The reading really opened my eyes on many things that I have been overlooking. But it is exactly because good design is invisible. We are often made to believe that bad design is bad on purpose or we are the ones in the wrong.
This reminds me of my hometown’s funny souvenirs. Gabrovo, Bulgaria offers a variety of illogical items like a spoon with a hole, cups for uninvited guests (with a zig-zag rim), the stingy sugar bowl (which is restricted to giving one sugar grain per shake) and more, showing Gabrovians’ painful stinginess. After reading this text, I wholeheartedly believe that at least some of these items were accidental discoveries that made their way in the Museum of Humour and Satire.
Design from everyday live that bother me a lot are the European bottles, whose caps are attached to them and the disposable cutlery sets that break during usage. Hopefully one day day they also go to the Museum.
I can apply what I read in Interactive Media though clear signs what everything is and its placement (affordances and signifiers). Additionally, I would try to incorporate familiarity with mental models or easy-to-follow instructions. Overall, I will do my best not assume the users’ needs, but rather investigate and accommodate. A system should work for the people and not against them.