Apps - It's about time.

Receiving a deluge of images or words is like anything deluge-like - it's a deluge. Probably unhelpful, certainly irritating, lobotomy inducing, likely to be ignored - all in equal proportions. So why do it? Well, sadly because we can.

The world is unfortunately populated with mediocre design and designers ill equipped for what is about to hit us all.

If it's unsolicited it will tossed into the nearest bin as rubbish. If it’s solicited and deluge-like then the question has to be - "do you care that I engage with this – at all?" Yet we all still do it. It’s totally unnecessary.

The craft of telling complex stories simply is a lost art. Look at the majority of Power Point. (No don’t) See any proposal, entertain any presentation from anyone. The stand out ones are those that have wrangled with the deluge - and won. They have honored my time.

In the world of iPads and similar technologies we have a potential for elegance or blithering idiocy. Rather like desk-top publishing, everyone and their cat will be on the appwagon. Holy confusion Batman!

If design was ever the consummate skill then now is that time. I'm already seeing dreadfully thought through and banal designs in applications. I'm lost – bad form over average function - dreadful tack. Ruining my iPad, wasting my time - so I delete it. Already gone.

A top performing application will follow the following criteria.

• It won’t waste my time.
• I always know where I am.
• I'm encouraged - wisely - to know why and where I'm going.
• And I can get back to safety from there too.
• And it won’t waste my time.
• Did I mention wasting my time?
  

Yes I will want to wipe, pinch, drag, tap, magnify, edit and everything any first time user will get within a minute. Table stakes. Stunning information design.

The other question is in the title. What is its application? What will I get?

• If I want to read, make it legible. Straight away.
• If I want to be entertained – do it with quality and design.
• Tell me a story that makes sense and is meaningful to me.
• If a picture or symbol is required and tells the story better then fine. But it had better add to the experience.
• A great image, first rate captions, narrative close at hand – bring it on.
• I always know why I'm here and where I go next.
• Don’t make me have to work at it because there are plenty other requests for my time.
  

Never waste my time because I ain’t coming back.

Posted via email from Just Thinking!