The knowing

Great comedians, like Jerry Seinfeld, don’t try to make their audience members laugh non-stop. Stand up comedy’s purpose is not to make us laugh, laughter is a byproduct. Even Carlin and Dangerfield, who often did keep their audience laughing nonstop, were there for the same reason as the audience.

It’s for the craft, it’s for stories, but mostly it’s for the knowing. Knowing Laughter, yes, but I would argue that the broader concept of communal laughter has potential to share a knowing. Both the comedian and the audience go to a theatre to experience belonging through human connection. Laughter is a vulnerable expression which is why topics that challenge our beliefs pair well with comedy. Being vulnerable with others, like laughing, is an opportunity to feel connection. We go to a comedy show not just to laugh, but to be around others who are like us.

Additionally, human-centered product design does not exist only to identify and solve for user needs. Nearly all designers I speak with are designers because they want to help people. The reason why Human Centered Design exists is because we respond better to a product that is just like us.