While a manufacturer will usually be most concerned with what is going on on the inside of an electronic device, the user will generally only interact with the outside-that is why it is important to think carefully about the design.
When putting together a new device, you can add industrial labels to the object to make it clear how to use it and any other vital information But for the team designing this user-facing interface, it can be difficult to know exactly what to include and what can simply be listed within the user manual. The European Commission has clear directives about what must be included, but an experienced label manufacturer will be able to advise on what else can be included, for the user's benefit.
Below are five considerations that the design team can use to make sure an electronic device can be used easily and correctly:
Usability – Logically, one of the most important factors in your design is making sure it is clear to your users how to use the device, whether that is consumer electronics or a crucial piece of factory machinery. It is best to base your user interface on established systems - i.e. there are certain icons that are generally understood-but is also fine to make a few ‘shifts’, as long as they are relatively intuitive. Even if a theoretical model looks good, makes sure you undertake actual testing.
Safety – While overall usability is a prime consideration, this should be based on a firm understanding of what information users need to know to use the device safely. You should think carefully about what safety information is essential and should go on the product label and which advice can be included in the safety section of the product manual. Consider the severity of the risk at hand and the chances of it occurring too.
Adaptability – One factor that is difficult to forecast but is worth keeping in mind is whether your product may need to be adaptable in the future. So if the hardware may be used for a distinct application or a new option may need to be appended. For instance, on a keyboard, a new character might become more popular in the future, in the way that the hashtag has done in the current age.
Branding-A less crucial consideration in terms of usability is branding; it may not make a difference to the consumer if your company colours are used on the front of the device, but your marketing efforts may be improved if you can keep to the same colour scheme. It is not a case of making your user any more confident any their ability to use the product, but it could make the device easier to promote if the colours relate to your logo.
Style-Aside from your branding, you should also think about how you can make your product look good. Even if your device is something that will only be used in an industrial setting, there is no harm in making it aesthetically pleasing. It can be particularly important if there is a rival company producing something similar-that your product looks better could be a game breaker.
About the author: Steve Millard loves creating and sharing his ideas with the world. A tech graduate driven by his passion started writing about his creative and playful mind and has a series of articles on the printing technology. The latest of his writings is printed labels.