Ferrari Fail: Steering Wheel From Hell

by Paul Sherman on May 6, 2010 · 6 comments

It’s all about context, yes. Some immensely complex UI’s are necessary in certain domains, for certain workflows. But sometimes you can just look at a UI and know that, for whoever its intended users are, it’s a horrible failure.

So it is with this Ferrari steering wheel. Via FastCompany and @JasonSpector, look upon the horror and of course watch the vid. Bonus points for the headline “Ferrari F10 Steering Wheel Looks Like a Robot Barfed on It.”

Ferrari steering wheel fail

Here’s the vid about it too. Enjoy.

Tagged as: questionable_design

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http://twitter.com/bprotas bprotas

The interesting usability-related issue that this raises for me is that of “expert interfaces”. In mass-produced software, this means having an “advanced mode” for “pro users”, and that is provably bad, but not really a hot-button issue anymore, thankfully.

When talking to some of my clients, primarily doing highly customized workflow tools, the argument against spending time or money on usability is: “there will only be 1 or 2 users of this application, and they can be expertly trained, so usability does not matter. There should be buttons for everything, and it doesn't matter how it looks – only that it does everything required, no matter how complex”.

Does anyone have any research (or anecdotes) about how these systems work out for systems with truly small user bases? This is the scenario that anyone designing this wheel would undoubtedly face – it's only got one person to please (the driver), so what argument can be made that they may not know what they're asking for?
JasonP

Looks to be a well executed user-centered design to me. I'm new to the usability game but a long-time F1 fan so please tell me what your qualms are. The turn by turn functions are within thumb-reach (front wing, tq, comm), and the less often used functions are in the center (the only other place in the car they could be placed. Hopefully it's not the labeling…full words cannot be read during these races.
Erik

I'd be interested in the author's response to the question of why this is a fail. Jason makes some great points regarding the placement of frequently used items vs. those not frequently used, as well as justification for short labeling.

The use of bright colors, big labels, and different knob styles actually makes sense to me as something easy to use with no eyes on it.

I have never driven one of these cars, but I can imagine the inability to release the two-handed grip to reach for something or take the eyes off the track to read a label.

So, why is this a “fail”?
http://twitter.com/tevih Tevi Hirschhorn

Definitely disagree with the author, per Erik’s and Jason’s points.

Also, would like to take issue with the author – are you the intended user?! Most definitely not. Therefore, without having done a study of your own of any sort, or interviews, how do you know this steering wheel isn’t ideal for a race car driver? There’s certainly plenty of justification for the design choices made. Lot of dials? Yes. Are they needed? Seems like it. Layout and colors seems messy? Don’t know – how about you get inside the cockpit of one of those things at 160mph?

Ferrari definitely studies their users and have a lot riding (no pun intended) on the success of their races.
Phiiiteeeyyy

Expert review is a double edged sword when done in unfamiliar domain…