How does the design of everyday things impact our daily lives?

The design of everyday things significantly impacts our daily lives by influencing our interactions and experiences with objects around us. Good design is intuitive and doesn't require explicit instructions, making our interactions seamless and efficient. For instance, a well-designed door or kettle should indicate its function without needing a manual. However, when simple things are overly complex, it can lead to confusion and frustration, detracting from the intended purpose of the design.

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For simple designs, like those for a door or kettle, manual instructions to "push" or "pull" should not be necessary. Good design should indicate action by itself. Make a pillar visible so that it's clear which side of a door is attached to a hinge. When simple things are overly complex, Norman writes, "the whole purpose of the design is lost."

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The Design of Everyday Things

How do designers improve their products to work around flaws in human logic? In The Design of Everyday Things, Don Norman teaches the top frameworks b...

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