“Emotion and Design”
Don Norman says that attractive things work better. When something looks good, it makes us feel happy. This good feeling helps us be more creative and more patient if we have a small problem using the product. A happy user is a better problem solver.
I agree with this. A nice looking design, like a pretty website or a well made phone, is more enjoyable to use. It makes you want to keep using it. Good design is not just about being pretty. It is about making things work better by making the user feel good.
“Her Code Got Humans on the Moon”
Margaret Hamilton was a computer scientist who led the team that created the software for the Apollo moon missions. She did this at a time when there were very few women in her field. Her work was vital to landing astronauts on the moon and bringing them home safely.
I am impressed by how Hamilton planned for mistakes. She wanted to add code to prevent errors that everyone else thought would never happen. She was right. An astronaut later made one of those exact mistakes. Her story shows why it is so important to think about what could go wrong, especially on a big and important project. Good planning can prevent big problems.
Overall
Both readings show that the best designs think about people. Norman teaches us that a product that makes users feel good will work better. Hamilton teaches us that a system designed for human error is stronger and safer. Whether it is a teapot or a spaceship, thinking about the person using it is the key to good design.