30 Dec Finding inspiration from “Six Memos for the Next Millennium” Book by Italo Calvino
As a UX designer, I was inspired by the ideas presented in Italo Calvino’s book “Six Memos for the Next Millennium” and wanted to explore how they could be applied to the field of user experience design. Using the insights and knowledge of OpenAI Chat GPT, I have written this article to delve into the ways in which Calvino’s concepts of exactitude, visibility, multiplicity, lightness, quickness, and consistency can be used to inform and enrich the design process. Through this exploration, we can see how literature and UX design intersect and can learn from each other in order to create meaningful and effective user experiences.
LIGHTNESS
In the chapter “Lightness”, of the “Six Memos for the Next Millennium”, Italo Calvino discusses the concept of lightness in literature and its relationship to the world. Calvino sees the subtraction of weight as a central aspect of his work, whether it be from people, cities, or the structure of stories and language. Lightness can be seen as a way of looking at the world, as well as it arising from the writing itself and the linguistic power of the poet.
Calvino also discusses the value of lightness in an age of noise and aggression, and the contrast between the tendency to make language weightless and the desire to give it density and concreteness. Finally, he touches on the idea of mental speed and the importance of preserving the ability to think in terms of images.
Kahneman’s concept of system 1 and system 2 thinking can be related to Calvino’s discussion of lightness in the literature. System 1 is the fast, automatic, and intuitive thinking process, while system 2 is the slower, more deliberate, and logical thinking process. Calvino’s emphasis on mental speed and the importance of preserving the ability to think in terms of images, could be seen as related to system 1 thinking. Furthermore, the contrast between the tendency to make language weightless and the desire to give it density and concreteness could be related to the idea of the balance between system 1 and system 2 thinking. In both literature and UX design, it is important to consider the role of both system 1 and system 2 thinking in creating effective and efficient communication.
The concept of “less is more” in UX design is often associated with the idea of minimalism and simplicity. This approach aims to create user experiences that are efficient, straightforward, and easy to use, with the goal of creating a clear and effective message. This idea is reflected in Calvino’s focus on lightness in literature, where he sees the subtraction of weight as a key aspect of his work. By simplifying and streamlining the writing process, Calvino aims to create a clear and concise message. Similarly, the “less is more” approach in UX design seeks to create user experiences that are intuitive and free of unnecessary distractions or complications. Both Calvino’s focus on lightness in literature and the “less is more” approach in UX design aim to create simple and effective ways of communicating ideas and messages.
QUICKNESS
In the chapter “Quickness”, Calvino discusses the value of speed and agility in literature. He identifies quickness as a key quality that allows writers to move freely between ideas and to navigate complex, nonlinear narratives. Calvino also notes the importance of mental speed in an age of rapidly advancing technology, and advocates for the use of language to sharpen differences between ideas rather than flattening them into a single, homogeneous surface. Finally, he touches on the pleasure of lingering in literature, using repetition and digression as tools to slow down time.
In both literature and UX design, the concept of “economy of expression” is important for creating clear and effective communication. Calvino discusses the value of economy in literature, stating that “a work of literature should not be burdened by a superabundance of words and an over-elaboration of the expression.” Similarly, in UX design, the User Story Map is a tool that helps designers prioritise and organise the features and functionality of a product in a clear and concise way. By considering the user’s needs and goals, designers can create a user experience that is efficient and effective, avoiding unnecessary complexity or distractions. Both Calvino’s concept of economy in literature and the User Story Map in UX design aim to create clear and effective communication through focus.
EXACTITUDE
In the chapter “Exactitude”, Calvino defines exactitude as having three main components: 1) a well-defined and well-calculated plan for the work in question, 2) the evocation of clear and memorable visual images, and 3) precise language in both word choice and expression. Calvino values appropriateness and cautions against formulaic, generic language and automatism. He also discusses his fondness for geometrical forms, symmetries, numerical series, and proportions, including how they can be used in literature to create a sense of exactitude. Calvino believes that literature should be able to weave together various branches of knowledge and “codes” into a multifaceted vision of the world. Finally, Calvino discusses the importance of visibility in literature and the role of the imagination in creating mental images while reading.
Calvino’s idea of a multifaceted vision of the world and the importance of visibility in literature can be related to the design-thinking process in UX design. In the Empathise and Define stages of the design-thinking process, designers use techniques such as blueprinting to understand the landscape of the service and to identify the various touchpoints and interactions involved in the service experience. By considering all of these different factors and creating a comprehensive plan, designers can create a multifaceted vision of the service that takes into account the needs and expectations of the customer. The use of mental images and the role of the imagination in literature can also be related to the design-thinking process, as designers often use visualisation techniques to create mockups and prototypes of their designs in order to better understand the user experience. Both Calvino’s idea of a multifaceted vision and the design-thinking process aim to create a clear and organised plan that takes into account the various factors that contribute to the service or product experience.
The concept of a service blueprint in UX design involves creating a detailed map of the different stages and interactions involved in a service or product. This includes identifying the various touchpoints between the customer and the service, as well as the various internal processes and systems that support the service. The idea of a well-defined and well-calculated plan for the work in question, as well as the use of clear and memorable visual images and precise language, aligns with the concept of a service blueprint in that these elements help to create a clear and organised plan for the service or product. The focus on appropriateness and avoiding formulaic language and automatism can also be seen as important considerations in the creation of a service blueprint, as these elements can help to ensure that the service is tailored to the needs and expectations of the customer. Additionally, the emphasis on weaving together various branches of knowledge and “codes” into a multifaceted vision, aligns with the idea of creating a holistic and comprehensive service blueprint that takes into account all the different factors that contribute to the service experience.
VISIBILITY
In the chapter, “Visibility”, Italo Calvino explores the value of visibility in literature and the role it plays in shaping our perception of the world. He discusses the idea that reading brings scenes and events to life in our mind’s eye. Additionally, he argues that the effectiveness of a text can influence how vividly we see these images. Calvino also writes about the importance of maintaining the ability to think in terms of images, because the proliferation of prefabricated images in the modern world may threaten this ability. He touches on the role of literature in communicating and giving voice to that which has no language, and the value of giving form and expression to the diversity of experiences and objects in the world.
On the other side, Calvino’s idea of the proliferation of prefabricated images , may lead to a lack of attention to and appreciation for the subtle differences and nuances that can be conveyed through visual design. In both literature and UX design, it is important to consider the emotional impact of the visual appearance—especially when using it to communicate effectively and meaningfully. By giving form and expression to the diversity of experiences and objects in the world, as Calvino advocates, designers can create user experiences that are rich and engaging, rather than relying on superficial or formulaic visual elements.
The above concept resonates with a Nielsen Norman Group article, which states: “The commonality across all of these studies is that users pay attention to information-carrying images that show content that’s relevant to the task at hand. And users ignore purely decorative images that don’t add real content to the page. So much fluff — of which there’s too much already on the web.”
MULTIPLICITY
In the chapter “Multiplicity,” Italo Calvino explores the concept of combining multiple perspectives and experiences into a single, multifaceted vision of the world. He argues that literature has the unique ability to weave together various branches of knowledge and codes into a unified whole. He also tells us that each individual’s life is like an encyclopedia, library, or inventory of objects and styles that can be constantly shuffled and reordered. Additionally, Calvino touches on the idea of creating works that transcend the limitations of the individual ego and give voice to those things that have no language, such as birds, trees, stones, and other elements of the natural world. He concludes by stating that literature’s grand challenge is to achieve a manifold and multifaceted vision of the world that can embrace and make sense of the complexity and diversity of human experience.
The concept of triangulation in UX research aligns with Calvino’s idea of each individual’s life being like an encyclopedia, library, or inventory of objects and styles that can be constantly shuffled and reordered. In UX research, triangulation involves the use of multiple methods or approaches to gather and analyse data, allowing designers to bring together multiple perspectives and experiences into a single, multifaceted understanding of the user.
Triangulation allows designers to explore the complexity and diversity of user experiences in order to create more effective and meaningful designs, just as literature has the ability to achieve a manifold and multifaceted vision of the world that embraces and makes sense of the complexity and diversity of human experience.
The concept of triangulation in the UX process refers to the use of multiple methods or approaches to gather and analyse data in order to validate findings and increase the reliability and validity of research results. This can be compared to the idea of combining multiple perspectives and experiences into a single, multifaceted vision of the world, as described in the text. Just as literature has the ability to weave together various branches of knowledge and codes into a unified whole, UX research can use triangulation to bring together multiple sources of information and data to create a more comprehensive understanding of user needs, behaviours, and preferences. Similarly, just as each individual’s life is like an encyclopedia of objects and styles that can be constantly shuffled and reordered, UX research can use triangulation to explore and make sense of the complexity and diversity of user experiences in order to create more effective and meaningful designs.
VALUABLE SOURCE OF INSPIRATION
In conclusion, the ideas presented in Italo Calvino’s “Six Memos for the Next Millennium” can be a valuable source of inspiration for UX designers, as we strive to create meaningful and effective user experiences. Calvino’s concepts offer a wealth of insights and ideas that can inform and enrich the design process. By exploring the intersections between literature and UX design, we can learn from each other and create user experiences that are engaging, intuitive, and effective. As UX designers, we can draw inspiration from Calvino’s ideas and use them to create designs that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional, while also considering the broader context of user’s experience.
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