Human-Centered Design in Everyday Thingsby greenspacewriter
07/22/2012 Don Norman examines the psychological principles that
make user-centered design more successful, acknowledging the
predominance of poor design and usability issues in the world of
everyday things. From clocks to cockpits, revolving doors to the
alphanumeric keypads on your smart phones, these everyday
products and technologies can be frustrating and confusing.
Having an understandable and sensible user experience can be few
and far between. Here are a few of Norman’s observations that
can help to make human-centered design work. Mappings: Is the
correct message available? A revolving door needs correct
mapping or signage to tell a user how to get through a door.
Visibility is important. In a successful model of a revolving
door the designer has mapped or demarcated where the user should
push. A typical issue in usability is the absence of mapping
between the user and the object. Mapping provides these helpful
directions. Affordance: What a