Ever since Windows Phone was first introduced, I’ve enjoyed being able to glance at Live Tiles and quickly get the information I need. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a full solution to what was actually a much greater problem: How do you look at notifications without having to exit an app or unlock the screen? It’s hard to believe it took Microsoft almost four years to figure it out, but Windows Phone 8.1 finally addresses that oversight with a notification menu, dubbed the Action Center.
Notification centers should die. It’s better not to be harassed and overwhelmed by notifications. the little number in a circle? Way more stressful than a tile turning to show up an update. The design principle is that if you see an important notification you will take action, unlock your phone, reply, whatever. Therefore you don’t need to read all notifications automatically on your lock screen. I don’t want my phone to distract me. it’s opt in design instead of opt out (clearing notifications, forever) and it’s smarter, more elegant. Respectful. Exactly like not giving % for battery life, it’s better for your stress level my friend. It’s by design, you dumb gadget bloggers. Microsoft first aimed at 99% of people who don’t care about that kind of super nerdy detail and now address your whining.
New design, new paradigm invites conflict with what the current trend/opinion is. Look at FLW houses, the famous architect didn’t include attics and basements in his plans because he thought it was useless to keep old stuff. 100 years later, he’s still right. His design principle is still absolutely valid, when you see the amount of shit people have and don’t know where to put, lamenting that they have too much junk/not enough space.
His design principle is saying “whatever room I’ll make, you’ll never have enough” and this is exactly the case. It’s saying “I went to the future for you and I’m telling you right now, just use the things you use everyday and throw away old stuff”. That’s good design and you either trust it or you think that you are smarter. Let it go. Embrace fully first, and then compare.
Good design doesn’t try to exploit your weaknesses. Good design respects you. Good design thinks you are smart because you are. You might have bad habits, though.