Feature: The Myths as a Defining Narrative

John Knight and Marie Jefsioutine of User-Lab, who recently brought us The Persistence of Usability Myths, give typical narratives for designer, usability professional and critic, assembled from commentators in the field - don't they sound parodic when assembled in this way?

Web designers' narrative
Web designers are a community that use a visual language that people are getting used to. They communicate fresh and innovative statements that are driving the web into the future. Some think that users are uniformly stupid whilst others think they are human and are getting used to computers. More credit should be given to users than the gurus give them. It depends whether sites need moronically basic navigation and speedy download times or whiz-bang branding or a cool user experience. Web designers are frustrated and take a beating from the gurus who see designers as being too touchy feely. These gurus are 99% bad as they focus on problems are rational, blunt and work by the book. The usability movement enforces simple rules that dumb down design for stupid users. Because the gurus think the web is 99% bad they are concerned with speed and efficiency, not emotions. Suddenly the pesky gurus are everywhere and designers are caught between the cult of the user and demanding clients. The gurus think that designers violate usability rules, guidelines, standards, and principles and indoctrinate the corporate movers and shakers. However, whilst usability was a hot issue its fading: in fact usability is dead.

Usability Professionals' narrative
The usability community blames designers who should do their job correctly through the guidance and education of usability folks. This is best done through a guide since it is apparent that developers and designers would not use a central UI person as a resource. Experienced designers, however, are able to articulate usability principles and so don't need extra usability help. Badly designed products have to be fixed by removing flaws and problems. Whilst they work mainly in software they think the web is great and offers the opportunity to create interfaces. They are passionate about users and are trained specialists with scientific aptitude and skills in analysis, experimental design, observation and testing. To them design is a process. Companies often see them as a luxury and sacrifice their work. These folks have to prove their worth and should be valued because there is often not the time for expensive usability testing. They're on the outside, justifying their logical processes and their future is to become designers. At the moment they make designers angry. Because usability can be easily monetized the larger development companies see it as guaranteeing success. However, usability as they know it is dying or thriving but is held in low esteem. They work doing usability or HCI research which means dying in anonymity. The dominance of one key thinker has led to a frustration with the authority he commands, but because the community is lazy and its professional bodies aren't useful that's a comfortable if sterile formula to work to.

The critics' narrative
The usability movement comprises Jakob Nielsen and Steve Krug. The rise of usability coincides with stagnation in IT spending and is symptomatic of a lack of faith in our ability to transform society. As an antidote to the excesses of the 1990s, the rising prominence of usability is due to touching upon many of today's nervous business concerns. Companies want to avoid risk and fret over customer loyalty. The Usability elite is made up of hip 20 and 30 somethings intent imposing their inclusive designs on humans who were happy before they changed it. Despite worshiping users, the Gurus have a diminished view of the user who is an impatient, harassed imbecile unable to cope with the slightest cognitive stress. Users are treated with disdain as if they are in a zoo. By testing away innovative ideas the gurus anti-intellectual standards and guidelines are premature and banal. For the critics, people can adapt, learn new tricks and have skills talents and improvisations. By advocating design for the lowest common denominator, the usability movement has a highly conservative view of technology that chimes with today's economic climate.

John Knight and Marie Jefsioutine,
User-Lab

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