If you believe in focusing on high leverage projects, you need to get familiar with availability bias.
Availability bias describes the mind’s tendency to equate how frequently we see something with how common and important it must be.
Thanks to mass media, the things we see most often aren’t the things that happen most, but the things that make great headlines.
If something is sudden, graphic, and widely reported on, it’s likely that well-meaning designers will flock to address it because it seems like a critical issue.
The problem is that high leverage issues — the kind that deserve design attention most — are usually widespread, persistent, and relatively invisible. High leverage issues rarely make the front page, so their true magnitude can be easily missed.
The antidote is seeking out the statistics.
For designers willing to challenge their availability bias prior to selecting a project, a tremendous opportunity awaits to create outsized impact.
Doing the research will take some work, but the benefit to the people and systems you hope to help will make it well worth the effort.
Designable.blog 