How to Peel a Post-It
I couldn’t open it. I simply couldn’t open it. What a ridiculous piece of design? Who would put a substance designed to be slippy in a container with no texture.
In this biting cold weather my lips crack instantly when I’m running or out on my mountain bike. Vaseline on the lips is crucial. But I couldn’t open it. The little ‘travel’ pot inevitably had collected the petroleum based lubricant around the edge making it slippy. The pot had no grip.
This made me think. Why, sometimes, do the Post-It’s I use curl up in front of the group I’m working with making them unreadable? Not good when you’re running a communication planning workshop.
Was this a design flaw or local environmental conditions or user mistake. A rigorous process of trial and error ensued. I’m sure many of you are interested in the experimental standards I used but I will jump to the conclusion.
We had compromised our standards and purchased ‘value’ sticky notes. By peeling from the bottom upwards when the glue strip was reached the angle of the pull distorted the fibres so much that the paper was left at a right angle. Put this on a flipchart sheet and it formed a shelf. The paper weight was not appropriate.
The design of a Post-It note is perfect. The right amount of space to write on (I’m talking about the standard 7.6mm square) on the right weight of paper with the right amount of tackiness to allow multiple placements. Compromise on any of these elements and it all goes wrong.
The design of a pot intended to contain a slippery substance with no grip is ridiculous. The design of dishwasher tab packet that can’t be peeled open is frustrating. The design of energy gel packets for use on the run that won’t easily tear open when you’re wet or sweaty is infuriating, especially when the crucial contents explode down your arm.
My lips ended up cracking after all.
What design has driven you mad recently?
Tags: communication (27), design (23), facilitation (15), post-it's (7)
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