Which is a type of research where information is gathered through observation, interviews, and casual conversations. It’s qualitative research which is not controlled enough to follow the scientific method.

But it is insightful.

A sample size will never represent all audience members with 100% accuracy.

A dirty bucket, but most people didn’t use them. Trash in the early 19th century was thrown to the curb on the ground. Growing cities were struggling with systematically keeping streets clean. Paris was littered. People died from disease spread by trash.

You’re not prepared how you envisioned.

The drawing is not good and the pin up starts in 5 minutes.

Every time you sketch, wear a shirt, send a message, make a suggestion, or deliver a product, you’re opening yourself up to criticism.

It’s almost synonymous with the fear of missing out. Neophilia is the love for unfamiliar, innovative, and novel things. It’s a double edged sword because on one hand it can lead to adaptability and resilience. Having to constantly learn new things trains your brain to understand how other new things will work. But on the other hand it’s wasteful.

That doesn’t mean boring and minimalist.

A blank page has edges so it has limits.

Planned obsolescence is the practice of designing products to have a limited lifespan and must be replaced within a determined timeframe.

Studying change means that you can identify the difference between what is now and what was before. It’s a simple concept that can be easy to over look and difficult to describe. There are many types of change to be aware of.

Something small and made from plastic or metal could be put it in a 3D scanner or find a reference image could be found for Ai to scan. An identical part or a missing piece could be created without needing many technical skills. If people could have access to smart 3D printing, product models could be crowdsourced.

That’s why Heath is the best candy bar. The toffee has a satisfying feel like pushing a firm button that has a deep clunk. Most buttons are similar to other buttons, but sometimes one in particular steals the show. Differentiation can be expressed through details because people form strong opinions around them. Maybe it’s worth investing a little extra to give it that crunch.

In the late 1980s, soft drinks took grip on America. Pepsi had Michael Jackson and Coke replaced “New Coke” with their original formula under the name “Coca-Cola Classic”. Snapple was growing rapidly and Quaker just built the Gatorade empire using textbook business strategy. In the early 90s, Quaker acquired Snapple in what marketers refer to as the worst acquisition of all time.

It’s easier for me to work in a clean workspace and an organized environment. Everything’s in it’s place.

Data will always generate more accurate direction than estimations. Many resources are scattered around the internet and this list could be much longer. But for most of the Anthropometric work that product designers take on, the first two links will be more than what they’ll ever need. If you want to design for people, it’s important to understand people.

Human brains are hardwired by evolution to be drawn to certain shapes, colors and patterns because they were important for our ancestor’s survival. To subconsciously determine that a person is a person, we look at their body and their face. Your form and face are your primary, universal components used to express body language. It’s what we sent to space on the Pioneer Plaque for alien civilizations to know who made the spacecraft.

Books are left aligned because it is easier to read text that is aligned in this way. When text is centered, it can be difficult to find the beginning of each line. It would feel chaotic reading a book formatted this way. It’s difficult to follow the text and can lead to eye strain.

Left aligned text creates an anchor for the eye. It creates a sense of structure. When in doubt, align left and not centered.

One of the most important principles of design is to generate many thoughtful ideas as a means to find a great idea. This is how we develop language skills. We try different words and phrases when we’re young and develop speaking patterns that express ourselves as we age. It’s how we live our lives. When we decorate our homes, organize our work, and choose what to wear, we are making design decisions. We are all capable of creativity, not because we can be taught to design, but because it’s a fundamental part of being human.