Thoughtless Acts

06/03/2025 40 min Temporada 3 Episodio 14
Thoughtless Acts

Listen "Thoughtless Acts"

Episode Synopsis

This time, we discuss the fascinating concept of 'Thoughtless Acts'—simple, everyday innovations people make to adapt to their environment without even thinking about it. From hanging tea bags on mug handles to hanging shirts on a washing machine door, we explore how unnoticed behaviours can inspire better design and usability. We also delve into the origins of the term inspired by the work and book from human factors researcher, Jane Fulton Suri and her work at IDEO. Once again, the team come prepared with buckets full of examples of Thoughtless Acts they've caught themselves doing or have observed in others - unsurprisingly, Tom brings ups dishwashers again! Join the conversation and share your own examples of thoughtless acts by emailing [email protected] or by leaving us a voice note here. Don't forget to check out the episode artwork and visit sketchplanations.com for more insightful sketches!Timeline of Topics Discussed00:00 Introduction to Thoughtless Acts01:53 Defining Thoughtless Acts03:24 Origins of the Concept05:58 Examples of Thoughtless Acts08:20 Degrees of Thoughtlessness11:12 Importance in Design12:40 Personal Hacks and Innovations15:27 Observations in Design21:26 Coffee Mugs and Shopping Trolleys22:19 Observing Daily Interactions24:04 Designing for Better Usability26:14 Everyday Improvisations32:02 Signalling and Subtle Messages33:58 Accidents and Tool Design37:17 Listener Engagement and ConclusionAll music on this podcast series is provided by the extremely talented Franc Cinelli. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.