Summary
"The Design of Everyday Things" by Don Norman is a book that explores the design of everyday objects and systems, from doors to computers. The book argues that designers often fail to consider the needs and limitations of users, leading to confusing and frustrating experiences.
The book is divided into three sections. The first section, "The Problem with Doors," introduces the concept of affordances, or the perceived properties of an object that suggest how it should be used. Norman argues that doors are often poorly designed, leading to confusion and frustration for users, and he provides examples of good and bad door design.
The second section, "The Psychology of Everyday Things," delves deeper into the role of user psychology in design. Norman discusses the limitations of human perception, memory, and attention, and how these can be accounted for in design. He also introduces the concept of "mapping," or the relationship between controls and their effects, and how this can affect usability.
The third section, "The Design Challenge," provides practical guidance for designers and emphasizes the importance of user-centered design. Norman explains the importance of prototyping and user testing, and provides examples of successful designs that have been informed by user feedback. He also touches on the overarching ethical responsibilities of designers in creating products that are safe, reliable, and usable.
Overall, "The Design of Everyday Things" is a thought-provoking and accessible guide to user-centered design. It encourages designers to consider the needs and limitations of users in every aspect of their work, and provides practical advice on how to create products that are intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable to use.
The book is divided into three sections. The first section, "The Problem with Doors," introduces the concept of affordances, or the perceived properties of an object that suggest how it should be used. Norman argues that doors are often poorly designed, leading to confusion and frustration for users, and he provides examples of good and bad door design.
The second section, "The Psychology of Everyday Things," delves deeper into the role of user psychology in design. Norman discusses the limitations of human perception, memory, and attention, and how these can be accounted for in design. He also introduces the concept of "mapping," or the relationship between controls and their effects, and how this can affect usability.
The third section, "The Design Challenge," provides practical guidance for designers and emphasizes the importance of user-centered design. Norman explains the importance of prototyping and user testing, and provides examples of successful designs that have been informed by user feedback. He also touches on the overarching ethical responsibilities of designers in creating products that are safe, reliable, and usable.
Overall, "The Design of Everyday Things" is a thought-provoking and accessible guide to user-centered design. It encourages designers to consider the needs and limitations of users in every aspect of their work, and provides practical advice on how to create products that are intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable to use.
Key ideas
1. Design is about user-centered thinking: One of the central themes of the book is that good design should prioritize the needs and abilities of the user. Designers should pay attention to how people interact with everyday objects and systems, and create solutions that are intuitive and user-friendly. For example, the book discusses the importance of feedback, which is a crucial part of good design. Electronic appliances that give feedback to the user allow for more efficient and effective use.
2. Affordances and signifiers: Affordances refers to the actions that a user can take with an object based on its physical properties. Signifiers, on the other hand, are cues that communicate an object's purpose or appropriate use. For example, a door handle that affords pulling, and a signifier, such as a bar handle shape, indicating the direction of the movement. For a successful design, elements must be clear and their functions easily gleaned to the user.
3. Human error and cognitive load: According to the book, designers must be aware of the limitations of human memory and attention. Factors such as cognitive load, multitasking, and the effects of stress can impact a user's ability to interact effectively with a design. For example, using symbols that are not easily recognizable, or presenting complex information in a tiny font can increase cognitive load and decrease usability.
4. Feedback and visibility: The book emphasizes the importance of providing users with immediate feedback about their actions. Feedback helps to reduce errors and improve efficiency by allowing the user to adjust their behavior based on the perceived outcomes. For example, increasing the visual response in a system which reflects the changes that occur when users are making adjustments, in turn, gives more clarity and control of the task.
5. Simplicity and aesthetics: The book suggests that good design should be both functional and visually appealing. Often, less is more when it comes to design, and simplicity rules. Designers must continually strive for optimal design solutions with minimum damage to functionality. For example, the redesign of Apple's iPod music player, which opted for a simple, user-friendly interface and a clean, sleek aesthetic, led to a massive success.
2. Affordances and signifiers: Affordances refers to the actions that a user can take with an object based on its physical properties. Signifiers, on the other hand, are cues that communicate an object's purpose or appropriate use. For example, a door handle that affords pulling, and a signifier, such as a bar handle shape, indicating the direction of the movement. For a successful design, elements must be clear and their functions easily gleaned to the user.
3. Human error and cognitive load: According to the book, designers must be aware of the limitations of human memory and attention. Factors such as cognitive load, multitasking, and the effects of stress can impact a user's ability to interact effectively with a design. For example, using symbols that are not easily recognizable, or presenting complex information in a tiny font can increase cognitive load and decrease usability.
4. Feedback and visibility: The book emphasizes the importance of providing users with immediate feedback about their actions. Feedback helps to reduce errors and improve efficiency by allowing the user to adjust their behavior based on the perceived outcomes. For example, increasing the visual response in a system which reflects the changes that occur when users are making adjustments, in turn, gives more clarity and control of the task.
5. Simplicity and aesthetics: The book suggests that good design should be both functional and visually appealing. Often, less is more when it comes to design, and simplicity rules. Designers must continually strive for optimal design solutions with minimum damage to functionality. For example, the redesign of Apple's iPod music player, which opted for a simple, user-friendly interface and a clean, sleek aesthetic, led to a massive success.
Quotes
1. "The real problem with the world is not that it is too complex, but that we cannot understand it."
2. "Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible."
3. "The design of everyday objects has a subtle yet powerful influence on the emotions and attitudes of those who use them."
4. "A well-designed object should make the right things visible, and the wrong things invisible."
5. "User-centered design means understanding what your users need, and what they don't need."
6. "Design isn't just about how things look and feel, it's also about how they work and how people interact with them."
7. "Design is really an act of communication, which means that you need to understand the audience you're designing for."
8. "A design should be elegant and simple, but most importantly, it should be usable."
2. "Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible."
3. "The design of everyday objects has a subtle yet powerful influence on the emotions and attitudes of those who use them."
4. "A well-designed object should make the right things visible, and the wrong things invisible."
5. "User-centered design means understanding what your users need, and what they don't need."
6. "Design isn't just about how things look and feel, it's also about how they work and how people interact with them."
7. "Design is really an act of communication, which means that you need to understand the audience you're designing for."
8. "A design should be elegant and simple, but most importantly, it should be usable."
Action items
1. Understand the importance of good design: The book mentions that good design is crucial for usability and user satisfaction. It also emphasizes the need for designers to consider user psychology and behavior when creating products.
2. Focus on affordances: Affordances are the perceived properties of objects that suggest how they should be used. Norman suggests that designers pay close attention to affordances in the design process and make them clear and intuitive for users.
3. Reduce the number of false affordances: False affordances are misleading cues that suggest one use but lead to a different outcome. Norman advises designers to avoid or minimize false affordances to prevent user frustration and confusion.
4. Prioritize visibility and feedback: The book highlights the importance of providing feedback to users and making all functions of a product visible. Norman suggests using feedback to inform users of the outcome of their actions, provide warnings, and show progress bars.
5. Consider cognitive load: Users have limited cognitive resources, and when those resources are overloaded, they may make errors. The book advises designers to minimize cognitive load by providing clear information, eliminating irrelevant details, and incorporating visual cues.
6. Conduct usability testing: Testing is crucial for understanding user needs and identifying design flaws. Norman advises designers to conduct usability tests early and often in the design process.
7. Iterate and refine: Design is an iterative process, and feedback from users and testing should inform continuous refinement. Norman advocates for designers to embrace this process and use feedback to improve the design of products.
8. Continuously learn: Finally, the book emphasizes the need for designers to continually learn and improve their skills. Norman suggests designers should stay up to date with current trends, technologies, and user needs.
2. Focus on affordances: Affordances are the perceived properties of objects that suggest how they should be used. Norman suggests that designers pay close attention to affordances in the design process and make them clear and intuitive for users.
3. Reduce the number of false affordances: False affordances are misleading cues that suggest one use but lead to a different outcome. Norman advises designers to avoid or minimize false affordances to prevent user frustration and confusion.
4. Prioritize visibility and feedback: The book highlights the importance of providing feedback to users and making all functions of a product visible. Norman suggests using feedback to inform users of the outcome of their actions, provide warnings, and show progress bars.
5. Consider cognitive load: Users have limited cognitive resources, and when those resources are overloaded, they may make errors. The book advises designers to minimize cognitive load by providing clear information, eliminating irrelevant details, and incorporating visual cues.
6. Conduct usability testing: Testing is crucial for understanding user needs and identifying design flaws. Norman advises designers to conduct usability tests early and often in the design process.
7. Iterate and refine: Design is an iterative process, and feedback from users and testing should inform continuous refinement. Norman advocates for designers to embrace this process and use feedback to improve the design of products.
8. Continuously learn: Finally, the book emphasizes the need for designers to continually learn and improve their skills. Norman suggests designers should stay up to date with current trends, technologies, and user needs.