Something that drives me crazy is the confusion around door handles, especially when it’s unclear whether to push, pull, or if the door is automatic. Many doors have handles that imply pulling, but they actually require pushing, or they’re automatic but give no indication of it. This creates unnecessary frustration. Norman’s principles can easily improve this. First, using appropriate affordances would help—push bars for pushing and handles for pulling. This would visually communicate the correct action, reducing hesitation. Additionally, signifiers like clear signs or arrows could guide users, especially in high-traffic areas like stores or airports.
For automatic doors, better feedback could be useful. Subtle lights or sounds could indicate when a sensor has been triggered, letting users know the door will open. For example, in C2, the doors don’t always respond to you, and sometimes you are required to pull the doors so they open. This unpredictability creates unnecessary confusion and frustration.
In this case, enhancing the visibility of door functions and matching the conceptual model to user expectations (handles for pulling, plates for pushing) would make navigating doors far less frustrating. By aligning with Norman’s principles, door design could become far more intuitive and user-friendly.