Designed for Use, 2nd Edition

Idea Chapters

While technique chapters introduce specific techniques and explain how to apply them, idea chapters are less specific. They introduce concepts and are mostly meant as sources of inspiration, rather than as strict rules. Some of the idea chapters mention techniques or refer to technique chapters, but they focus on more general concepts: How realistic should design be? How can we use animation most effectively? What are modes? What can we learn from video games?

You can identify idea chapters by the light bulb on the first page.

The ideas in these chapters may not always apply to the projects you’re working on, because to some degree, people are unpredictable. When using your products, they don’t always behave as you expect them ...