Norman’s idea that when a design doesn’t work for multiple people, the design itself is the problem actually changed the way I view things. Normally when certain designs don’t work, I either get annoyed at myself for not knowing how to use them or just confused. One thing that drives me crazy is the D2 sensory doors on campus because even though they are automatic, I cannot seem to get into D2 smoothly without fighting with the doors. When pushing the door, it takes a while for it to move, and then sometimes when I enter while the door is opening, it just closes on me with no signal or sign for me to move. When I first came to university during my Marhaba Week and the first week of classes, I would always worry about the doors because something would always happen to me before I could actually get in the building to eat lunch or breakfast. After reading and applying Norman’s principles, I understand what has been happening for all those weeks I struggled with this issue. There is a lack of clear feedback and signifiers due to the lack of sensors (there is one sensor on one door, but it takes a few seconds to open, and it is only for the exit). There should be a system that responds to give clues and hints for the users. This model can be improved easily, but unfortunately, it is still a work in progress.
In interactive media, I realized that when a sketch takes a while to load because of an error, for example, or maybe the functions or buttons on the canvas don’t react, it causes a delay in the system. Users will tend to be confused and won’t know how to solve those issues. If they try to play around with the system or reset it, it can cause even more delays. Norman’s human-centered design reminds me that interaction is not just about making something work; instead, it’s actually about making it understandable. This is something I hope to carry with me moving forward, especially after becoming aware of these issues and experiencing them in real life.