The Design of Everyday Things

The Design of Everyday Things, originally published in 1988 under the title The Psychology of Everyday Things, is a work of nonfiction by Donald A. Norman, an American scholar specializing in design, engineering, usability, and cognitive science. Combining psychological research, cases studies, and anecdotes, Norman argues that design mediates between objects and users, with successful design being both human-centered and multidisciplinary. A bestseller in the United States, the book remains a foundational text in the field of user-centric design.

This guide uses the 2013 revised edition published by Basic Books, an imprint of Perseus Books Group.

Summary

The Design of Everyday Things comprises seven chapters, each subdivided into several sections. Chapter 1, “The Psychopathology of Everyday Things,” describes five foundational concepts for Human Centered Design (HCD), namely, affordances, signifiers, constraints, mappings, and feedback, which operate in tandem with conceptual models to facilitate human and product interaction. Although technology has the power to simplify life and make it more enjoyable, increasingly complex technology can make products difficult to use and lead to user frustration. Norman challenges designers to cooperate with other disciplines to create user-friendly, reliable products that get delivered on time and on budget.