights the often-unseen role of design in creating user-friendly experiences and solving practical problems. Berkun emphasizes the importance of understanding design thinking to appreciate its impact on society. It's a valuable resource for anyone interested in the broader implications of design.
Scott Berkun's "The Myths of Innovation" challenges common misconceptions about the innovation process. It explores the organizational cultures and practices that foster or hinder innovation. The book examines case studies of successful R&D labs, highlighting the importance of autonomy and trust in creative environments. Berkun debunks myths surrounding innovation, offering a more realistic and practical approach to fostering creativity and new ideas. It's a valuable resource for understanding the complexities of innovation in organizations.
In this book, Don Norman discusses how design should be centered around the user's needs, emphasizing the importance of visibility, natural relationships between controls and functions, and the intelligent use of constraints. He argues that poor design, rather than user ineptness, is often the cause of frustration with everyday objects. The book covers various aspects of design, including affordances, signifiers, and the seven stages of action, providing a comprehensive guide to creating user-friendly products.
Don't Make Me Think is a book that focuses on the principles of human–computer interaction and web usability. It argues that good software programs and websites should allow users to accomplish their tasks as easily and directly as possible. The book highlights the importance of designing for scanning rather than reading, using conventions and visual hierarchies, and conducting usability testing. It also includes updated chapters on mobile usability and practical advice on navigation structure and user-centered design. The book is known for its brevity, wit, and use of real-life examples to illustrate good and bad design practices[1][2][4].
In this book, Bill Burnett and Dave Evans apply the principles of design thinking to help readers design and build a life that is both meaningful and fulfilling. The authors, who are also educators at Stanford University, emphasize the importance of prototyping, experimentation, and iteration in life design. They provide practical exercises and tools to help readers navigate life's challenges and create a future that aligns with their values and aspirations. The book is based on their highly successful course at Stanford and has been widely praised for its empowering and practical approach to life design.
As designers, we sometimes get caught up in our egos. I’m the creative one on the team. I’m the one who should have the final say on these designs. I’m misunderstood, and I feel like I’m always having to teach people a new language.
Find full show notes and bonus content on our Substack: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/scott-berkun-why-design-is-hard
Author Scott Berkun has a new book called Why Design is Hard, which dives into why this “ego trap” limits designers' effectiveness in their roles. We welcome him back on the show to discuss this new book, and also discuss how designers can learn to navigate organizational power structures and gain more influence over decisions that affect their work, how the myth of the “design hero” shapes young designers entering the field, and why design schools often fail to prepare students for the real-world dynamics of organizational culture and power.
Bio
Scott Berkun is a bestselling author and popular speaker on UX design, innovation, leading teams, public speaking and other subjects. He’s published nine books, including How Design Makes The World, The Myths of Innovation, Confessions of a Public Speaker, and The Year Without Pants. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, The Guardian, Wired magazine, USA Today, Fast Company, National Public Radio, CNN, NPR, MSNBC and other media. His popular blog is at scottberkun.com and he tweets at @berkun.
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