PointConcept

I have been thinking about design and usability a lot lately. About keeping design simple and how we sometimes go for the flashy tool when a simpler one works better.

Take shaving, its a fairly simple repetitive task. At its simplest you need some lubricant (not soap) and a sharp edge. But we can improve on that, we have lubricant which really lubricates and at the same time makes your face come alive in the morning. Why stop at one blade? Have two and lubricant. No wait better yet have 3, no 4! that’s it…. for now.

Now  I have tried many variations of the ingredients for a good shave. The old Wilkinson sword classic, Gillette all sorts and lastly a 4 blade thing from Schick. I have tried foam, gell, King shave and water.  I have found that gell clogs the razors especially when you get to 4 blades. I have found that for me three blades with foam works best. I have used that combination for a few years. Then a recently tried a 4 blade razor. It seems that three blades is just right, there is enough space between the blades for the water to wash the hair out. I have thick course hair. But four just clogged up and reduced my shave experience. So now I am back at three.

The shaving companies need to convince us that “they” hold the new secret to the perfect shave. “The best yet” the “improved”. They have to do this as like most producers they are in a tug of war for our pennies. But this means that sometimes the designers come up with things which seem like a good idea and worked well in their lab. But does not work so well in practice. But hey they sold loads anyway.  Sometimes they will add something just because they can. Instead of saying we really have made this the best there is at doing this job, lets hold it up as an example and find something else to make money. More honest, and more useful.

Business tools are a bit like this. We are attracted to the new shiny software, the one which does it all. then we try to make it fir into our process. Rather than finding out what our process is and then looking for a tool which fits it. And looking for the simplest one which will require the easiest maintenance and is totally designed for just that job. A good engineer has the right size spanner for the job not a monkey wrench.

But it takes time to find those tools, which is why its always worth talking to someone who spends their time doing just that. Sit with them and work out what your process is. Then send them off to source the best tool for the job. Try it out implement it and get on with business. Or realize that you are already using the best tool and stay with it. If your consultant is loyal to you and not his commission he will tell you you have the best tool already.