Reading Don Normans writing left me more aware of how designs of everyday objects really affects our experiences and emotions. His concept of “Norman doors” particularly resonated with me. I have in many occasions been embarrassed by something simple just as opening a door due to poor designed handles or unclear instructions like the doors in D2. Its frustrating how a door can become a source of confusion and even anxiety even when it is a very basic object. This explanation by Norman made me realise how much I take for granted the simplicity of well-designed objects and how design fails can turn simple interactions into stressful experiences. It was an eye opened for me as a future engineer on the role of design and importance of user-centred designs.
One of the things that I really frustrates me in my everyday life that Norman doesn’t fully talk about is how confusing digital interfaces are. Our phones, for example. The settings menu always feel like a maze to me. Important options are always hidden under many other menus which makes it hard for me to find what I need quickly. It might be a personal issue but we can agree that the settings application is always frustrating. I do understand that most digital interfaces don’t always have clear signs or clues, like Normans concept of affordances and signifiers, like physical objects. I believe that these interfaces can be improved and made better by looking into the principles of discoverability and feedback that Norman discusses. His ideas can also be applied in interactive media while designing interactive experiences by ensuring that users understand what actions they can take and how the actions affect the environment.