Title: Design Changes and Power
Context: People only fear the change they don’t have any control over.
Synopsis: Personally, I love nothing more than software updates. Getting that popup telling me to download the newest version of the software I’m using is like an unexpected present. I look forward to spotting the alterations in the UI and deciding if that’s how I would have done them. I enjoy this to the point that if there is no obviously discernible change in the interaction patterns I feel cheated. But I guess that’s because I’m plugged into that world professionally. Most people do not feel the same way when their particular application or platform launches it’s latest facelift. Know how your Facebook timeline explodes with people screaming bloody murder because they had the temerity to move a few buttons around. Yeah. That. People come to feel ownership of the interfaces they regularly engage with, and this means that they can irrationally resent any change in that contractual ownership without what they feel to be due process. So the next time you want to roll out a the latest and greatest version of your kick-ass software, spend a little time thinking about how the people who really own that product are going to feel about it first.
Best Bit: “One moment you’re using the old interface, and then when you sign in later in the day you may find that something has been changed. It’s a little bit like coming back home only to find your furniture re-arranged.”
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