Dominant Design

One of the most interesting concepts in design that I've come across covers all sorts of media, and that's the concept of dominant design. My understanding, in short, is that something is a "dominant design" when it becomes so ubiquitous that it is virtually impossible to replace it with an alternative. A good example is the QWERTY keyboard. There was certainly logic behind its creation (although the rumor that part of the design was based around being able to type the word "typewriter" using only the top line of keys is sure to make any usability person frown), but I've heard that testing other layouts has shown that there are, in fact, better ways to arrange the keys. But if you try to sell a computer with a non-QWERTY keyboard, you will fail. The design is too omnipresent to be challenged.

I find this issue particularly interesting lately because it seems a lot of things long considered dominant design are being challenged. The most compelling example I can think of is how the standard gasoline-powered car engine is now being challenged mightily by hybird, electric, and fuel-cell alternatives. The whole "green" movement is having an impact on dominant designs in a number of other fields too, from architecture to food to energy production (one of the most fascinating stories I've heard is how some engineers are attempting to collect the energy generated by footsteps in a building's lobby and use it for power -- a wonderful example of conservation, if it is achievable).

In the world of design, trying to "break the rules" is a perennial goal of many designers. Tell a designer something has to be a certain way and they almost always will want to do it a different way. I met many creative folks at my last job who were always trying to come up with new and "exciting" ways to handle website interactions - a headache for me from a UI perspective as generally "new and exciting" translates to "confusing and annoying" to users. Designers may love change but most people hate it, and many actions are so ingrained that trying to break those habits is generally not worthwhile.

But that doesn't mean that challenging a "dominant design" is a bad idea. It's just important to make sure it's being done in a way that doesn't put off users, and that the impetus for change is coming from the point of view of "there's a better way to do this" rather than "I just want to be different."

Designs often become dominant for very good reasons, and in a pinch, it's generally safe to assume that if everybody else is doing something a certain way, it's fine to follow suit. But stepping back and heading to the drawing board from scratch occasionally is definitely a worthwhile exercise. You may end up realizing that the "standard" way is the best way after all, but it's worth making the occasional challenge to dominant design. You may just end up finding a better way after all.