I’m Rachele DiTullio and I decided to start this blog as a place to document and discuss some of the usability issues I encounter in the world, both online and offline. While I work primarily with digital user interfaces, it’s important to remember that much of those affordances are inspired by real world functionality.
The technical term for this is skeuomorph /ˈskjuːɵmɔrf/ which is a derivative object that retains ornamental design cues from structures that were necessary in the original.
The blog is a way for me to improve my critical thinking about interfaces and to flex my design muscle outside of everyday work, rather than simply for pointing out potential design flaws or failings.
With that, I wanted to post a link a submission I made back in 2007 to the now defunct ThisIsBroken.com.
Broken: Self-serve ice bag freezer warning
At my local Wal-Mart, there is an interesting sign on one of the self-serve ice bag freezers.
The sign warns: “Caution!!! Ice bag will drop from machine ceiling without notice!”
