That simple question — what’s the motivation? — is one of the most useful things I learned in college. I was taking a TV directing class and we were learning about using camera moves wisely. The simple, but powerful lesson is this: when contemplating a camera move (or some other effect), stop and ask yourself why you are doing it. What do you hope to gain by doing it? Will it really further your objectives, or will it detract? If you don’t have a valid reason for moving the camera, perhaps you shouldn’t do the move. That isn’t to say that camera moves (or widgets, or interactions) are bad. It just means that we should know why we’re using them before we do.

The application of this little gem obviously goes way beyond camera moves. It applies to web widgets (Ajax, 2.0, or otherwise), industrial design, interaction “enhancements,” and design elements of any flavor. Does the widget, component, text, interface, etc. further the objectives of the site or product? Does it help the users? Or, is it just cool, cutting edge, easy to implement, or a personal favorite? (This applies to clients too. When we get requests for things that just don’t seem to make sense, we should seek the motivation behind the request. If there isn’t any, other than XYZ Corporation did it, or “because,” we should push back and introduce other options.)

Next time you are tempted to throw in a widget, or some other element into your design, pause for a moment and ask yourself “what’s the motivation?” If you are satisfied with the answer, you are likely on the path to a good design. If not, stop and reconsider before making any rash decisions.