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Dan Saffer: 'Interaction design is an applied art'

Dan Saffer makes some good points and offers helpful advice for aspiring designers. I think it is useful to recognise that interaction, along with other aspects of our course, are applied arts. There is room to be artistic but there are certain constraints. We will almost always be required to focus heavily on usability and meet specific needs and this limits your creative freedom to a certain extent.
I really agree with Saffer when he talks about the ability to teach yourself certain subjects effectively while others require guidance and feedback. However, I think teaching yourself is almost always a slower process.
Saffer stresses the importance of relevant hands on experience. Although theory is an essential part of design, you must remain well practiced in order to be a good designer. He vaguely touches on the benefits of being observant and drawing on your own day to day experiences as inspiration. It is clear that he values the idea of having a very wide skillset, even if you have a good level of expertise in your primary field.

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