Thursday, February 10, 2005

Less is More - How to Reduce Interaction Complexity in Product Design

We have all experienced years of more - more speed, more functionality, and more complexity. We've experienced it everywhere. We have more efficiency in our homes, more amenities in our transportation, and more challenge in our jobs. And everyone knows more is always better.

Or is it? For our February 10th UPA meeting, Scott Jenson will be discussing the concept of "Less is More." Scott is a mobile device guru, a renowned product designer, and an author of design books. After years of witnessing the movement to cram greater complexity into smaller and smaller devices, Scott has been revisiting the concept of simplicity in design. He has graciously agreed to share some of his thoughts with UPA Minnesota chapter.

This is a great topic for experienced users as well as those new to the field. Those that have been designing for a while may hear ideas on how to get off the run-away complexity train, while folks just starting out will learn about pitfalls to avoid.

If you, or someone you know, would like to attend, please register by emailing events@upamn.org that you will attend. (Please note this is a new email address!)

Meeting Details:

Date/Time:
February 10, 2005, 6:00 PM
Place:
US Bank, RiverBank Business Center
Address:
2751 Shepard Road, St. Paul, MN 55116 (View Map)
Host:
US Bank RiverBank Usability Team
Speaker:
Scott Jenson
Topic:
Less is More - How to reduce interaction complexity in product design

Agenda:

About Our Speaker and The Topic

Scott Jenson has been doing user interface design and strategic planning for 20 years. He worked at Apple on System 7, Newton, and the Apple Human Interface Guidelines. For 3 years, he was the director of Symbian's DesignLab in London, managing 20 people to design, prototype, user test, and specify future mobile wireless products. Following that, he was VP of product design for Cognima, Ltd.

As a battle scarred veteran of the software industry, Scott has shipped a consumer spreadsheet, been a part of 2 Mac OS releases, 5 Newton product cycles, 4 commercial web site revisions, designed 3 different mobile phone UIs, run dozens of usability trials and focus groups, has 10 patents granted, and 20 more under consideration.

Scott's speaking topic is "Less is More" a discussion on how to reduce interaction complexity in product design. While most designers understand there is a need for 'simplicity' in a product design it is hard to always know what that is, or how to obtain it. Often, there is a certain prejudice against even trying to acheive 'simplicity', as such attempts are often seen as "dumbing down" a device.

"Less is More" is not about designing for morons. It is about identifying needless complexity that hurts every level of user. This talk is a first step in establishing some design vocabulary so these issues can be identified and solutions offered.

Scott's book "The Simplicity Shift: Innovative Design in a Corporate World" was published by Cambridge University Press in 2002. Scott also helped found TwinCHI in Minneapolis before he moved to London, England.

Cost & Registration

 

If you or someone you know would like to attend, please register by emailing events@upamn.org that you will attend.

Directions & Map:

map to US Bank

Driving Directions:

From the East or Northeast:

  1. Take I-35E South then take the MN-5/West 7TH ST exit- exit number 103B
  2. Turn RIGHT onto FORT RD/MN-5/W 7TH ST
  3. Turn LEFT onto MONTREAL AVE
  4. Then turn RIGHT onto ELWAY ST
  5. Turn RIGHT onto SHEPARD RD. US Bank is right next to the Buca restaurant
  6. Enter the building at the main entrance on the East side (not the side with the big awning)
  7. You'll need to check-in and be escorted to the meeting room.

From the Southeast:

  1. Take I-35E North to SHEPARD RD.
  2. Go LEFT on SHEPARD RD. to US Bank building on the right (approx. 2 miles)
  3. Take the driveway in and look for the main entrance with Visitor Parking (does not have a big awning)

From the West or Southwest:

  1. Take I-494 South/East (towards the airport)
  2. Merge onto MN-5 East toward MAIN TERM./ST PAUL VIA 7TH
  3. Take the NORFOLK AVE exit
  4. Turn RIGHT onto DAVERN ST/DAVERN AVE
  5. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto SHEPARD RD
  6. US Bank is right next to the Buca restaurant
  7. Enter the building at the main entrance on the East side (not the side with the big awning)
  8. You'll need to check-in and be escorted to the meeting room.

From the Northwest:

  1. I-394 East to 94 East
  2. I-94 East to 35W South
  3. I-35W South to 62 East
  4. HWY 62 East to HWY. 5 North/East (St. Paul Exit)
  5. HWY 5. to SHEPARD RD. (1st exit)
  6. Stay to your right going up the exit and turn LEFT onto SHEPARD RD. at the traffic lights.
  7. Riverbank Business Center will be on your left. (US Bank is right next to the Buca restaurant.) Take the driveway in and look for the main entrance with Visitor Parking (does not have a big awning)
  8. You'll need to check-in and be escorted to the meeting room.

MapQuest map & directions from your location

Help Spread the Word:

Know someone interested in usability? Feel free to invite them to an upcoming meeting. Visitors are always welcome. Please forward this announcement to other area professionals who might have an interest in UPA-MN meetings or activities.

Upcoming Meetings & Events:

Do you have an idea for a future meeting or know someone you think would be a good speaker? Contact our Program Directors (ProgramDirector@upamn.org) with your suggestions.

Last update: January 28, 2005