It’s commonly known that Apple took inspiration for the first Mac interface from Xerox Parc, however I don’t have a problem with this for two reasons. Firstly, they took concepts that were in a research lab and turned them into a successful commercial product, in the process creating a revolution in the computer industry. Secondly, they improved upon the original ideas, refining the rough edges to deliver a pleasurable user experience for all.
Since then, Apple have lead the way in innovation and design, constantly delivering products that move the computer industry forwards.
Design Process
What’s interesting about Apple is that they don’t appear to look to others to copy from. If they use competitive analysis design techniques then it’s more likely to be ‘make sure we don’t do that’, rather than ‘make sure we do’. The launch of the iPhone instantly made the world think if Apple could do this with their first ever attempt at a phone, then what have the other phone manufacturers been doing all these years. If I were a mobile phone maker on 29th June 2007 I would have been embarrassed.
There hasn’t been much said about Apple’s design process, it’s not quite clear how they get it right time after time. Despite their products being driven by the user experience, it does not seem apparent that they employ user-centred design techniques, the more obvious answer is simply that they have the best talent working for them. A senior engineer at Apple reveals some details here
Of course it’s much easier to follow than to lead, at least it should be, but it’s always amusing to follow the ‘me too’ attempts from other computer manufacturers. Let’s look at two recent examples.
Microsoft
Microsoft’s preview of Windows Mobile 6.5 revealed many ‘borrowed’ interface and interaction techniques from the iPhone. This in itself is fine, Microsoft are renowned for copying features from OS X for example, but in true tradition, they make everything worse. They’re like a bad photocopier where each copy makes a worse version of the original.
Throughout Windows mobile 6.5 preview, the presenters mentioned that they took a user-centred design process. I didn’t see any evidence of that, but did think that they took an Apple-centred design process. This process simply involves looking at Apple products but then adds one final MS step which states ‘and make worse’. It’s bad enough that the MS design team have no capacity for original thought, but they don’t even appear to be able to analyze existing products.
MS have always said that they don’t copy Apple, however watching a documentary on Bill Gates I was surprised to see an early photo of Gates and Balmer in a meeting, complete with a Mac Classic in the corner.
Microsoft using Apple-centred-design
Dell
It’s not just Microsoft of course who take inspiration from Apple, surprisingly even Dell want to be seen as design conscious these days. They recently revealed their Adamo laptop, an attempt at copying the MacBook Air. The Apple-centred Design approach for the Adamo is obvious enough, it’s a very poor copy which looks terrible as you’d expect from Dell, but for me the more interesting attempt at Apple-centred Design was in the marketing of the laptop. Take a look at this Dell Adamo video then compare it with the original Apple video
At first I thought the Dell ad was a joke, the amateur production, poor script, the lead designer fumbling through a description of the inspiration and passion for the laptop, laughable. Then 30 seconds into the video we see the care and attention that Dell have lavished on this machine when it’s taken out of a classic Dell brown box. It seems Dell’s attention span didn’t quite reach to the whole user experience, I suggest their design team do an unboxing of a MacBook Air as soon as possible. It’s not the same at all, is it?
ACD justified
I can understand why both of these companies copy Apple’s design and marketing approaches, because when left to their own attempts at original thought, Microsoft give us the Churros ad and Dell give us ,well, anything that Dell produces.
