Design That Leads: Why the Best Tools Tell You What to Do—and What Not To
Continuing on #DesignThinking. When tools don’t guide people, guess what happens?
A few Christmases ago, I took my wife and kids to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra in downtown Cleveland. We were running late. Parking was a mess. Every lot was full—or charging triple. 🤑
Then—jackpot! I spotted a side street just steps from the venue. No meters. No signs. Just a wide-open space practically inviting me to park. So I did.
The concert was amazing. The kids were thrilled. We came out beaming…
…until we noticed something missing: the car!
Turns out, I’d parked in a construction zone! The signs were there—but out of sight, and far from obvious. So, my handy spot afforded me the most expensive parking around. 😱
What does this have to do with software design? Everything.
We see it all the time: project managers buried in #spreadsheets, hopping across tabs like Olympic athletes just to track a job. Their tools let them do anything—but tell them nothing.
And that leads to costly h#missteps. Not because the team isn’t smart—but because the design didn’t do its job.
In The Design of Everyday Things, Don Norman offers two ideas that could’ve saved my car—and might just save your next software rollout.
Affordances: Show Me the Way ➡️
An #affordance is a clue. A sign that says, “You can do this.” A button that looks like a button. A slider that says “adjust here.” In software:
• A clear “Next Step” on a #dashboard
• A smart filter highlighting overdue items
• A form hinting what info goes where
Affordances guide behavior without manuals. When people instinctively know what to do, they make fewer mistakes—and need less training.
Your tools should be like that friend who always knows the plan. Affordances make that happen.
Constraints: Protect Me From Myself 🛑
#Constraints are guardrails that say, “Don’t go there.” Not to restrict—but to protect. You can’t:
• Enter a ship date in the past.
• Submit an invoice until it’s approved.
• Delete data unless you’re a manager.
Constraints prevent errors before they happen, keeping workflow clean and your team confident. 🧑🤝🧑
Design isn’t about letting people do everything—it’s about helping them do the right thing.
Why This Matters to Business Leaders 🧠💼
You don’t need to know design lingo to benefit from it. But you do need to care about:
• ✅ Reducing #trainingtime
• ✅ Lowering risk
• ✅ Increasing consistency
• ✅ Getting more from the software you paid for
Design isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a silent partner that multiplies your ROI. 📈
Because when your tools don’t guide people, guess what happens?
They park where they shouldn’t—and it’s expensive.
Next up: Visibility and Feedback—Why Users Get Stuck
