Thoughtless Acts

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 Discussed

00:00 Introduction to Thoughtless Acts

01:53 Defining Thoughtless Acts

03:24 Origins of the Concept

05:58 Examples of Thoughtless Acts

08:20 Degrees of Thoughtlessness

11:12 Importance in Design

12:40 Personal Hacks and Innovations

15:27 Observations in Design

21:26 Coffee Mugs and Shopping Trolleys

22:19 Observing Daily Interactions

24:04 Designing for Better Usability

26:14 Everyday Improvisations

32:02 Signalling and Subtle Messages

33:58 Accidents and Tool Design

37:17 Listener Engagement and Conclusion

All music on this podcast series is provided by the extremely talented Franc Cinelli.

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