Something That Drives Me Crazy
One thing that really frustrates me is when digital buttons or interactive elements look clickable but actually aren’t. For example, I’ll see a button that’s styled like it should do something, click it, and… nothing happens. Sometimes I double-check, hover around, or even click other areas, thinking maybe I missed something. It’s confusing, annoying, and honestly breaks the flow of using the site or app. I’ve seen it in everything from websites to apps, and even small projects can suffer if users aren’t given clear cues. It’s such a simple thing to fix, too. Adding hover effects, subtle animations, shadows, or clear visual cues can immediately signal that something is interactive, saving users time and preventing frustration.
How I Can Apply Norman’s Principles to Interactive Media
Norman’s ideas about affordances and signifiers really clicked for me. Affordances tell users what actions are possible, and signifiers indicate where they can take those actions. In my interactive media work, I try to make every clickable element obvious. For instance, in my p5.js sketches like my floating dad joke bubble project, I make sure bubbles are visually distinct, move gently to draw attention, and respond when hovered or clicked. These small cues let users know exactly what to do without guessing. I also pay attention to natural mapping. Just like Norman talks about arranging light switches to match the lights they control, I place interface elements in locations that feel intuitive, buttons go where people expect them, and interactive elements behave like their real-world counterparts would.
Reflection and Ideas for Improvement
Working on this has made me realize how tiny details in design can have a huge impact. Even something as simple as whether a bubble looks “poppable” can completely change how a user experiences the project. In the future, I’d like to experiment with multiple interactive elements at once and make sure each is clearly signaled. I’m also thinking about adding feedback for users, like subtle animations when they hover or click, so the system feels alive and responsive. Another idea is giving users more control over interactions; for example, letting them drag or rearrange elements, while still keeping things intuitive. Ultimately, I want my interactive media to be fun, obvious, and frustration-free, where users can explore naturally and enjoy the experience without ever feeling lost.