While I was reading the text, I did see the point the author is trying to make. I also got confused and frustrated whenever there were not many or unclear instructions for something, or if there were no instructions at all. I remembered when I used the washers for the first time in uni, I got confused about how they worked because they were different from what I used before, and I even tried to open it from a different direction since the handle was so sleek that you couldn’t tell it was the handle at all. This connects to the idea of failure of discoverability and signifiers mentioned in the reading, because the design did not clearly show where the action should take place, which led to trial and error and frustration.
Additionally, when I got back to uni after the spring semester, they changed both the washers and dryers with options that were very limited (heavy, normal, delicates) compared to the multiple options before (eco, quick, mixed, delicates, heavy, wool, etc.) Without any proper instructions or signifiers explaining what is considered a heavy, normal, or delicate wash, washing clothes could go wrong. This confused my understanding of how the machine worked, since my experience with washers no longer matched the new system image, and I was left unsure about what each setting did. Situations like this could be improved by adding clearer labels, brief explanations, visible signifiers, and better feedback so users can understand how things work without feeling lost.
Applying the author’s principles of design to interactive media, especially Human-Centered Design (HCD), helps me think more about how users actually experience what I create. I realized that it’s not enough for an interface to just look nice, it needs to be easy to understand and navigate. The readings reminded me how important it is to include clear labels and signifiers so users don’t have to guess what a button, icon, or feature does. Actions should be easy to discover, and feedback should appear immediately when something works, so users don’t feel lost or frustrated.