This week’s reading made me notice many things around me that I had not thought about before, even though they are right in front of me. When using objects, we usually try to figure out how they work no matter how confusing they are until we reach the desired outcome, but I never really stopped to ask why they were designed that way or to critique them in terms of how well they meet user needs. One thing that drives me crazy is the light control system in hotel rooms, where there is a pad of lightbulb icons but they rarely indicate which lights they turn on or off. What usually happens is that whenever I want to turn off the lights, I have to press random buttons until the ones I want finally switch off, often mixing bedside lights, main lights, entrance lights, and others. This connects to Norman’s ideas because these systems have poor signifiers, since they do not clearly indicate which light each control operates, as well as weak mapping and mismatched mental models, since the arrangement of controls does not reflect the layout of the room. Therefore, this design could be improved by including clearer labels for each icon and arranging each control closer to the light or area it affects.
After reading and reflecting, I can apply Norman’s design principles to interactive media by ensuring that I always include clear signifiers and efficient mapping in my work, whether it is a p5 sketch or a physical device. There should always be signs, icons, or instructions that clearly communicate what the user should do in order to achieve the intended outcome. For instance, in interactive sketches such as games, I would provide clear guidance about where to click or what actions are possible, and in tools or interfaces I would make sure that labels and controls are easy to understand. I would also arrange functions logically so that controls and outcomes match efficiently. Ultimately, I need to ensure that everything in my work clearly communicates what the user can do and what they can expect, allowing them to reach their goals without confusion. The reading helped me understand how many things are designed to look more modern or visually appealing but still fail to meet user expectations that we are not always aware of, which made me realize that future designs should aim to improve functionality while remaining clear and understandable to users.