The Design of Everyday Things

In the beginning of this article, the author discusses how designers are so focused on the beauty of design. Often times the look of the design takes over, and usability is sacrificed. People believe accidents are usually caused by human error, when in all actuality they are the cause of a poor design.

For example, I have a navigation system in my car. Unless your foot is on the break, the system does not allow you to type in anything into the system. Sometimes I find myself at a stoplight typing in an address and then the light turns green. I hit the gas and try to continue putting my address in. IT WILL NOT LET ME! This is completely frustrating, but it is a good design. Without this feature, a lot more accidents would be occurring.

Or what about my remote control that is able to navigate the television, audio system (including radio, ipod, TV, and movie sound), the HD cable box, and the DVD player?

My sister not being technologically saavy gets really aggravated at the remote, but also does not want to use 6 different ones. There is a design feature on the “all-in-one” remote that allows you to ask for help if one of the devices is not working. For instance, if the television is on but you can’t hear anything…just hit HELP. The remote will ask you if the Samsung television is on. You simply hit yes. Then it will ask you if the Comcast HD box is on. Again you hit yes. Then it will say is the audio receiver on…you hit no and boom…you have sound!

It is important to understand Don Norman’s four main criteria for design:
1.) Affordance- the perceived and actual properties of the thing, primarily those fundamental properties that determine just how the thing could possibly be used
2.) Constraint- limitations
3.) Mapping- the relationship of two things
4.) Feedback- sending back to the user information about what action has actually been done, what result has been accomplished