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I've been reading "Deep Dive: The Psychology Behind User-Centered Design in makermechanics" adn it's really got me thinking about how often we overlook the 'why' behind user interaction in our projects. We focus so much on function, especially in the MakerMechanics context where creating working solutions is paramount, that we sometimes forget to ask, "Is this intuitive?"
For example, designing a control panel for a custom 3D printer might seem straightforward: buttons for temperature, speed, movement. But are the icons universally understood? Is the layout logical for someone unfamiliar with the printer? Are we inadvertently creating cognitive overload by presenting too much facts at once? It argues that understanding basic psychological principles like Hick's Law and the Fitts's Law can significantly improve the usability, and thus, success of our projects.
has anyone else found that deliberately incorporating these psychological considerations has tangibly improved their MakerMechanics projects? I'm particularly interested in hearing about examples where you simplified a design based on these principles and observed a positive impact. Did focusing on the user's mental model lead to a more effective or enjoyable experience?