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There are four types of constraints in design: physical, cultural, semantic, and logical. Physical constraints are limitations imposed by the physical world, such as size or weight. Cultural constraints are limitations imposed by societal norms and expectations. Semantic constraints are limitations imposed by the meaning of something, such as the use of certain colors to signify specific things. Logical constraints are limitations imposed by logic, such as the need for a switch to turn on a light.
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Two of the most important features of good design are discoverability and understanding. Discoverability: Is it possible to figure out what actions are possible and how to perform them? Understanding: What does it all mean? How is the product supposed to be used? What do all the different controls and settings mean? Discoverability comprises five fundamental psychological concepts: 1) Affordances (a chair affords support, so in turn it affords the ability to sit); 2) Signifiers (a flat panel on a door signifies one should push); 3) Constraints (imposed limitations on design that can come in four types: physical; cultural; semantic; and logical); 4) Mappings (ordered switches on the wall might specify which switch is for which light); 5) Feedback (the communicating of an action). "Today, I realize that design presents a fascinating interplay of technology and psychology, that the designers must understand both. Engineers still tend to believe in logic. … 'Why are people having problems...
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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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