Construction principles for the information professional (9): Apply standard patterns without deviations

Standard patterns exist in both information science and computer science.

The elegant thing about a standard pattern is that it is a standard. But in practice, there appears to be a reason to deviate a bit each time. The result is a user who no longer understands the user interface or a no longer interoperable concept, lower maintainability of a system and loss of time.

Why standard patterns?

Theory and practice show the benefits of setting things up the same way. For example, it improves manageability in an organization if you keep organizational parts uniform. People are more easily interchangeable due to shorter learning time. To govern, a model must be available of the governed system, and this is quicker to develop if it uses standard patterns that are recognizable.

In information science, standard patterns help in the unambiguous documentation of information and recognition of information (partly through an agreed syntax). In this way, for example, reading the user manual and also operating devices automatically becomes logical, just think of color use and position of certain controls. If the stop button is suddenly green and the start button red then we get accidents

Standard patterns often grow into officially recognized standards. Deviation is not allowed and if something changes it applies to all applications.

Standard patterns are typically a “design” aspect

Examples of good and bad default patterns

[1] Source Wikipedia

Application of standard patterns in construction

Jaap van Rees [2] mentions two target groups here:

End users

Designers of systems

Maar als de voordelen zo evident zijn waarom wordt er dan toch steeds afgeweken van de standaard?[2] De informatiearchitect, van Rees en Wisse, Kluwer, 1995.

Standard patterns and creative freedom

Standards conflict with the creative design process. Standard patterns must be converted into standard ways of thinking, and that takes time. Design decisions are framed by prescribed standard patterns. In a standard, an architecture or end-user requirements.