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Show HN: I redesigned the USPS package delivery slip

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Re: Show HN: I redesigned the USPS package delivery slip

#31

Post by cowsandmilk »

rib3ye wrote: post #11

Will probably get some downvotes for the raw criticism, but your redesign is a regression in usability for both the carrier and the recipient: In the actual, the fields where the poor guy/girl actually has to write are large spacious to allow the delivery person to write quickly (and sloppily). Also, notice how Final Notice is bigger than the rest of the text? That's because it's important. This is one example of con…

That was my immediate reaction. Carrier fills this out often without a good surface to write on. The space to write is appropriate for a designer who has perfect tiny handwriting.

Re: Show HN: I redesigned the USPS package delivery slip

#32

Post by ck2 »

The reason why the USPS forms look so ancient is because they are so ancient.

Their budget has been destroyed over the years by Congress so there is no money for things like redesigning forms and reprinting them.

I've watched my main post office slowing implode on itself because all of USPS income is going back into funding future imaginary employee retirement funds (due to congressional law designed to destroy them).

Re: Show HN: I redesigned the USPS package delivery slip

#33

Post by blowski »

rib3ye wrote: post #11

Will probably get some downvotes for the raw criticism, but your redesign is a regression in usability for both the carrier and the recipient: In the actual, the fields where the poor guy/girl actually has to write are large spacious to allow the delivery person to write quickly (and sloppily). Also, notice how Final Notice is bigger than the rest of the text? That's because it's important. This is one example of con…

I actually agree with what you've written, but I downvoted you because I hate reading comments that say things like "I will probably get some downvotes". If you think you're going to be downvoted, ask yourself why and consider rewriting it in such a way that people won't downvote you.

For example, in your comment here, to make it less downvotable you could say:

* What do you like about the redesign? There must be something positive you can say, even if it's just "it definitely looks more visually appealing" or "I understand that you were trying to improve usability by putting more information on the same side".

* Do you have any evidence that supports your counter-argument? If not, you're just two people with opinions, and since you're not a well-known authority on usability it's just noise.

* What would you suggest doing to fix the problems you've said here while also fixing the problems that the OP identified? Or do you not agree that those problems are really problems?

Re: Show HN: I redesigned the USPS package delivery slip

#34

Post by Infinitesimus »

blowski wrote: post #33
rib3ye wrote: post #11

Will probably get some downvotes for the raw criticism, but your redesign is a regression in usability for both the carrier and the recipient: In the actual, the fields where the poor guy/girl actually has to write are large spacious to allow the delivery person to write quickly (and sloppily). Also, notice how Final Notice is bigger than the rest of the text? That's because it's important. This is one example of con…

I actually agree with what you've written, but I downvoted you because I hate reading comments that say things like "I will probably get some downvotes". If you think you're going to be downvoted, ask yourself why and consider rewriting it in such a way that people won't downvote you. For example, in your comment here, to make it less downvotable you could say: * What do you like about the redesign? There must be som…

> If you think you're going to be downvoted, ask yourself why and consider rewriting it in such a way that people won't downvote you.

I don't think intentionally trying to write in a way that doesn't provoke downvotes is helpful to a healthy discussion.

The post in question was direct, that's it.

While it is fair to suggest that the parent post highlight the positives, I don't think it is necessary always. Especially in light of 45 hearts on the medium post in support of the word. I'd say your last two points were addressed in the post as well...

Re: Show HN: I redesigned the USPS package delivery slip

#35

Post by DanBC »

Infinitesimus wrote: post #34
blowski wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually agree with what you've written, but I downvoted you because I hate reading comments that say things like "I will probably get some downvotes". If you think you're going to be downvoted, ask yourself why and consider rewriting it in such a way that people won't downvote you. For example, in your comment here, to make it less downvotable you could say: * What do you like about the redesign? There must be som…

> If you think you're going to be downvoted, ask yourself why and consider rewriting it in such a way that people won't downvote you. I don't think intentionally trying to write in a way that doesn't provoke downvotes is helpful to a healthy discussion. The post in question was direct, that's it. While it is fair to suggest that the parent post highlight the positives, I don't think it is necessary always. Especially…

> The post in question was direct, that's it.

So it shouldn't have mentioned voting at all.

Re: Show HN: I redesigned the USPS package delivery slip

#36

Post by blowski »

Infinitesimus wrote: post #34
blowski wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually agree with what you've written, but I downvoted you because I hate reading comments that say things like "I will probably get some downvotes". If you think you're going to be downvoted, ask yourself why and consider rewriting it in such a way that people won't downvote you. For example, in your comment here, to make it less downvotable you could say: * What do you like about the redesign? There must be som…

> If you think you're going to be downvoted, ask yourself why and consider rewriting it in such a way that people won't downvote you. I don't think intentionally trying to write in a way that doesn't provoke downvotes is helpful to a healthy discussion. The post in question was direct, that's it. While it is fair to suggest that the parent post highlight the positives, I don't think it is necessary always. Especially…

I agree with you that avoiding downvotes doesn't promote healthy discussion. However, I take exception to someone pre-empting downvotes - to me personally, it comes across as a challenge to disagree and I don't think that's helpful to a healthy discussion either.

If someone writes something without thinking about whether they'll be upvoted or downvoted, then that's great, even if I disagree with them. But writing with the explicit assumption that you'll be downvoted suggests that you're being contrarian.

Re: Show HN: I redesigned the USPS package delivery slip

#37

Post by angdis »

pduszak wrote: post #14

> It took me nearly ten minutes of flipping the card back and forth and back again to tentatively figure out how to get it redelivered. It took me carefully looking at both sides for 10 seconds..

Whether it is 10 seconds or 10 minutes (clearly hyperbole), the point is that these notifications are difficult to interpret because of poor design.

As the attempted re-design and the commentary shows, this is not an easy problem. It takes some serious effort and consideration of many use-cases.

Instead of someone trying to "Steve-Jobs" a redesign, perhaps the best thing to do would be to devise a process for coming up with a new design. To do something like this "right" requires actual study with users-- not just a designer applying his/her talents.

FWIW, I think the OP's redesign is more clear, but that's just my limited viewpoint, it doesn't mean that it would be successful over all possible use-cases.

Re: Show HN: I redesigned the USPS package delivery slip

#40

Post by jschwartzi »

ck2 wrote: post #32

The reason why the USPS forms look so ancient is because they are so ancient. Their budget has been destroyed over the years by Congress so there is no money for things like redesigning forms and reprinting them. I've watched my main post office slowing implode on itself because all of USPS income is going back into funding future imaginary employee retirement funds (due to congressional law designed to destroy them)…

USPS has no budget from Congress. They're the only government agency in the US that is required to break even using the money they collect from fees.
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