An idea isn't worth that much. It's the execution of the idea that has value. If you can't convince one other person that this is something to devote your life to, then it's not worth it.
Joel SpolskyRead
Usability is not everything. If usability engineers designed a nightclub, it would be clean, quiet, brightly lit, with lots of places to sit down, plenty of bartenders, menus written in 18-point sans-serif, and easy-to-find bathrooms. But nobody would be there. They would all be down the street at Coyote Ugly pouring beer on each other.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Usability is important but it shouldn't overshadow the experiences that draw people in.
This quote by Joel Spolsky highlights the distinction between usability and the engaging atmosphere that attracts people to a venue. While usability engineers focus on creating functional and efficient designs, they may overlook the essential elements of enjoyment and social interaction that make places like nightclubs appealing, emphasizing the need for a balance between utility and experience.
Themes
UsabilityDesignExperienceNightclubAtmosphere
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a presentation about user experience design to illustrate the importance of balancing functionality with engagement.
More from Joel Spolsky
All quotes →There's a subtle reason that programmers always want to throw away the code and start over. The reason is that they think the old code is a mess. [...] The reason that they think the old code is a mess is because of a cardinal, fundamental law of programming: It's harder to read code than to write it.
Joel SpolskyRead
A user interface is well-designed when the program behaves exactly how the user thought it would.
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