The famous question is “Can I put this together?”
If I am shopping, I stared at the back of the box to see if worth my time. I have to put that item together and what scares me the most is the direction. Buying something and struggling put it together. Now that is scary thought. There is always a piece of paper on “how” to put your table or bookshelf together. The fact reminds we are even more confused before we even start. That is how I feel when I buy something.
I look at the box and notice how difficult it can be? Does this surprise you, heck no. This can be a piece of furniture or even a child’s watch. Something can be so simple but in reality it so hard to understand the directions they provide for you. When I buy something and I don’t understand, I head to my computer and look at mostly at (YouTube) and in hopes I will solve it. Time again, I don’t know what I am trying to find. I went back to the company’s website and knew if there was anything I could use. Sometimes, yes, I find it, and sometimes it’s no.
So this got me thinking, when we design or create products. How important the directions are, I would say, it is paramount. If I am spending money on something and I don’t know how to use, I look forward to reading the directions that will be provided, right? When I do order something for Amazon or any online store. I do my research and investigate if this something would be simple. Well, I order a mini music player… I read the product information and found some YouTube videos to watch how easy it would be to work. I get the mini music player. Let’s just say it’s still in the box, and I am still trying to figure it out. That was in 2020 of Dec. Wish me luck. So now the question still remains, did I waste my money?
As consumers, we buy online for our family and friends. I hope the seller of the product will become more thoughtful in the near future when it comes to paper instructions. The printed instruction is precisely as important as the item itself. If there is a content designer, a content writer, pretty much I am going to call them a super hero, because we need clearer directions and significant help. Not only to have clear directions, but don’t be printing the text in size 5px font. Have clear directions where we can read it without using magnifying glass. So, Yeah… I say UX can solve it, with the correct words and enough time and solid font. Everybody can start building things and end up smiling because they put it together. Now I reckon it will generate a joyful consumer.
