Good Design Applies to More Than Just Buildings and Structures
Good design is not limited to physical architecture but applies to processes such as clinical trials, cockpit interfaces, and organizational roles, balancing multiple goals like purpose, usability, clarity, sustainability, and budget.
THE IDEA
Good Design Applies to More Than Just Buildings and Structures
Design choices shape many processes, including:
- The design of a clinical trial to answer its research question reliably.6
- Cockpit design, so the crew in a cockpit have critical information without being overloaded.
- The design of appropriate roles, responsibilities, accountabilities and authorities (R2A2), so key people working on a goal, or managing risk, know who does what, with proper checks and balances.
However, getting the right design can be a challenge since it can involve achieving a range of different goals, such as (i) serving the purpose needed, (ii) being easy to use, (iii) being clear and uncluttered and, in today's world, (iv) being sustainable, and all within an agreed budget.7
Thus, it should be no surprise that designing skyscrapers, production plants, offices, computer systems, etc., can be very demanding and requires a great deal of skill and specialist knowledge.
When to use it
Designing a new software interface to ensure it is intuitive and efficient.
Organizing a team’s workflow and defining clear roles and responsibilities.
Planning a scientific experiment to maximize reliability and validity.
Designing a public policy process that is transparent and accessible to stakeholders.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Clinical Trial Design
A clinical trial is designed to answer its research question reliably, including the possibility that the tested intervention does not work.
Cockpit Design
Cockpit design so the crew have critical information without being overloaded.
R2A2 Design
Design of roles, responsibilities, accountabilities and authorities so key people know who does what, with proper checks and balances.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
Think of a system or process you interact with daily. How well does it balance the goals of purpose, ease of use, clarity, sustainability, and budget?
How can you apply the principles of good design to your own work or projects? Identify one area where design could be improved.
What are some examples of poor design you have encountered, and which design goals were neglected?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Beyond the Five Whys Root Cause Analysis and Systems Thinking (James C. Paterson)