What’s really angering about instructions [...] is that they imply there’s only one way [...] their way. And that presumption wipes out all the creativity. Actually there are hundreds of ways [...] and when they make you follow just one way without showing you the overall problem the instructions become hard to follow in such a way as not to make mistakes. You lose feeling for the work. And not only that, it’s very unlikely that they’ve told you the best way.
I believe that many instructions today, are no more than a type of legal disclaimer outlining the prescribed use of something so that when the man buys the coffee and burns himself litigation becomes more difficult. I don’t think they have anything to do with best practices anymore. I do like your MacGuyver philosophy though…
“Just tear open packet and use” – I haven’t met this guy and he already sounds annoyed with me…
“Just tear open packet and use” – If you’re having trouble with this, clean hands is the least of your worries…
“Just tear open packet and use” – they need to add “discard moist towelette when done, for chrissakes!”
However, the thing that strikes me the most is the fact that they felt they needed a WHOLE PARAGRAPH of romance copy describing their product.
This packet represents everything that’s wrong in design and packaging today…
