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The Design of Everyday Things Summary
About The Design of Everyday Things Book
Design doesn't have to complicated, which is why this guide to human-centered design shows that usability is just as important as aesthetics.
Even the smartest among us can feel inept as we fail to figure out which light switch or oven burner to turn on, or whether to push, pull, or slide a door.
The fault, argues this ingenious -- even liberating -- book, lies not in ourselves, but in product design that ignores the needs of users and the principles of cognitive psychology. The problems range from ambiguous and hidden controls to arbitrary relationships between controls and functions, coupled with a lack of feedback or other assistance and unreasonable demands on memorization.
The Design of Everyday Things shows that good, usable design is possible. The rules are simple: make things visible, exploit natural relationships that couple function and control, and make intelligent use of constraints. The goal: guide the user effortlessly to the right action on the right control at the right time.
The Design of Everyday Things is a powerful primer on how -- and why -- some products satisfy customers while others only frustrate them.
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Types of Errors in Design
There are 2 types of errors:
slips(a person intends to do an action and ends up doing something else). Can be:action-based(correct action applied to the wrong object),memory-lapse(forgetting)mistakes(wrong goal or wrong plan formed). Can be:rule-based(correct diagnose, wrong action),knowledge-based(incorrect diagnose),memory-lapse(failing due to distraction)
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The 3 Levels of Processing that inform the 3 Stages of Action
There are 3 levels of processing that inform the action a user does:
- visceral (lowest level, correlated with calm and anxiety). Actions: perform and perceive.
- behavioural (middle level, correlated with expectations and emotions). Actions: specify and interpret.
- reflective (highest level, correlated with satisfaction). Actions: plan and compare.
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The fundamental concepts of Interaction
Affordances - the relationship between the properties of an object and the capabilities of an agent
Signifiers - an indicator that communicates appropriate behaviour to a person
Constraints - impediments of using a system
Mappings - the relationship between the elements of two sets of things
Feedback - communication of the results of an action
Conceptual model - explanation of how something works
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Design principles that generally apply
2 Important Characteristics Of Good Design
- Discoverability - figure out which actions are possible and where and how to perform them
- Understanding - how is the product supposed to be used and what all the different controls and settings mean
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Areas Of Design
- Industrial design - emphasize form and material; optimize function, value, and appearance of products and systems for the benefit of both user and manufacturer.
- Interaction design - emphasize understandability and usability; how people interact with technology and draws upon principles of psychology, design, art, and emotion.
- Experience design - emphasize emotional impact and focused on quality and enjoyment of the total experience.
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Human-centered Design
Good understanding of people is key. Designs should match the needs and capabilities of the people for whom they are intended. The philosophy of human-centeted design focuses on repeated approximations and avoids specifying the problem as long as possible when it comes to defining the specifications of design.
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This book was a classic and took me about a month to complete haha
The designer of everyday things must take into account the whole experience of the person using the product or service, not just the product itself.
DON
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Make Things Visible
Good design should make it clear what actions are possible and what the current state of the system is.
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Provide Feedback
Users should be informed of the results of their actions and the system's current state.
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What is bad design
When external signifiers - signs - have to be added to something as simple as a door, it indicates bad design.
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Principles of design
1. Use both knowledge in the world and knowledge in the head.
2. Simplify the structure of tasks.
3. Make things visible: bridge gulfs between Execution and Evaluation.
4. Get the mapping right.
5. Exploit the power of constraints.
6. Design for error.
7. When all else fails, standardize.
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How good designers solve problems
Good designers never start by trying to solve the problem given to them: they start by trying to understand what the real issues are.
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Key takeaways from the book about Design and Human-Computer Interaction
What are "Norman doors" and why are they a problem?
"Norman doors" are doors that are poorly designed and confusing to use. Often these doors have handles that suggest the opposite action that is required to open them (e.g. a push bar that appears to be a pull handle). These doors are an example of when design fails to align with the user's expectations of a product's affordances, leading to frustration and confusion. The term is a reference to the author, Donald Norman.
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What is a "mental model" and why is it important in design?
A "mental model" is the conceptual understanding a person has of how something works. These models are based on past experiences and expectations and are key to how people interact with products and services. A designer should strive to create products that match the mental model of the intended user. When a product violates a person's mental model, it leads to confusion and usability issues.
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What are the "seven stages of action" and how do they relate to design?
The "seven stages of action" represent the cycle of human action: forming a goal, creating a plan, specifying the steps needed for the plan, and performing those steps (execution); then perceiving the results, interpreting their meaning, and comparing the outcome against the original goal (evaluation). Design should consider all seven stages, making it easy for users to form goals, execute actions, and understand the results. A good design bridges the "gulfs" between execution and evaluation, ensuring the user can easily operate the product and get a clear result.
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