The Design of everyday things:
In “The Design of Everyday Things,” Don Norman critiques the reliance on logic in engineering design, arguing that effective design should anticipate and account for human error. While I understand his perspective, I find myself disagreeing with the notion that design flaws are solely to blame for user errors. Given the vast variability in human behavior, it’s nearly impossible to design for every possible error. For example, consider a standard hinged door: while it might pose no issue for an average person, a shorter individual may struggle with a handle positioned too high. Adjusting the handle height to accommodate one group could inadvertently create challenges for another.
That said, I agree that designers should strive to make their products as intuitive as possible for the average user. This brings me to my frustration with mixer grinders, which I find notoriously difficult to manage. Each new brand presents a unique setup process, often leading to confusion and errors. I believe the design of these devices could be greatly improved by using magnetized parts for easier assembly and reducing the number of buttons to just a power switch and perhaps a safety mechanism, as well as one additional button for varying power levels.
Additionally, one of Norman’s design principles that could enhance interactive media projects is the use of intuitive icons on buttons. These icons should visually convey the action triggered by the button, making it easier for users to understand and interact with the interface.