Help systems are a good thing in certain situations or designs. They do work, but should only be used in a case where needed. If you can make a design obvious enough, they are not needed. Some designs or applications are complicated so the user can get the most out of them and in those citations, tutorials are the most useful. If a design is obvious enough, it does not need a help system at all.
When developing personas for Project 5, there are two categories on whom to focus in my mind.
Those being the superhero's personal fans and fans of the superhero genre as a whole. The superhero's personal fans are the most important to please, however, it is also important to make sure the design makes sense for the fans of the genre. It is a good outside look on your design to make sure this isn't just a selfish interest.
When developing personas for Project 5, there are two categories on whom to focus in my mind.
Those being the superhero's personal fans and fans of the superhero genre as a whole. The superhero's personal fans are the most important to please, however, it is also important to make sure the design makes sense for the fans of the genre. It is a good outside look on your design to make sure this isn't just a selfish interest.
I agree with your opinion about HELP systems. I just wonder if obvious design is free from any flaw. If an obvious design means perfect, then I agree with your last phrase in your first paragraph.
ReplyDeleteMichael,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point about how help systems are very useful at some times, but also not needed at other times depending on how obvious the design is. Sometimes if a design is obvious enough, too much of a presence from a help system would be very annoying and unproductive. However, the more difficult a design gets it is hard to know how much more of a factor help systems need to play and thats where it can get complicated.