Did you ever wonder how everyday sounds are recreated in film? Foley artists (named after Jack Foley of Universal Studios circa 1927) create the ambient sounds that make a film sound authentic. The image above is a toolkit for the artists that helps them create the “everyday” sounds you hear in movies such as the swishing of clothing and footsteps. The kit was designed by Chiara Onida and the variety of the tools’ shapes, textures and dimensions ensures a rich range of sounds.
Dan Lockton, David Harrison, and Neville A. Stanton came up with this spiffy idea: The Design with Intent Toolkit v.0.9, a set of design principles with the aim of influencing user behavior.
The trio cover a wide range of design principles including how to encourage users to do something; guide them as to how to do it properly; and how to reduce errors by limiting choices and so on. There are even ways to subtly or not-so_subtly discourage users from doing what you don’t want them to do.
You may think as some of these principles as obvious and common-sensical, but the hallmark of a great product is exactly that it can be used by people armed only with common sense.
Take, for instance, the way to influence user’s behavior through the use of segmentation, spacing, and orientation:


