Both readings stretched the way I think about design and technology, but in very different directions. Don Norman explains that feelings are part of the user interface, while the story of Margaret Hamilton reminded me that logic and planning literally kept humans alive in space. It is interesting how design can go from a teapot being annoying to astronauts potentially facing real danger if the code is not perfect.
Norman’s point about positive emotions making us better problem solvers stuck with me. Not because I needed permission to love pretty things, but because he explains how emotions influence cognition. When something looks good, I want to engage with it. If it glitches, I will try again instead of giving up quickly. The product earns patience through beauty. He is not saying aesthetics replace usability, but that they work together. That made me rethink how I approach projects. Usability alone might function, but it does not always invite people in.
The Hamilton reading adds another dimension. She was not just writing code. She was establishing the rules of software engineering before the world understood why those rules mattered. Her commitment to planning for human error was not pessimism. It was care. She assumed that even the smartest astronauts could press the wrong button. She designed safety into the system instead of expecting humans to be perfect. That mindset feels extremely modern even though she was working with punch cards and very early computing tools.
Putting the two readings together, one message becomes clear. Design is not only about the object. It is about the human who interacts with it. Norman shows how emotion can make users more capable, and Hamilton shows how systems can support users even when they are not at their best. One focuses on delight. The other focuses on safety. Both center real people who get confused, who make mistakes, and who feel things.
As someone just starting to create interactive work, this combination feels like a guide. If I want to build something that people actually use, not just something that technically functions, I need to care about how it feels and what happens when something goes wrong. Norman gives me permission to design joy. Hamilton reminds me to design empathy. The strongest designs are created when both are valued equally.