Recipe for disaster: the redesign of a medical radiation treatment device’s user interface, without any understanding of how it works, or an understanding of what usability and interface architecture actually means.

We now know that the current interface was the result of a focus group with 5 people. Riddler trivialized this as saying ‘only 5 people’, while I responded with ‘that’s more than we use for our focus groups.’

Riddler casually mentions he ‘knows pretty well how this machine works’ after seeing it in action once. Therefore he believes we can design the interface without any understanding of the consequences.

Even better, Riddler has already submitted an estimate for the project, without understanding the actual tasks required. Notable examples:

  • Focus groups: 6.0 hours
  • Graphic Production: 4.0 hours (for about 300 unique graphic elements, including interaction states)
  • Entire project beginning to end: 48.0 hours.

I… don’t think so.