“The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition” is a book written by Don Norman. The main focus of the book is on how everyday objects can be improved through user-centered design, which takes into account the needs and wants of the people who will be using them.
For who is this book for ?
This book is for anyone who wants to learn more about how to make things that are used by people every day easier and more efficient to use. It covers everything from home appliances to public transportation, and offers lots of practical tips on how best to design products with the user in mind.
Pros :
- User-centered design is emphasized throughout the book, which can lead to improvements in many aspects of people’s lives.
- Norman provides numerous examples of how user interface and experience designers have failed their users in the past, helping readers to avoid similar mistakes.
- The revised and expanded edition includes a new chapter on mobile devices as well as updated information on existing chapters.
Cons :
- It is a bit dated, as it was first published in 1988.
- Some of the examples are specific to American culture and may not resonate with readers from other countries.
- It can be quite dense at times and may require concentration to follow
Learn more about the author
Don Norman is a cognitive scientist and interactions designer. He has written extensively on design, engineering, and usability, with over three dozen books to his name. A former Vice President of Apple Computer’s Advanced Technology Group, he now heads up the Nielsen Norman Group consultancy firm.
Reader Reviews
“This book is a classic. If you are in product design, or just interested in how people interact with objects, this is required reading.”
“The Design of Everyday Things is a fantastic book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about how design works, why it’s important, and how to make things that are both effective and appealing. Norman’s writing style is engaging and easy to read, yet he packs a lot of information into each chapter. The examples he provides are enlightening, thought-provoking, sometimes humorous – always relevant. After reading this book you’ll never look at the objects around you in quite the same way again.”
“If you want to be a designer, this is the book to read. If you are an engineer, this is the book to read. If you are in business, this may well be the most important book to read.”
“If you want to see how user interface and industrial design works in the real world, this is your bible.”
