#3
“Good design, when it’s done well, becomes invisible. It’s only when it’s done poorly that we notice it.” Those are the words of Jared Spool, an American writer, researcher and usability expert. And we couldn't agree more.
But while bad design can be funny, there are times when it is no laughing matter. There's an entire book dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers of bad design. Written by Jonathan Shariat and Cynthia Savard Saucier, Tragic Design explains the impact of poorly designed products, and outlines how they can anger, sadden, exclude, and even end the lives of people who use them.
One of the stories features tells how a younger cancer patient might have still been alive had designers paid more attention when designing the hospital's new software.
The girl, who isn't named in the book, was put on new medication while in hospital. The meds were so strong that she required pre- and post-hydration for three days during treatment periods. Nurses looking after her had to enter important data into medical software and also follow up on her status.
"Although they used the software diligently and cared for Jenny, somehow they missed the critical information about her three-day hydration requirements on the interface," reports the UX Studio team. This had fatal results...
The young patient passed away the day after her treatment, due to toxicity and dehydration. According to Tragic Design, had the software interface been better designed, a young life may not have been lost.
#12
Badly designed furniture can also lead to accidents and even cost lives. According to the Dolman Law Group, Murphy beds are a common culprit. Murphy beds, in case you're unfamiliar with the term, are also known as wall beds. They're hinged on one side and can be folded upright to save space.
One case involved a Staten Island man who was crushed while a Murphy bed was being installed in his home. "In another incident, a woman was sleeping in a Murphy bed when it suddenly collapsed," reports the law firm. Neither of them survived.
The Dolman Law Group reveals that a child in the United States is injured every 24 minutes from furniture or televisions tipping over. While this isn't always due to bad design, sometimes it is.
"In June 2016, the CPSC and IKEA North America recalled all chests and dressers that failed to comply with voluntary industry standard requirements," note Dolman's legal experts, adding that the recalled chests and dressers were unstable if they were not properly anchored to the wall.
"The chests and dressers were hazardous to consumers and particularly children, with the potential to cause serious injuries, entrapment, or [loss of life]. Over 29 million units of chests and dressers were recalled," they said.
Even a simple sign done wrong, or placed incorrectly, can lead to injuries or fatalities. "For example, if you place an 'Exit' sign next to a window instead of a door, people could become trapped in a room during an emergency," warns the Sign Manager site.
It also cautions that poorly designed or maintained signage can create compliance issues. If a regulatory body finds that a company’s signage doesn’t meet their standards, they can impose fines or even shut down the operation until the problems are fixed, say the experts.
#20
