The Design of Everyday Things. Book Summary

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Donald A. Norman

What’s inside

The Design of Everyday Things by Donald A. Norman advocates for user-centered design and emphasizes the importance of understanding user needs and limitations in product design. The book is a critique of poor product design and a guide to the fundamental principles of good design, including visibility, mapping, and feedback.

You’ll Learn

  • Improve your understanding of good and bad design
  • Gain insights into user-centered design principles
  • Learn how to anticipate and cater to user needs in design
  • Understand the impact of design on human behavior and perception

Key Points

  • Failures and errors are often not the users’ fault but the design’s
  • Good design is user-centered
  • Principles of good design: visibility, mapping, and feedback
  • Designers must understand and anticipate user needs
  • Constraints in design can actually promote usability
  • Design can impact the way people interact and interpret the world
  • The role and responsibility of designers in shaping our everyday experiences

Who’s it For

  • Design Professionals
  • Product Managers
  • Engineers
  • Students in Design Fields
  • Readers interested in User-Centered Design

About the author

Donald A. Norman is a cognitive scientist, professor, and author. Known for his expertise in usability engineering and cognitive science, he has written several books on user-centered design and cognitive psychology.