With “design beyond interface”, how should interface designers fit in that reality? Interface designers will be:
- An interface that mediates automation: an ethical data practitioner, a thoughtful observer of unpredictable human behavior.
- An interface that mediates information: a multi-disciplinary human who balances challenges across different stakeholders.
- An interface that mediates communication: an empathetic human who values emotions over numbers.
It is increasingly critical to be a participant designer. Yet, it is important to acknowledge and embrace the identity of interface designers as human beings first and foremost. We have to acknowledge that:
- Designers are more than functional machines. Design can also bring value such as joy.
- Designers need good people and teams to thrive. We have to always recognize that being creative sometimes is very expensive. The experience working with talented people and open culture is a luxury.
- Designers are pragmatic, who take incremental steps to change the world.
- Designers are thoughtful, questions are a provocative tool.
- Designers celebrate the messiness of humanity, because we have hope in humanity, not numbers.
This is a chapter of the thought on “Design Beyond Interface”. If you are interested in reading more, you can find the table of content here.
I am an interaction designer. You can find me at https://mikibin.design/.
