For the [[API]] architects out there I recommend http://architypes.net/ it is really entertaining read. Not always mappable to our field, but interesting. Antonio also pointed out that [[Gang of Four]] book is heavily inspired by work of [[wikipedia::Christopher_Alexander|Christopher Alexander]].

For the [[API]] architects out there I recommend http://architypes.net/ it is really entertaining read. Not always mappable to our field, but interesting. Antonio also pointed out that [[Gang of Four]] book is heavily inspired by work of [[wikipedia::Christopher_Alexander|Christopher Alexander]].

For those who doubt there can be any kind of [[MetaDesign]] at all I'd like to share following experience. Once I saw a slide with guidelines of good UI design written by our HIE lead. I have stolen them and since then I am using them to describe rules of good [[API]] design. The match is perfect. So yes, user interface and [[API]] design has to have something in common.

For those who doubt there can be any kind of [[MetaDesign]] at all I'd like to share following experience. Once I saw a slide with [[guidelines]] of good UI design written by our HIE lead. I have stolen them and since then I am using them to describe rules of good [[API]] design. The match is perfect. So yes, user interface and [[API]] design has to have something in common.

=== Blame the Architect! ===

=== Blame the Architect! ===

One may blame the people putting the garbage there (and sure they deserve to be blamed), however this is still the fault of the architect. It is his responsibility for placing a garbage container in the middle of such nice square! Either he should not have put it there at all, or he should have organized courses to teach people how to properly use his own creation. None of that happened. I am sure the architect thought his work finished at the opening ceremony. Shame on him!

One may blame the people putting the garbage there (and sure they deserve to be blamed), however this is still the fault of the architect. It is his responsibility for placing a garbage container in the middle of such nice square! Either he should not have put it there at all, or he should have organized courses to teach people how to properly use his own creation. None of that happened. I am sure the architect thought his work finished at the opening ceremony. Shame on him!

This is so similar to [[API]] design! Many people I've met care about the design only until the ''opening ceremony''. Whether it is ready for [[evolution]], whether it is used properly by its [[cluelessness|clueless users]] does not interest them. That is bad, architects are responsible for the long term use of their designs. Architects are also conservative and expect their designs will be used with complete [[cluelessness]] without learning much about the proper use.

This is so similar to [[API]] design! Many people I've met care about the design only until the ''opening ceremony''. Whether it is ready for [[evolution]], whether it is used properly by its [[cluelessness|clueless users]] does not interest them. That is bad, architects are responsible for the long term use of their designs. Architects are also supposed to be conservative and expect their designs will be used with complete [[cluelessness]] without learning much about the proper use.

Dear architects, don't put trashcans in middle of your parks!

Dear architects, don't put trashcans in middle of your parks!

One may blame the people putting the garbage there (and sure they deserve to be blamed), however this is still the fault of the architect. It is his responsibility for placing a garbage container in the middle of such nice square! Either he should not have put it there at all, or he should have organized courses to teach people how to properly use his own creation. None of that happened. I am sure the architect thought his work finished at the opening ceremony. Shame on him!

One may blame the people putting the garbage there (and sure they deserve to be blamed), however this is still the fault of the architect. It is his responsibility for placing a garbage container in the middle of such nice square! Either he should not have put it there at all, or he should have organized courses to teach people how to properly use his own creation. None of that happened. I am sure the architect thought his work finished at the opening ceremony. Shame on him!

This is so similar to [[API]] design! Many people I've met care about the design only until the ''opening ceremony''. Whether it is ready for [[evolution]], whether it is used properly by its [[cluelessness|clueless users]] does not interest them. That is bad, architects shall be responsible for the long term use of their designs. Architects shall also be conservative and expect their designs are going to be used with complete [[cluelessness]] without learning much about the proper use.

This is so similar to [[API]] design! Many people I've met care about the design only until the ''opening ceremony''. Whether it is ready for [[evolution]], whether it is used properly by its [[cluelessness|clueless users]] does not interest them. That is bad, architects are responsible for the long term use of their designs. Architects are also conservative and expect their designs will be used with complete [[cluelessness]] without learning much about the proper use.

Dear architects, don't put trashcans in middle of your parks!

Dear architects, don't put trashcans in middle of your parks!

[[Image:ArchitectEvolution.jpg]]

[[Image:ArchitectEvolution.jpg]]

The above picture illustrates one case of such failed design. I've been at the planning meeting for the redesign of this square and saw its architect and the plans. Everything looked so nice on the paper! But the reality is not that perfect. The amount of garbage around the containers makes the whole scene look really desperately.

The above picture illustrates an example of a failed design. I've been at the planning meeting for the redesign of this square and saw its architect and the plans. Everything looked so nice on paper! But the reality is not that perfect. The amount of garbage around the containers makes the whole area look really bad.

One may blame the people putting the garbage there (and sure they deserve to be blamed) however this is still fault of the architect. It is his responsibility that there is a garbage container in middle of such nice square! Either he should not have put it there at all, or he should have organized courses to teach people how to properly use his own creation. None of that happened. I am sure the architect thought his work finished at the opening ceremony. Shame on him!

One may blame the people putting the garbage there (and sure they deserve to be blamed), however this is still the fault of the architect. It is his responsibility for placing a garbage container in the middle of such nice square! Either he should not have put it there at all, or he should have organized courses to teach people how to properly use his own creation. None of that happened. I am sure the architect thought his work finished at the opening ceremony. Shame on him!

This is so similar to [[API]] design! Many people I've met care about the design only until the ''opening ceremony''. Whether it is ready for [[evolution]], whether it is used properly by its [[cluelessness|clueless users]] does not interest them. That is bad, architects shall be responsible for the long term use of their designs. Architects shall also be conservative and expect their designs are going to be used with complete [[cluelessness]] without learning much about the proper use.

This is so similar to [[API]] design! Many people I've met care about the design only until the ''opening ceremony''. Whether it is ready for [[evolution]], whether it is used properly by its [[cluelessness|clueless users]] does not interest them. That is bad, architects shall be responsible for the long term use of their designs. Architects shall also be conservative and expect their designs are going to be used with complete [[cluelessness]] without learning much about the proper use.

=== To Be Continued ===

=== To Be Continued ===

I've been visiting an architect who I asked to design furniture in my house, so stay tuned! I will have fresh observations to share soon...

I've been visiting an architect who I asked to design furniture for my house, so stay tuned! I will have fresh observations to share soon...

=== Share! ===

=== Share! ===

=== To Be Continued ===

=== To Be Continued ===

I am continuing to visit an architect who I asked to design furniture in my house, so stay tuned. I will have fresh observations to share...

I've been visiting an architect who I asked to design furniture in my house, so stay tuned! I will have fresh observations to share soon...

=== Share! ===

=== Share! ===

=== Blame the Architect! ===

=== Blame the Architect! ===

One common problem shared among various types of architects is the ''legalized irresponsibility for the result''. Few times I have dealt with architects who design something and when that something is passed to production, they don't feel responsible for ''physical issues''. If the design looks nice on the paper, who cares whether it can also be realized!?

One common problem shared among various types of architects is the ''legalized irresponsibility for the result''. A few times I have dealt with architects who design something and when that something is passed to production, they don't feel responsible for ''physical issues''. If the design looks nice on paper, who cares whether it can also be realized!?

The problem is that all users of the design usually care more about the reality than the original plans. It is my believe (also expressed many times in [[TheAPIBook]]) that architects' work should be evaluated few years after their proposal started to be used. The goal of almost any project is to solve real-world issues, so architect's work shall finish when the issues are really solved. Solved not only for one opening day, but forever (or at least few years).

The problem is that all users of design usually care more about the reality than the original plans. It is my belief (also expressed many times in [[TheAPIBook]]) that architects' work should be evaluated a few years after their proposal has started to be used. The goal of almost any project is to solve real-world issues, so an architect's work should only be considered complete when the issues are actually solved. Solved not only for the opening day, but forever (or at least a few years later).

For a while I have been thinking about various types of [[MetaDesign|design]]. Do they have anything in common or are they really different? Certain adventures I have been to may indicate that there is just one [[MetaDesign]] which is then applied to different target audience, different technology, etc. Other events I've been to ensure me that there are hard to overcome differences. I want this page to hold thoughts that will reveal the truth: Is there [[MetaDesign]] or not?

For a while I have been thinking about various types of [[MetaDesign|design]]. Do they have anything in common or are they really different? Certain adventures I have been through indicate that there is just one [[MetaDesign]] which is then applied to different target audiences, different technologies, etc. Other events I've been to assure me that there are hard to overcome differences. I want this page to hold thoughts that will reveal the truth: Is there [[MetaDesign]] or not?

For the [[API]] architects out there I recommend http://architypes.net/ it is really entertaining read. Not always mappable to our field, but interesting. Antonio also pointed out that [[Gang of Four]] book is heavily inspired by work of [[wikipedia::Christopher_Alexander|Christopher Alexander]].

For the [[API]] architects out there I recommend http://architypes.net/ it is really entertaining read. Not always mappable to our field, but interesting. Antonio also pointed out that [[Gang of Four]] book is heavily inspired by work of [[wikipedia::Christopher_Alexander|Christopher Alexander]].

For a while I am thinking about various types of [[MetaDesign|design]]. Do they have anything in common or are they really different? Certain adventures I have been to may indicate that there is just one [[MetaDesign]] which is then applied to different target audience, different technology, etc. Other events I've been to ensure me that there are hard to overcome differences. I want this page to hold thoughts that will reveal the truth: Is there [[MetaDesign]] or not?

For a while I have been thinking about various types of [[MetaDesign|design]]. Do they have anything in common or are they really different? Certain adventures I have been to may indicate that there is just one [[MetaDesign]] which is then applied to different target audience, different technology, etc. Other events I've been to ensure me that there are hard to overcome differences. I want this page to hold thoughts that will reveal the truth: Is there [[MetaDesign]] or not?

For the [[API]] architects out there I recommend http://architypes.net/ it is really entertaining read. Not always mappable to our field, but interesting. Antonio also pointed out that [[Gang of Four]] book is heavily inspired by work of [[wikipedia::Christopher_Alexander|Christopher Alexander]].

For the [[API]] architects out there I recommend http://architypes.net/ it is really entertaining read. Not always mappable to our field, but interesting. Antonio also pointed out that [[Gang of Four]] book is heavily inspired by work of [[wikipedia::Christopher_Alexander|Christopher Alexander]].

The problem is that all users of the design usually care more about the reality than the original plans. It is my believe (also expressed many times in [[TheAPIBook]]) that architects' work should be evaluated few years after their proposal started to be used. The goal of almost any project is to solve real-world issues, so architect's work shall finish when the issues are really solved. Solved not only for one opening day, but forever (or at least few years).

The problem is that all users of the design usually care more about the reality than the original plans. It is my believe (also expressed many times in [[TheAPIBook]]) that architects' work should be evaluated few years after their proposal started to be used. The goal of almost any project is to solve real-world issues, so architect's work shall finish when the issues are really solved. Solved not only for one opening day, but forever (or at least few years).

[[Image:ArchitectEvolution.jpg]]

[[Image:ArchitectEvolution.jpg]]