As a web designer I tend to forget that there are great user interfaces in the world beyond the web - not all human-computer interaction is done on the web. I also tend to forget the different ways that people interact with user interfaces. It’s not all done with a mouse (or a touchscreen, in the case of the iPhone).
Since moving to San Francisco I’ve signed up for a checking account with Wells Fargo and the user interface design on their ATM machines makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside every time I use it.
Wells Fargo ATM user interface
So the design is nice, yes, but the best part is the thought that goes into the way users interact with the machine.
When I am done pressing buttons and have decided how much money I want, whether or not I want my receipt, and whether I am done, I want my cash. At every other bank I’ve ever used the cash comes out, you grab it, and you start to walk away. Then you remember your card is still in the machine so you run back and grab it.
The team at Pentagram changed it up. After I’ve made all my decisions, the machine forces me to take out my card before I get my money. I am thinking “Give me my money!” But it is beeping at me, forcing me to take my card out before I get the good stuff.
So simple. So smart.
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USBank does the same thing
I figured other ATMs did the same thing - but Wells Fargo is the first I’ve used that does it and also has a beautiful UI to go with it :)
I remember reading about this on Pentagram’s site, but alas I couldn’t find their blog post on it. Someone else has blogged about it and included more of the images showing you just how clear the UI and other elements are: http://physicalinterface.com/view/that-design-is-money
I’d love to have a go at different types of interaction design like this. I’ve long considered myself a Web designer until only a short while ago. As an interaction designer, I feel like nothing is out of reach to be critiqued, including ATMs, products, packaging, etc.
Design is never just the pretty stuff; it’s how things work. A great principle to abide by.
Mark - I agree, I tend to think of myself as an interaction designer, too. Thinking about how users interact with different interfaces is challenging, but exciting and interesting.
I am actually venturing into iPhone development and design, application design, etc. in an effort to do something other than the web.
Indeed, great design. The ATM machines here in Europe generally feature a first-take-your-card-then-take-your-money policy. It is the only way to go in my opinion.
We don’t have such pretty GUI for ATMs in Pakistan. Though, from the day I have been using ATM (last 7 years), it always asks you to first take your card and then it gives you your required money.
I seem to remember that originally our ATMs here (UK) were set up to give out the money first - but they had to redesign them because people were walking away with the cash and leaving the card in the machine. Not surprisingly, people were focused on the money, not on the tool to get it, but the security risk was too high. Perhaps that’s urban myth though - it seems a very long time ago!
simple things do matter the most sometimes.
Similar to Nimble, our screens aren’t quite as pretty, but ATMs in Australia have always (as far as I remember) made you take your card to get your money. Maybe someone from Pentagram got the idea overseas?