Comments on: Designing with Psychology in Mind (AEA slide deck)

By: David Hopkins

David Hopkins — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:58:22 +0000

I am not really much into psychology, but there are certainly some interesting points in your presentation. I didn’t put enough though into making my site, which is fine as I am still not 100% in the direction I want to go in. When I have made up my mind, I think your presentation will have given me some ideas of how to more thoroughly plan my site.

Your dissection of the A List Apart site was particularly useful.

By: Labnotes » Designing with Psychology in Mind

Labnotes » Designing with Psychology in Mind — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:44:23 +0000

[...] Great presentation by Joshua Porter: [...]

By: Joerg Linder

Joerg Linder — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:13:41 +0000

Good presentation!

I was trying to reproduce tumblr’s behaviour (wanted to screenshot the encouraging messages), but I haven’t seen them. Could it be possible that tumblr changed the registration/first login – process?

I second Andres: A video would be awesome!

By: Brad’s Ramblings » Links 6/22 – 6/26

Brad’s Ramblings » Links 6/22 – 6/26 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:19:49 +0000

[...] Designing with Psychology in Mind â€“ Joshua Porter gave this presentation at An Event Apart last week. Josh always delivers the goods! [...]

By: Speaking at Refresh Boston tonight about designing in a recession - Bokardo

Speaking at Refresh Boston tonight about designing in a recession - Bokardo — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:43:51 +0000

[...] recently returned from An Event Apart Boston, I have lots of new design ideas to think about and explore. But one idea kept rearing its ugly [...]

By: Daily Links for Thursday, June 25th, 2009

Daily Links for Thursday, June 25th, 2009 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:34:39 +0000

[...] Designing with Psychology in Mind (AEA slide deck) – Bokardo [...]

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:04:06 +0000

@Dave…thanks for pushing this further…I like your combination of ideas (prison & locus of attention)…prison is certainly is a one-track kind of place, with extremely clear roles and duties.

Also, I was mulling over the relationship of simplicity & locus of attention. Could it be that this is what simplicity in software is? When software is our locus of attention and it keeps us focused on our activity, instead of making decisions or causing (or allowing) distractions from elsewhere…hmmm.

By: Andres Burgos

Andres Burgos — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:58:10 +0000

Awesome presentation Josh!

This was very motivating I wish i was able to see this presentation live. Any chance, that we’ll be able to watch a video of this sometime in the future?

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:41:34 +0000

@Jeremy…thanks for the comment! I will stay in the trenches.

By: Dave Tufts

Dave Tufts — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:13:18 +0000

Of all the AEA presentations, this one got me thinking the most.

Combining two of your points, maybe part of why Stanford’s prison experiment was so successful was because the environment of a prison is naturally designed for a single “locus of attention”. Plain walls, minimal furnishings, steady light… no visual distractions. Whatever role you might lean towards should be intensified because of the absence of distraction.

Another parallel I kept coming back to during your presentation was parenting — specifically a recent lecture I saw on “Simplicity Parenting” by child counselor/researcher Kim John Payne.

Though Payne doesn’t use the phase “locus of attention” he talks about simplifying a child’s environment to change behavior problems. Less toys, less food choice, less information, less media — to change behavior, design a better more focused and predictable environment.

Also, like your presentation, this parenting lecture touched on positive reinforcement, but knowing when to stop. The parent who is constantly “good job’ing” their kid is ignored. Gently guide kids (or web users) towards top of Maslow’s pyramid. Eventually they’ll do (or use) something because of the personal value, not because of the nice message from Tumblr or a “good job” from mom.

Sorry for ramble, but your talk definitely got me thinking a lot.

By: Jeremy Sullivan

Jeremy Sullivan — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:29:42 +0000

As always, Josh, I am amazed by your deep level of passion and innovation in the design realm. Please keep up the great work. We NEED you out there in the trenches.