First, businesses discovered quality as a key competitive edge; next came service. Now, Donald A. Norman, former Director of the Institute for Cognitive Science at the University of California, reveals how smart design is the new competitive frontier. 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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From Amazon
Anyone who designs anything to be used by humans--from physical objects to computer programs to conceptual tools--must read this book, and it is an equally tremendous read for anyone who has to use anything created by another human. It could forever change how you experience and interact with your physical surroundings, open your eyes to the perversity of bad design and the desirability of good design, and raise your expectations about how things should be designed.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
Anybody who has ever complained that "they don't make things like they used to" will immediately connect with this book. Norman's thesis is that when designers fail to understand the processes by which devices work, they create unworkable technology. Director of the Institute for Cognitive Sciences at University of California, San Diego, the author examines the psychological processes needed in operating and comprehending devices. Examples include doors you don't know whether to push or pull and VCRs you can't figure out how to program. Written in a readable, anecdotal, sometimes breezy style, the book's scholarly sophistication is almost transparent. Gregg Sapp, Idaho State Univ. Lib., Pocatello
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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First Sentence
"You would need an engineering degree from MIT to work this," someone once told me, shaking his head in puzzlement over his brand new digital watch. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
"You would need an engineering degree from MIT to work this," someone once told me, shaking his head in puzzlement over his brand new digital watch. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Norman has written a great 'big picture' book on design. It deals with the concepts of design through example, and in no specific way. The ideas can be applied to any type of design, and he explains the logic behind such examples and ideas so that they make sense.
The book is clearly illustrated, and quite interesting to read, I think because so many of the examples are simple things, everyday things, and things that have come and gone throughout many readers' pop-culture life spans. It doesn't seem to me a book merely for designers, but for anyone. It's full of logical advice on the topic of creating things. Design is like rhetoric or syntax...anything we create has to be created in some way. And the way has a quality...knowing about 'big picture' design can help raise that quality.
The book is clearly illustrated, and quite interesting to read, I think because so many of the examples are simple things, everyday things, and things that have come and gone throughout many readers' pop-culture life spans. It doesn't seem to me a book merely for designers, but for anyone. It's full of logical advice on the topic of creating things. Design is like rhetoric or syntax...anything we create has to be created in some way. And the way has a quality...knowing about 'big picture' design can help raise that quality.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Miyoko
Format:Paperback
great for artists, designers, programmers, architects, actually pretty much anyone who has an interest in they way things work, creative process, and design.
This challenges the notion of lazy design, and goes against the issue of designing things the same way becuase that's the way it's always been done. Rewinds the design process and starts over. Shows design flubs and goes through the thought process and the intentions behind them. VERY interesting book, love the photographs and diagrams.
This challenges the notion of lazy design, and goes against the issue of designing things the same way becuase that's the way it's always been done. Rewinds the design process and starts over. Shows design flubs and goes through the thought process and the intentions behind them. VERY interesting book, love the photographs and diagrams.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is important for two reasons: (a) it makes you realize that software design is not much different than any other kind of design, and (b) when you find it difficult to operate some device, it's really the designer's fault -- not yours!
The same ideas that have been used for years now in the design of simple things (e.g. doors), to complex stuff (e.g. nuclear reactor control panels) or even more complex stuff (VCRs :), can be applied to User Interface design. Even the design of a good internal interface (API) shares many properties with the design of successful everyday objects: it should have a clear purpose, it should be obvious to use, difficult to abuse, indicative of how it works, informative about its status -- in other words it should look and feel simple!
Carried away by features, aesthetics, technological innovations and the fact that from a designer's point of view everything look reasonable, we end up with difficult to use, error prone devices and tools. Design for usability should be a primary goal for all everyday objects, and that includes computer software.
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4.1 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Misleading
The book is an interesting concept, however, it's title doesn't directly correspond to its content. The text presents itself as a rant, criticizing every bad design the author has... Read more
Published 21 months ago by sonikin
5.0 out of 5 stars
They don't call them gurus for nothing
There isn't much to say other than this is a must read for anyone working on product design and development! It's a breeze to read through.
Published on Jun 17 2010 by VeroM
5.0 out of 5 stars
A timeless classic.
Worth reading for anybody who wants a primer on the subject of usability, or who simply enjoys well-written anecdotes and evidence on the topic of design.
Published on Oct 7 2009 by Allen Pike
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Overview of Design Fundamentals
Although I only read about half of this book, what I did read was quite good. This book presents some interesting insight into the design of everyday things, and provides amusing... Read more
Published on May 5 2009 by Eric Boyer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice Argument for Usability, But Misses the Application
"The Design of Everyday Things" by Donald A. Norman is said to be one of those great usability books. I bought mine at a major usability conference, believing the hype. Read more
Published on May 25 2007 by A.Trendl HungarianBookstore.com
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting, thought provocing, though a bit "lost"
I enjoyed this book - don't get me wrong. But I find presenting ideas one after the other, without constantly linking them, not very helpful. Read more
Published on Sep 7 2006 by Rommil Santiago
5.0 out of 5 stars
See The Psychology of Everyday Things
Take a look at the The Psychology of Everyday Things (the hardcover edition of this book). They changed the title for the paperback edition.
Published on Jun 24 2004 by R. Kashden
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mind altering book.
If you design anything you will want to read this book. Even if you don't design what physically appears to a persons eye you want to read this. Read more
Published on April 10 2004 by Sultan Mehrabi
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful and Interesting Book
I'll make this quick. Even though this book was read for a college class, I actually enjoyed reading it. Read more
Published on Jan 31 2004 by Jackson Stephens
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring book on software interface design
This book discusses many common design problems in our everyday things. It is an interesting and fun book to read. Read more
Published on Dec 24 2003 by Ting Liu
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