In the first chapter of “The Design of Everyday Things” by Donald A. Norman, he talks about how the design of everyday things can sometimes make us feel like we’re going crazy. It’s interesting how he points out that it’s not us who are the problem but the things we use. He calls this “the psychopathology of everyday things,” which is a fancy way of saying that sometimes everyday objects are just designed poorly.
I totally agree with Norman when he says that good design should be all about making things easy for us, regular people. It shouldn’t be about designers showing off how clever they are. Who wants to struggle with a door handle or a confusing remote control? It’s frustrating!
One big takeaway from the chapter is that designers need to think about how people actually use things in their daily lives. They can’t just dream up fancy ideas without considering how those ideas will work in the real world. Design should be all about making our lives easier and more convenient, not more complicated. This is emphasized in this passage where he mentions Human-Centered Design, that essentially takes into consideration the user. This type of design is made for the people by the people, and it enhances the lives of its users and produces positive results.
So, in a nutshell, I think Norman’s point about designing things for the way people are, not the way designers wish they were, is spot on. Good design is all about making our lives simpler, not adding unnecessary complexity. It’s a reminder that when things are hard to use, it’s not our fault – it’s bad design. And that’s something we can all relate to!