For next Thursday, prepare a two-page (11"x 17") poster illustrating a human error that you observed. The poster should include:

• A sketch (or annotated photo) of the situation indicating the person and the interaction.
• A description of their motivation and task goals.
• A list of the contributing factors (and people) to the error.
• One or more design ideas about how to avoid or survive the error.

Come to class prepared to display and discuss your poster. Use simple sketches and bold lettering on your poster so it can be easily read from 4-6 feet away. You will not be evaluated on the quality of sketching and lettering, but you must be legible!

"Instrument" should be broadly construed. (If we have time, we will try to brainstorm a list of "instruments" in class when we hand out this assignment.)

The person making the error could be you, though it is more interesting to observe someone else and then ask them about it. Spend time looking around you, tuning into the ways people interact with objects or machines. You don't need to look for the dramatic; attune yourself to the everyday, annoying hesitations and slips that are all too common and usually ignored. You might also stakeout a particular situation or machine where you can predict that "human errors" might happen (vending machines copiers, etc) and describe the way things go wrong.

We don't want to become just analysts or critics but to start seeing the world as a source of design opportunities. In particular, we want to start thinking how to do a better job designing for human use. Is avoiding error the only goal? What are other design values beyond making things mistake-proof?

We are asking for posters and not electronic presentations because we want to be able to see them all side-by-side on Thursday. However, if you use PowerPoint, Photoshop, Word, etc., then plan to upload the files after the review to the BID website.

HINTS:

• Brainstorm a list of errors or mistakes you have personally experienced
• Brainstorm a list of places you might go to watch for people and errors
• Record your observations, paying attention to the details of setting, actors, task goals and motivation, actions, and outcomes
• Record your reflection and analysis of contributing factors for several errors you observe
• Sketch and describe several ideas about how to avoid, survive or neutralize the errors you see
• Draw thumbnail sketches of your poster presentation to plan its layout before preparing the full-sized (11x17) version you bring to class.

DESIGNERS NOTEBOOK

There is a tradition of designers keeping notebooks. We are not going to require you use one, but it will make the reflective activities as well as the development of your project easier. As with all methods we bring up, if you choose not to use one, be prepared to explain your decision. In any event, this is the time to make your decisions about it. (Hint: keeping track of your design process makes reflective thinking and writing much easier.)

Many people like a spiral-bound plain paper notebook; others find a loose-leaf binder the most useful; still others like pocket-sized bound blank books. Choose a format that will be easy for you to work with.