great ( )

What it is is part polemic, part an explanation of methodology. Donald Norman uses everyday things to illustrate how design can and should be done to making things usable for everyday people. Sometimes things are designed pretty well: push bars on doors for instance. Sometimes not so well: clear doors with no visible cues on whether to push or pull.

Full review at my blog: http://reading.kingrat.biz/reviews/de... ( )

More than any formulas or facts, what I'm taking away from this famous little book is a sense of authority to judge design of things I use everyday. The following things suck: the dock in OS X, my alarm clock, the knob on my coffee machine, etc.

An interesting and engaging study of the principles of functional design. ( )

The second book to read to get into interaction design, right after "The inmates are running the asylum".

After reading the book, one cannot help but see all the usability problems which surrounds us in everyday life. ( )

A classic on design and usability. A must-read for anyone with the slightest interest in design. ( )

This book is a great user experience primer -- it describes the basic principles of designing a good experience, and uses everyday examples to illustrate each point.

Not only is the book crammed with information, though, it is easy to read, often humourous, and very accessible even if you have no prior knowledge of usability or technology. ( )

My first book to design issues. Easy to read and easy to understand. ( )

Browsing a good old bookshop can yield glorious finds, such as this understated little book that is in fact a treasure. The cognitive aspect of design is usually something one picks up during training or by experience; I don't know if it's articulated into a course anywhere, and books about it certainly are not a dime a dozen. What do I mean by "cognitive aspect of design"? It is when you design something that is intuitive to use, or at least easy to figure out without having to dig into a user manual. We've all had to deal with thoughtlessly designed things, from a door whose opening doesn't make sense to a website where you just can't find the contact page. Cognition is at the essence of design, whose first function is communication; aesthetics must layer themselves on that without contradicting it.
Norman's book specifically discusses manufactured products, but the same notions apply to 2D design (one could say to life in general). Examples of bad and good design alike are studied, pointing out why they work or not, with users quoted for their reactions to them, a welcome insight. On the basis of each of these illustrations, a principle of cognitive design is then discussed. The 7 chapters are outlined as follows:
1. The psychology of everyday things
2. The psychology of everyday actions
3. Knowledge in the head and in the world
4. Knowing what to do
5. To err is human
6. The design challenge
7. User-centered design

My own experience of this book was like a series of epiphanies. Although cognition was already a personal forte, I feel it has given me insights that improved all my communication-related work. The info doesn't need to be memorized or referred back to – once you understand it, it remains with you. Besides, it's a really fascinating and often fun read.

I would buy this book in a heartbeat for anyone who creates things meant to be used, as well as anyone whose job includes conveying information clearly. ( )

http://bactra.org/reviews/everyday-th... ( )

A delightful romp around the world, discussing why some things are easy to use while others are hard to use, and heavily criticizing those things that are difficult to use, but shouldn't be.

After reading this book, you see things around you in a different light, and perhaps, if you are going to design anything, this book will convince you to put a little more thought into your design. ( )

Title changed in 1998? same ISBN

Started. Stalled. ( )

This is a seminal work in user-centered design—-a must read for any designer. Norman uses many examples from everyday life to support his arguments. He points frequently to failures in design from all kinds of situations. Norman tends to repeat things and ramble at times, but the central tenet of this book is clear: the user’s needs are not the same as the designer’s. Covers concepts of affordances and mapping of user interface controls. ( )

Why is it not necessarily your fault when you cannot operate a light switch – analysis of fundamentals of design with everyday examples. ( )

A classic but the points are still as relevant today. Door handles! ( )

This is considered an essential book on industrial design. Norman claims that designers get hung up on making devices look pretty at the expense of having them be difficult to use. He argues that they should place more emphasis on designing artifacts which communicate to the user how it is that they should be used. Important reading for people on the user interface side of software development. ( )

This was recommended to me by a prof who taught Human Computer Interaction. Her belief - you can't expect computers to be designed well unless the everyday objects you encounter are designed well too. Have you ever pushed the wrong side of a door to open it? Have you ever not been able to figure out buttons in an elevator. It is not you that is the problem - it is the designer. This is a great book to take you through the critical elements of design and teach you a thing or two about how to do it right. ( )