What should a designer avoid when evaluating the success of a design?

When evaluating the success of a design, it is critical to consider its evolution over time. Observing how a design performs and adapts can provide valuable insights about its effectiveness and any areas needing improvement. This ongoing assessment can highlight patterns in user interaction or draw attention to unforeseen challenges that arise as the design is utilized in real-world contexts.

Focusing solely on observations from the initial implementation can lead to a narrow understanding of the design's efficacy. The context in which a design operates may change, and what worked well at the outset may not continue to be successful as conditions evolve.

In contrast, soliciting client feedback, comparing the design to initial goals, and measuring against industry standards are all essential practices for a comprehensive evaluation. These methods help ensure that the design achieves its intended purpose and meets established benchmarks for quality and effectiveness. Therefore, avoiding the assessment of a design's evolution over time can result in an incomplete evaluation, missing essential factors that contribute to its overall success.