A perfectly ordinary PET bottle can be a container for liquid and a symbol of plastic waste, but alternatively also a flower pot and a symbol of sustainable gardening. Something completely opposite. How come? The function and meaning of things are not determined by the engineer, not really even by the designer; to a large extent they are determined by use “out there”, in the world of people, the life-world, Lebenswelt. Now imagine how “alternatively” users use IT systems and websites. It needs to be mapped; you need to know people, how they work, how they think, what their lives are like. Only then is it possible to create a product that will have functions and meaning for their lives. And that is how products should ideally be made. How to go about it? Get to know people, get to know their environment. In other words, do UX design.
