Focus on the Users
Posted on February 27, 2008 by Chris DeBrusk
The term “user centric design” has been around for as long as there have been designers (of anything - I’m sure the first guy to rub two sticks together was talking about his target audience when he did it) but it is pretty amazing that even with all the evidence that making sure what you design is what your intended user base actually wants, there are still examples every day where this fundamental principle is missed.
I had a chance to talk yesterday to Melissa Fredrick, a reporter at the DC Examiner about a new web site recently announced by the Travel Industry Association in partnership with Travelocity and the Department of Commerce. My comment to her, which you can read in the resulting article, was that there isn’t any need for yet another white labeled travel site that would add nothing new to the conversation nor really promote travel to the US any better than hundreds of other sites out there including the one I spent most of my free time on - TravelGator.
What seems to be missing in this concept is what do the people out there who might consider traveling to the US on their vacation really need to make their decision. My premise is that they want relevant information, wide choice, good deals and access to the unique adventures that will present themselves across America. What I’d encourage the Commerce Department to look at is how they can provide unique content and access to the millions of smaller travel services providers that exist that are not able to get on the Travelocity platform. Now of course I like Travelocity - when I need a cheap airfare or a hotel I always check them out as they’ve got great deals. But we need more than just good hotel and airfare pricing if we are going to promote travel to the US.
Sphere: Related Content» Filed Under User Centric Design
Comments
Leave a Reply
Subscribe via FeedBurner