Dexo Design » voicemail http://www.dexodesign.com Russell Wilson's blog on Web Design and Engineering Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:39:29 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1-alpha Two horrible designs: Voicemail Prompts and DVD packaging! http://www.dexodesign.com/2008/08/21/two-horrible-designs-voicemail-prompts-and-dvd-packaging/ http://www.dexodesign.com/2008/08/21/two-horrible-designs-voicemail-prompts-and-dvd-packaging/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:13:59 +0000 Russell Wilson http://blog.dexodesign.com/?p=47
  • Can you name which design or usability principles this violates?
  • Prioritizing Design in Successful, Legacy Applications
    • ]]>     Here’s what I want:

    Voicemail Prompt: “You have reached [Number] OR [Name].  Leave a message.”
    DVD packaging: “Something that you can open without a knife and a jackhammer!”

    Why do I have to listen to 30 seconds of instructions to leave a message for someone? I’m not talking about the user-defined voicemail greeting; I’m talking about the automated portion that comes before (or after or both) the user’s message. Is there anyone out there that needs detailed instructions for what to do when they hear the beep?  Who designs these things?

    And what is up with DVD packaging? It’s harder for me to open a DVD case than to open the packaging for my iPhone 3G.  Why is that?  Why are they taped on the top, side, and bottom and then wrapped in plastic?  I believe someone has even come up with a tool to open these things.  Profit from poor design!  I love it… umm, actually I hate it.  It was never this difficult to open cassette tapes.

    I’m trying hard to think of examples of other poorly designed commonplace items…

    Related posts:

    1. Can you name which design or usability principles this violates?
    2. Prioritizing Design in Successful, Legacy Applications

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