Reading Norman’s Emotion & Design and Her Code Got Humans on the Moon made me rethink what we usually praise in tech. Norman’s main idea that “attractive things work better” makes sense at first. If a product is enjoyable to use, we’re more likely to stick with it. But honestly, it feels a bit too neat. Just because something looks good doesn’t mean it works well. I’ve had plenty of apps or gadgets that are gorgeous but a pain to actually use. Norman makes a strong point about emotion shaping usability, but sometimes I feel designers lean on aesthetics as a crutch instead of solving real problems.
On the other hand, Her Code Got Humans on the Moon reminded me that behind every “perfect” design or software is a ton of human effort — in this case, women programmers whose work literally made moon landings possible. It’s wild how long their contributions were invisible. It makes me question why we hype technology itself while ignoring the people who make it run. The “heroic inventor” story Norman sometimes leans on in design discussions seems incomplete — we rarely celebrate the actual humans doing the work.
Putting these together, I think the readings challenge the usual tech narrative. Norman focuses on emotion and aesthetics, which are important, but Her Code highlights that real success comes from skill, persistence, and problem-solving. My takeaway? Great design isn’t just about looking or feeling good — it’s also about respecting and acknowledging the humans who make it work. Otherwise, we’re praising the wrong things and missing the bigger picture.