The final design of the interface is not the result of what the designer 'designed,' but rather the outcome of what the designer managed to negotiate.
In essence, the design of the interface is a statement in a broad, almost linguistic sense – a resolution bearing the signatures of numerous participants in the process.
The role of a designer closely parallels that of an editor in publishing – ensuring that the statement serves as a conduit for meaning.
In this context, meaning is the state of visibility and clarity of the path from point A to point B, involving the very process of transition itself.
Designers are custodians of meaning.
Their task is to prevent senseless occurrences in the interface – avoiding redundancies, repetitions, unnecessary clutter, and a lack of coherence.
And for the clarity of meaning, clear communication is crucial. The quality of the final design depends largely on how well the efforts in its creation were communicated.
Good design is comparable to a well-crafted poem – it is looped and complements itself, presenting a finished work of art.