by Don Norman
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About the Book
I think it’s a fantastic book that explains why some objects are easy to use while others frustrate us. People really like it because it’s full of relatable examples, like confusing doors or tricky gadgets, and it shows how good design can make life simpler. The main point is that design should focus on how humans think and act, not just look cool — Norman calls this "user-centered design." I found it interesting how he uses psychology to explain why we blame ourselves for bad designs when it’s really the designer’s fault.
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The Psychopathology of Everyday Things
Two of the most important characteristics of good design are discoverability and understanding. Discoverability: Is it possible to even figure out what actions are possible and where and how to perform them? Understanding: What does it all mean? How is the product supposed to be used? What do all the different controls and settings mean?
In the best of cases, the products should also be delightful and enjoyable, which means that not only must the requirements of engineering, manufacturing, and ergonomics be satisfied, but attention must be paid to the entire experience, which means the aesthetics of form and the quality of interaction.
Design is concerned with how things work, how they are controlled, and the nature of the interaction between people and technology. When done well, the results are brilliant, pleasurable products. When done badly, the products are unusable, leading to great frustration and irritation.
The problem with the designs of most engineers is that they are too logical. We have to accept human behavior the way it is, not the way we would wish it to be.