Comments on: Is it a designer's job to change behavior? http://www.peoplefirstdesign.com/blog/is-it-a-designers-job-to-change-behavior/ A learning designer's thoughts on interaction, experience, and human-centered design. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:09:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: People First Design» Blog Archive » My Thoughts on “Thoughts on Thoughts on Interaction Design” http://www.peoplefirstdesign.com/blog/is-it-a-designers-job-to-change-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-16 People First Design» Blog Archive » My Thoughts on “Thoughts on Thoughts on Interaction Design” Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:46:02 +0000 http://chadcamara.com/blog/?p=34#comment-16 [...] Kolko’s Thoughts on Interaction Design.  While I am new to this whole design thing, I have previously posted about my uneasiness with the claim that we design [...] [...] Kolko’s Thoughts on Interaction Design.  While I am new to this whole design thing, I have previously posted about my uneasiness with the claim that we design [...]

]]> By: Matt Snyder http://www.peoplefirstdesign.com/blog/is-it-a-designers-job-to-change-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Matt Snyder Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:45:14 +0000 http://chadcamara.com/blog/?p=34#comment-13 I too cringe when I hear designers say the their job is to change behavior. Changing behavior may be one approach to solving problems, but like you said – so is changing systems. I recently read in Wired an article about the change that US automobile manufactures need to make in order to stay competitive... this article included information about startups that were reinventing engine components to increase fuel efficiency, MPG, etc. Simply by redesigning simple components like spark plugs, timing belts, and transmissions would increase efficiency (i.e. changing the system). To me, this is a great example of changing the system of the automobile to yield greater mileage instead of trying to get people to change their driving habits and behavior. On that note, I do think that changing behavior is still one of the tools for designers, but it shouldn't be the end goal. I too cringe when I hear designers say the their job is to change behavior. Changing behavior may be one approach to solving problems, but like you said – so is changing systems. I recently read in Wired an article about the change that US automobile manufactures need to make in order to stay competitive… this article included information about startups that were reinventing engine components to increase fuel efficiency, MPG, etc. Simply by redesigning simple components like spark plugs, timing belts, and transmissions would increase efficiency (i.e. changing the system). To me, this is a great example of changing the system of the automobile to yield greater mileage instead of trying to get people to change their driving habits and behavior.

On that note, I do think that changing behavior is still one of the tools for designers, but it shouldn’t be the end goal.

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