Design Principles

Errors

Unveiling Slips, Mistakes, and Lapses in Design

In the world of design, errors are inevitable.

Our goal as designers is to create interfaces that guide users toward their goals.

However, many accidents, often attributed to human error, actually result from design flaws.

Understanding these errors helps us craft strategies to minimize their impact.

Categorized into slips, lapses and mistakes, these errors emphasize the need for meticulous attention to detail in design.

In the realm of design, understanding and addressing these types of errors are vital steps toward creating user experiences that are intuitive, resilient, and ultimately, fulfilling.

Slips: These are unintended actions arising from automatic, subconscious processes. They often occur when users diverge from their intended actions due to disruptions or alterations in their routines. For instance, pressing the wrong button on a touchscreen device while scrolling through a webpage due to a sudden distraction.
Mistakes: Mistakes occur when users make errors in judgment or planning. Unlike slips, mistakes stem from conscious mental processes and biases, leading to decisions or actions that result in unintended outcomes. An example would be misinterpreting a warning message and accidentally deleting important files instead of saving them.
Lapses: Lapses manifest as failures of memory or attention during task execution. They highlight the limitations of human cognition and emphasize the need for interfaces designed to accommodate such lapses, reducing the risk of overlooking crucial information or steps. For instance, forgetting to attach a file while composing an email despite intending to do so.

Takeaways

Simplify Environment: Minimize distractions and noise and ensure controls are easily visible.

Clear Feedback: Provide concise instructions and reduce cognitive load by limiting information.

Confirmations and Training: Use confirmations for critical actions and train for error recovery and teamwork.

Forgiving Design: Incorporate safety nets for errors and enhance usability through forgiveness.

Aesthetic-Usability Effect

Chuncking

Alignment