Patterns for Success: A Lesson in Usable Design from U.S. Patent Records
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/stc/tc/1997/00000044/00000001/art00005
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  peer-reviewed

Durack, Katherine T.
Technical Communication Online
1997

Abstract:

This article investigates the design history of certain published artifacts—women's household sewing patterns—as that history is recorded in U.S. Patent Records. When a patented item is a published artifact, the U.S. Patent Record may contain valuable information on the author's perception of users and analysis of solutions for usability problems. This case illustrates the evolution toward a single standard despite early proprietary design solutions.