Thoughts on Design Standardization

In “The Design of Everyday Things,” Don Norman has a section on the confusion of technology when it is not uniform across all iterations of a product. This means that when users encounter a new version of a product, they have to relearn how to use it every time. The main example he gave regarded stovetops. Stovetops have multiple burners, usually four, for cooking. In a handy design decision that is widely accepted by all stove manufacturers, one doesn’t have to turn on all four at once to cook on only one or two burners. However, in a not-so-handy design decision, the way the technology communicates to the user which knob corresponds to which burner is not uniform at all. Norman shared a graphic with four possible layouts of a stovetop, all of which were equally confusing regarding which knob corresponds to which burner.

Reading this led me to reflect on other products whose different versions have caused me trouble. The use of a stovetop was a fantastic example, and the discussion and graphic from Norman caused me to appreciate the two houses I’ve lived in thus far. They both had small diagrams replicating the stovetop next to the knobs. The corresponding burner for the knob in question would be shaded in, while the others were not. This gave me and my family a quick and clear example of which burner would heat up if the knob was turned. However, my reflection led me to realize that even after years of using the same stovetop, I still double-check to ensure I’m turning the right knob before I begin cooking. My family does the same. If one still checks the same stove they’ve used for years, how can one be expected to seamlessly transition to another stove without issue when visiting a friend’s home or on vacation?

Also mentioned in Norman's book was the differences in showers. Visiting a friend’s house can lead to an awkward conversation when asking how to use the shower faucet. Why is it that showers, a fairly simple technology, can be be so confusing one has to sheepishly ask their friend or the front desk of their hotel for help? This happened to me once at my friend’s house, when I could not get the water to change from going through the tub faucet to the shower head. I had to go out in a towel and ask her to come in and look at it. While not the most awkward situation I have ever been in, it could have been avoided if showers had a diagram similar to the stovetops at my houses. It could even be engraved into the metal plating around the shower knob(s) with arrows indicating which way to turn the faucets.

Another product I thought of that varies between manufacturers is cars. I am used to driving my parents’ Toyotas, but the first few times I drove my grandma’s Ford was rough. I had to ask her where several buttons were, and the brake was more sensitive, leading to me accidentally jerking the car to a stop more than once. It’s understandable that if all cars were the same, there would be no competition for the manufacturers, and it would lead consumers to having much less choices when it comes to purchasing their first car. But why is it that the technical components vary? Why can it not just be the cosmetic components? Especially if one is in an emergency situation, needing to drive someone else’s car, there would not be time to determine how to apply pressure on the break without throwing oneself around and figuring out where the defrost button is.

While it may seem a bit ridiculous and too much effort that could be better spent elsewhere, standardizing basic design components would make life easier for users of products. If the design and building or installation of all iterations of a product were the same, there would be much less frustration and issues all around. It could lead to less confusion when driving a new car and keep the driver’s focus on the road. It could avoid confusion when using a friend’s shower handle that turns to the right for hot water rather than the left, like at one’s own home. Finally, it could lead to less kitchen accidents if all stoves were made with the knobs following the same positioning as each other.