Published by:
Harvard Business Publishing
Length: 6 pages
Topics:
Innovation; Product design
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https://casecent.re/p/45831
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Abstract
The mission of industrial design has traditionally been to support engineering and marketing by improving the look and feel of a product. But a handful of pioneering companies--such as Thomson Consumer Electronics, Apple Computer, and Northern Telecom--are extending the parameters of design, pushing to the forefront something that has been an afterthought at most companies: a product''s usability. User-centered design goes beyond ergonomics to encompass the cognitive aspects of using a product, or how logical and natural a product is to use, as well as the emotional aspects, or how people feel about using it. Thomson, for example, has declared that all its entertainment products must be engaging, foster a sense of discovery, and eliminate fear. And Northern Telecom has defined usability as simplicity, ease of use, and conspicuous customer value. Photographs of Thomson''s System Link universal remote, Apple''s PowerBook computer, and Northern Telecom''s Vista modular phone illustrate how the new definition of usability can be incorporated into products.
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Abstract
The mission of industrial design has traditionally been to support engineering and marketing by improving the look and feel of a product. But a handful of pioneering companies--such as Thomson Consumer Electronics, Apple Computer, and Northern Telecom--are extending the parameters of design, pushing to the forefront something that has been an afterthought at most companies: a product''s usability. User-centered design goes beyond ergonomics to encompass the cognitive aspects of using a product, or how logical and natural a product is to use, as well as the emotional aspects, or how people feel about using it. Thomson, for example, has declared that all its entertainment products must be engaging, foster a sense of discovery, and eliminate fear. And Northern Telecom has defined usability as simplicity, ease of use, and conspicuous customer value. Photographs of Thomson''s System Link universal remote, Apple''s PowerBook computer, and Northern Telecom''s Vista modular phone illustrate how the new definition of usability can be incorporated into products.