One thing that drives me crazy is the poor design of public bathroom sinks. Many of them have automatic sensors for water flow, but the sensors are inconsistent. Sometimes, you have to wave your hands around for the water to turn on, or it shuts off too soon, forcing you to repeat the process. It’s frustrating, especially when you’re in a hurry. This could be improved by using better sensors that recognize motion more accurately or by designing a simple manual option as a backup.
Norman’s principles of design, such as discoverability and feedback, can be applied to interactive media in many ways. For example, in app design, buttons and navigation menus should be clearly visible and intuitive. A good interface should guide the user naturally, without confusion. Norman also talks about signifiers, which are essential in digital design. Websites and apps should have clear indicators—like highlighted buttons or hover effects—to show what actions are possible.
Another principle that applies to interactive media is mapping, ensuring that controls relate logically to their effects. For example, when adjusting volume on a screen, a vertical slider is often more intuitive than a horizontal one, because we associate “up” with “increase” and “down” with “decrease.” Norman’s ideas remind me that good design is not just about looks but about usability. A well-designed interface should be easy to understand and not require a user manual to figure out.