This document discusses how "duct tape" can be used as a metaphor for identifying areas in need of improvement in both physical and digital spaces. It notes that while duct tape fixes issues temporarily in the physical world, it is harder to see equivalent quick fixes ("duct tape") used in the digital realm. The document advocates that spotting "duct tape" usage in other projects presents opportunities to develop new products that provide better solutions.

1. Look for the Duct Tape
Tradecraft Teach for 4.5.14

2. Don Norman and affordances in
“Design of Everyday Things”

3. Architecture UX
Both find success with intuitive perception of use that
allows for the opportunity of utility.

4. “Form follows function.”
- Louis Sullivan

5. LOOK FOR THE DUCT TAPE!

6. Duct Tape in Physical Space

7. Duct Tape in Physical Space

8. Duct Tape in Physical Space

9. Duct Tape ruins a beautiful space

10. Duct Tape ruins a beautiful space

11. “Look for the Duct Tape” reinforces the
Kate mantra:
!
!
Ugly But Useful
!
beats
!
Pretty & Pointless

12. But it’s harder to find duct tape in
the digital realm
!
• An employee tapes a piece of
cardboard to an Air Conditioning
register because he’s cold
!
• A user opens a new tab in a
browser to look something up
that he doesn’t understand on
your site

13. Duct Tape in UX works 2 ways
!
!
1. Shows where our products are
failing
!
2. Inspires us to create new products

14. A Current Example of UX Duct Tape
!
!
! #HASHTAG

16. Say #TBT again. I dare you!

17. Duct Tape in Digital Space

18. Twitter is addressing the Issue

19. Duct Tape in your project = BAD
Duct Tape in another project =
OPPORTUNITY

20. Relevant UX Quote
!
“Content precedes design. Design
in the absence of content is not
design, it is decoration.”
- Jeffrey Zeldman