• Arrangement of the buttons in relation to the floors
     


• Use nemonics - number/color / icons / music
  E.g. at O'Hare airport (Chicago) you have the floor, the team name, colors, and icon, and a (somewhat relevant) song.
     
• We use elevators everyday. Some bad examples: http://www2.isye.gatech.edu/~jjb/misc/elevators/elevators.html


• Here are some other examples: Analyzing elevator controls using Nielsen-Norman’s Usability Heuristics


• Do not forget that 'the first floor' does not mean the same thing to everyone.

Did you experience elevators that work in different ways? Share your stories.

• Recommendations:
  1. Standardization: Focus on the prominent features (Power and Time).
        
  2. Customization: Add the secondary features (auto cleaning, cooking programs, etc).
• References:
  Microwave Ovens: Failure is not an option
  Why do Microwave oven UIs fail?
  User Interfaces: How Not to Design a Microwave?
  Why Do Most Microwaves Have Such A Terrible User Interface?